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Kingdom of Cambodia was believed to come from The Funan Kingdom around the first century BC which mostly related to Indian culture, art, and religion.

From the period of the ninth to the thirteenth centuries, The Khmer Prince known as Jayavarman II ruled the kingdom of Kambuja which now we call Kampuchea, or Cambodia. During the ruled under Jayavarman II, Khmer empire was very powerful by gaining its territory with successful war from neighbor enemies. Jayavarman II also made many amazing achievements in architecture and sculpture like building an immense irrigation system around Angkor Wat.

After Jayavarman II’s death, Cambodia was facing a great impact from its enemies especially Thailand. From fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries was a period that Cambodia had a great down turn and led to loose its territories. But Cambodia also had a short break during the sixteenth century because Cambodia had an opportunity to promote trades with other parts beside Asia along Mekong River like Spanish and Portuguese. Not for long, Cambodia was beginning to face a financial struggle from invasions of its two great enemies, Thailand and Vietnam. Cambodia was soon cut off from the sea and lost many golden lands because of the ruling of prince Ang allowing Vietnamese opportunities to settle and take over.

Cambodia almost completely destroyed by its enemies until King Norodom signed a treaty with the French to establish a protectorate over Cambodia Kingdom- soon enough Cambodia was put under French supervision. For over 90 years, French had built roadways and made a lot of transportation services in Cambodia a little easier and also improved Cambodia infrastructure, but in returning the French had gained may golden advantages from Cambodia.

In 1953, Cambodia was planning to get its independence from French by the People’s Socialist Community (Sangkum Reast Niyum) led by King Sihanouk, but it was stuck. Until in 1955, King Sihanouk has declared the independence had been achieved.

During Vietnam war between Viet Cong (NVA/VC) against South Vietnam in the mid-1960s, some of Cambodia lands was used as base for Viet cong. As long as Viet Cong grew more and more aggressive day by day, it led South Vietnam and USA to worry about its powerful so United States took action by dropping bombs for almost 14 months over NVA/VC.

King Sihanouk was trying to protect Cambodia from the conflicting between NVA/VC with South Vietnam and United States would ruin into Cambodia soil. King Sihanouk forced the United States and South Vietnam to keep the war away from the Cambodia border also not allowed United States to use Cambodia airport as military base- soon enough The United States saw King Sihanouk was likely doing a favor for North Vietnamese, United States had planned to get rid King Shihanouk from Cambodia.

In 1970, King Sihanouk was out side Cambodia. Gen. Lon Nol ruled the country and was elected to be the President in 1972. To fight back to President Lon Nol, King Sihanouk had been persuaded to form an organization called Khmer Rouge, or “Red Khmer” with Paris-educated leaders like Son Sen, Ieng Sary, and Saloth Sar (Pol Pot).

Finally in 1975, Communist troops (CPK) had collapsed the Khmer Republic (Lon Nol) after 117 days of bloody war. Lon Nol government was ended in 5 days after United States congress stopped giving any aid and evacuated Cambodia.

Quickly, The CPK started to fled all entire population to rural to work as farmers. Many military leaders were killed. Most of people in the cities couldn’t survive themselves from hunger, disease, and lack of medical care. Any businessmen or people who have high education were hunted down also entire families because the Khmer Rouge doesn’t want any of them to fight back with CPK later. Not only just regular people, but also their CPK army itself, if Khmer Rouge found out someone who is loyalty or not strong enough, CPK had to kill them. No one knew the exact number of dead people in Pol Pot regime, but by estimation, it could be from 1 to 3 millions people were killed.

In very late 1978, Vietnam had united with former DK division commander Heng Samrin also with Hun Sen (presently Cambodia Prime Minister) to collapsed Pol Pot regime and control Phnom Penh city on 07-Jan-1979. Heng Samrin was promoted by Vietnam to be a head of Cambodia in 10-Jan-1979. During that time, Cambodia was responded from the international community with a funding over $ 400-million dollars.

King Sihanouk had returned back to Cambodia in November 1991 to reform with the government.

In 1992, A United Nations Transitional Authority (UNTAC) had arrived in Cambodia to resettle Cambodia and helped providing the fair election for Cambodia in May-1993. As the Cambodians always believed in King- Prince Ranariddh who is the chairman of FUNCINPEC Party won the victory about 45% among 4 million people being eligible to vote. Hun Sen getting the most second seats was rejected to the voting results and accused (UNTAC) for unfairness. Finally and fortunately, an agreement was made and Hun Sen become a second Cambodia prime minister. This made the world so odd since no other country has two prime ministers.

In 1997, FUNCINPEC and the CPP party was going to have a short blast with each other- Prince Ranariddh Had knew this situation and fled himself to oversea before Hun Sen’s troops took over the fighting in Phnom Penh. After a short shooting, Hun Sen had promoted one of the high ranking member of FUNCINPEC to be the first prime minister.

In 1998, Cambodia had a second prime minister election, but this time (UNTAC) was not allowed to put their hands in Cambodia election any more. After, the voting result was declared there were many complaints again, but, it was from Prince Ranariddh not Hun Sen. Prince Ranariddh had lost a lot of believing from Cambodian people after people saw that he couldn’t do any thing better while he was the first prime minister. Hun Sen became the Cambodia prime minister from 1998 until now and the next 4-5 more years since he just won the election again in 2008.

If you still need more info please visit these Cambodia Government’s useful links: PhnomPenh.Gov Website or Cambodia Gov Website.

Cambodian King Website: His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni and Norodom sihanouk .