Genocide and Democracy in Cambodia: The Khmer Rouge, the U.N., and the International Community [Paperback]

Ben Kiernan (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0938692496 | ISBN-13: 978-0938692492 | Publication Date: September 1993

Proceedings of the 1992 Raphael Lemkin Symosium, co-published with the Schell Center for International Human Rights, Yale Law School. Specialists from seven disciplines examine the record of the Khmer Rouge, and the international community's involvement with the affairs of the country. In particular the book examines the capacity, responsibility and performance of the international community under international law, and the responsibility or accountability, if any, of the Khmer Rouge for the policies and practices of the Khmer Rouge period. Preface by George Andreopoulos, Schell Center, Yale Law School. Introduction by Ben Kiernan, Department of History, Yale University.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...recommended withour reservation for all levels of readership...a stimulating collection of essays by a diverse group...including Cambodians." -- R. Marley, Choice

Product Details

• Paperback: 335 pages
• Publisher: Yale Univ Southeast Asia Studies (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0938692496
• ISBN-13: 978-0938692492
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,213,068 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a spetacular academic achievement, June 28, 2000

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egalitarian ethos - See all my reviews

This review is from: Genocide and Democracy in Cambodia: The Khmer Rouge, the U.N., and the International Community (Paperback)

"Genocide and Democracy in Cambodia" is an insightful and illuminating look at the real facts behind the emergence of the Khmer Rouge, their atrocities, their defeat at the hands of the Vietnamese and their subsequent supporters in the international community UNSC).

Kiernan reveals, with abundent documentation, how, after Cambodia was liberated from the genocidal Khmer Rouge, the US refused to normalize relations with Cambodia as long as a Vietnamese-backed Government resisted a negotiated settlement to its civil war (civil war being a euphamism for the conflict with the Khmer Rouge, supplied by China, Thailand and,indirectly, the US and its allies).

"Genocide and Democracy in Cambodia" illustrates how the Carter Administration chose not to accept the Vietnamese offer to reestablish relations due to its early 1978 "tilt towards China" and, accordingly, toward China's Khmer Rouge ally, well before Vietnam invaded Cambodia. "Genocide and Democracy in Cambodia" reveals how Pol Pot proceeded to carry out the worst atrocities of his reign (concealed by the CIA in its later demographic study) presumably because of the US connection. Unlike many European countries, the US did not abstain at the UN on the "legitimate" government of Cambodia after the Khmer Rouge were expelled by the Vietnamese, but supported the Khmer Rouge along with China. The US backed China's invasion to discipline Vietnam and turned to supporting the Thai-based coalition in which the Khmer Rouge was the major military element. US President Carter's National Security Adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski has revealed that the US encouraged the Chinese to support Pol Pot.

"Genocide and Democracy in Cambodia" reveals how, after helping to reconstruct Pol Pot's shattered forces, the US-China-Thailand coalition lent its diplomatic support to Pol Pot; imposed an embargo on Cambodia and blocked aid from other sources, including humanitarian aid; and undermined any moves toward a negotiated settlement that did not offer the Khmer Rouge an influential role. The US even threatened Thailand with loss of trade privileges if it refused to support the Khmer Rouge.

It was under the pressure of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council that "the Cambodians were forced...to accept the return of the Khmer Rouge," Sihanouk pointed out in his first speech after his return to Cambodia in November 1991. In 1990 he had stated that "To save Cambodia...all (the US) had to do was to let Pol Pot die. Pol Pot was dying and you brought him back to life."

"Genocide and Democracy in Cambodia" is a spetacular academic achievement in modern history and one which clearly reveals the behind-the-scenes powerplay in the "New World Order".