Figure 1.--Here we see some kind of organized youth demonstration in a Cambodian city, probably Phnom Penh. They would have been urban youth. All we know for sure is that it was dated April 23, 1970. Unfortunately there is no caption. It is an organized demnstration. We are left to wonder what they are demonsrrating about and to what extent they are committed to the idea for which the demonstration was staged. Given the date it may be associated with North and South Vietnamese and American incursions into eastern Cambodia. There is also a possibility that labor may be involved.

Cambodian histories go into detail about Prince Sihanouk, the Cambodiam military, and the Kymer Rouge. There is also considerable discussions of the North Vietnamese and Americans. What we do not hear much about is the Cambodian people. Of course Cambodia was not a democracy and without democratic institutions. But what the population was thinking is an interesting topic, especially as no country would be more affrcted by the Vietnam war than the Cambodian people. The result and the Kymer Rouge victory would be one of the worst genocides in human history. There is general agreement that the Cambodian people did not see that coming. What we do mnot know is what the Cambodian people were thinking. And this was presumably different among the peasantry in the countryside and the urban populstion which would be the people most adversely affected. We do not have a good fix on that. Perhaps readers will have some insights here. We do know that the Kymer Rouge was abkle to mobilize the most effective military force. That of course does not mean that they reflectef what the Cambodian people wanted.

Created: 7:23 PM 9/27/2018
Last updated: 7:23 PM 9/27/2018