 Reclamation in progress
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"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, Progress" | |||||
| Anthem | "March of the Khmer Republic" | ||||
| Capital (and largest city) |
Phnom Penh | ||||
| Language | Khmer | ||||
| Ethnic Groups main |
Khmer | ||||
| others | Vietmamese, Chinese, Cham, Khmer Loeu | ||||
| Demonym | Khmer, Cambodian | ||||
| Government | Unitary Semi-Presidential Republic under a military dictatorship | ||||
| President | Lon Rith | ||||
| Area | 181,035 km² | ||||
| Population | 13,805,000 | ||||
| Independence | from France | ||||
| declared | November 9, 1953 | ||||
| Currency | Cambodian riel | ||||
The Second Khmer Republic , formerly known as Kampuchea, is a country in South East Asia that borders Thailand to the west and northwest, Laos to the north, Vietnam to the east and south east, and in the south it faces the Gulf of Thailand. The geography of Cambodia is dominated by the Mekong River and the Tonlé Sap.
The Khmer Republic was established in 1990 amidst the collapse of the People's Republic of Kampuchea. Phnom Penh is the kingdom's capital and largest city, and is the principal center for the economical, industrial, commerce and cultural center of Cambodia. Siem Reap, a city located near the famous ruins of Angkor Wat is the gateway to the Angkor region, and is Cambodia's main destination for tourism. Battambang, the largest city in western Cambodia, is known for its rice production and Sihanoukville, a coastal city, is the primary sea port and beach resort.
Cambodia has an area of approximately 181,035 sq km (69,898 sq mi) and a population of over 12 million ethnic Khmer. A citizen of Cambodia is usually identified as "Cambodian" or "Khmer", though the latter strictly refers to ethnic Khmers. Most Cambodians are Theravada Buddhists, but the country also has a substantial number of predominantly Muslim Cham, as well as ethnic Chinese, Vietnamese and small animist hill tribes.
Agriculture has long been the most important sector to the Cambodian economy, with around 59% of the population relying on agriculture for their livelihood (with rice being the principal crop). Garments and construction are also important. In 2005, oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, and once commercial extraction begins in 2011, the oil revenues could profoundly affect Cambodia's economy
History[]
Pre-Doomsday[]
In November 1978, Vietnamese troops invaded Cambodia to stop Khmer Rouge incursions across the Vietnamese border and the genocide in Cambodia. The People's Republic of Kampuchea, led by the Salvation Front, a group of Cambodian leftists dissatisfied with the Khmer Rouge, was established.
In 1981, three years after the Vietnamese invasion the country was divided up between a further three factions that the United Nations euphemistically referred to as the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea. This consisted of the Khmer Rouge, a royalist faction led by Sihanouk, and the Khmer People's National Liberation Front. The Khmer Rouge representative to the United Nations, Thiounn Prasith was retained.
Post-Doomsday[]
After Doomsday cut off the Cambodians from their suppliers, the country began to collapse. Whilst, both the PRK and CGDK lacked outside support both were also in a violent conflict with Vietnam (athough the PRK were just defending rest of country not really at war) , nevertheless fortunately for the Cambodians, the Vietnamese were also weakened by Doomsday (especially in nuked border areas).
Th conflict was violent and heavily exasperated all sides, especially the Khmer Rouge faction of the CGDK in the early years, with a significant nuclear holocaust and civil war induced famine gripping hold of Cambodia throughout 1984-85. This famine would provoke disaster across the country and Vietnamese border with major loss of life and destruction creating a perfect recipe for disaster. The famine would cripple the economy of Cambodia- Vietnam , resulting in a series of brutal pillaging raids by desperate Vietnamese soldiers into the border region. By Early 1985, these raids would destroy the ability of Cambodia to ensure food security with the capital disorganised and chaotic erputing into anarchy. This anarchy would contribute to the toppling of the disconnected Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea and the estalishment of a Military State in rural Cambodia led by Dien Del ( who had rapidly and brutally overthrown the republican KPNLF leadership with with other anti- Khmer right-wing support, amidst rumours of being ousted by general Sak Sutsakhan) and a Leftist Khmer Rouge Government in the heart of Cambodia near Pnomh Pehn. Whilst the CGDK collapsed the People's Republic of Kampuchea centered near the Border Region remained as the only effective force to negotiate and prevent complete invasion at the hand of unruly Vietnamese Soldiers.
The new Governments of the military and Khmer Rouge would compete violently with a renewed civil war tearing the country apart, as Vietnamese forces continued their raids and the (formerly Vietnamese allied) PRK attempted to maintain order in the East of the Country. The utter devestation of Cambodia would contribute to eventual peace, with the disaster and continued effects of famine causing huge disruptions to stability in Western Vietnam and violent discontent amongst hungry Vietnamese soldiers on the Border. Alongside the collapsing PRK government all factors would force the increased speed of negotiation. Violent looting and rioting in Vietnam's western and PRK provinces, would result in the begining of an effective cold war, with both sides focussing on recovery and preventing entire collapse, whilst also attempting to negotiate (both nations had fought violently to secure something to remain stable but the famine and chaos had eventually destoryed both sides to the point of peace and recovery). After a few years of an unnegotiated cold war, the Cambodians of the PRK and the Vietnamese eventually managed to sign the Treaty of Saigon, officially ending the war.
The PRK managed to secure peace and prevent entire collapse until 1988 (with forces other than Vietnam distracted with Civil war and anarchy), even securing a detachment of Vietnamese soldiers to oversee the country but by early 1989 the Government of Hun Sen had entirely collapsed, with it's crumbling remanining forces who had been consistently defending from slowly weakening Vietnamese raids gone. The PRK had remained a bastion of defence for Cambdia and whilst famine had caused collapse it had prevented a full-scale invasion and held out long enough to secure an effective peace.
With the PRK gone a power vacuum developed, with the Military Government rapidly securing the Eastern Provinces and negotiating with Vietnamese Officials to help it finally secure power against the violent and destructive Khmer Regime, hoping to achieve a powerful final blow. The PAVN volunteer troops would help ensure an effective and manageable presence in Cambodia for Vietnam (amidst the withdrawal of other forces), which would remain peaceful and cordial unlike others while also being more directly controlled and efefctive than previously. These Volunteers would help to secure East Cambodia for the Military Government, who would go on to defeat the Khmer Government by the Summer of 1990. In exchange Vietnam and Cambodia would restore peaceful relations and begin Vietnamese- focussed projects to restore the border.
With a new military Government, having established a new Khmer Republic and restored co-operation between Vietnam and Cambodia the Indochina region was once again stable. Nevertheless the economy of Cambodia was in utter ruins with the civil war tearing apart the capital and the war with Vietnam destroying the border region. The capital itself while effectively held by the Khmer Rouge was still in anarchy when Military forces arrived and over the coming years with the help of Vietnamese Volunteers would have to be subdued.
Over the next few years the 'Social terror' would begin in which Dien Del's Military forces would search and murder any suspected Khmer infiltrators or even allies of the King who were seen as a possible challenge to his power, while also debaliting all journalism in the country. This brutal reign of terror would see thousands more murdered after the Cambodian Genocide and would conribute to the decline of the regime even amidst economic growth and stability.
Whilst, Del had at first promised to restore the Kingdom he claimed he would postpone doing so until he had secured Pnomh Pehn. Yet, upon securing the capital and beginning it's restoration he would fail to begin the prcoess of restoring such a monarchy. Arguing, that no suitable King could be found he would eventually officially discard the idea of restoration in the early 2000's instead adopting a presidential system under a military dictatorship.
The centralization of power so prized by the Khmer Rouge would be continued under the Government of Del, with his military forces setting up garrisons and provisional regional Governments across the country as the headquarters were re-established in Phnom Penh. This centralization of power in the Capital would coincide with attempted centralized economic rejuvenation with the development of large scale infrastructure in the city and the development of provinca agricultural economies in the countryside and textiles reliant on the capital.
Througout the late 90's and Early 2000's the Government would focus heavily on trade with the rest of Indochina alongside major developments in the capital including roads and boating infrastructure along the major rivers and in Angkor. Whilst, the famine would continue to grip the country it would begin to subside by around 1996 and would be declared over in 2000, as the Government began a new focus on becoming a capital of modern investment, not just the hub for agriculutural and primary sector growth.
While this agricultural and transport investement would remain prominent and crucial, the major investment and innitaitives pedalled by the Government would be in regards to culture, the arts and especially tourism/ entertainment. Whilst, the doomsday collapse had ruined tourism globally, Cambodia and it's Government saw a distinct opportunity, which while seemingly foolhardy and economically damaging at first, proved to be a suistanable and suitable investment by 2010. With renewed economic growth coming from the defeat of major famine, the renewal of the Vietnamese economy and a prominently wealthy Pnomh Penh, the Government would begin a major cultural intiative known as Cambodia 2020.
The programme would focus on encouraging the renewal of the Khmer identity, the development of the outer capital region and the development of rapid transport. A programme that would begin with the starting of construction on the defunct railway network from Pnomh Pehn to Thailand alongside a developed connection to Stung Treng and Kampot, a construction project referred to as the 'New Rail Initiative'.
However, whilst the economy grew, trade improved and the Cambodia 2020 plan continued to develop, a major crisis would act as a possibel threat to Cambodia's security. The sudden death of Dien Del in Februrary 2013 would put the nation and regime into a state of aprehension. Of course funeral proceedings would take place and would be well attended, but it was not unknown that a power struggle had been brewing behind the scenes, and so these proceedings would quickly be overshadowed by rumours of dissent.
Del had been a powerful leader and one who had led the country through strife for nearly 23 years, but the population for all he had given the nation still resented his brutal rule, with many civilians particularly agrieved by his destruction of the monarchy and solidification of power in Pnomh penh and the president (Himself). And so, upon his death Calls for democracy and the dismantling of his regime quickly bubbled to the surface even as his allies tried to seize power, especially as ideals of Democracy grew to prominence in Vietnam.
A week after Del's death and upon conclusion of the period of mourning, Lon Rith the son of former Khmer Republic leader Lon Nol took charge as president, having been a key ally of Del and a respected figure as the son of Lon Nol. Rith quickly declared his dedication to uphold Del's policies and continue the Military Dictatorship (a leadership coalition Del had set up in order to keep them on side as Dels popularity fell, power grew and Del grew older) , whilst he was a popular civilian he was a practical puppet of the military administration that Del established and so a large number of the Cambodian populus quickly formed a resistance front.
Weeks after Del's death with a new administration led by what many saw as a military puppet, Cambodians took to the street to campaign for a democracy be that under a regency or under a republic. While at first Rith would let the protests slide, as they garnered influence and popularity the military would enforce their rule and spark a brutal crackdown. Hundreds would die in months of great military repression, whilst the protestors recieved support from Vietnam and Laos they were no match for the military. And so, for the next few years Cambodia would remain a repressive military state under Rith. He would continue much of the policy of his predecessor although would be far more influenced by factions in the military who encouraged the destruction of other Ethnic groups and an enhancement of Khmer culture.
The country had suffered poorly in regards to it's economy upon Del's death, and with much fear of repression harming the capital's profits, the eventual stabilisation and continuation of the 2020 plan would ensure that the economy remained viable. The famine's and war's affects were still felt even in 2015 but over time and with the continuation of Del's policy their dangerous effect were reduced.
However, the protests still remained a prominent historical point, and whilst the economy had improved it was not in a great state, and so the democratic movement continued to trundle along.
Whilst, journalism and news had opened up under Del, further restrictions were applied under the military regime, with the reorganisation of all major radio stations under 'Cambodia National Radio' specifically organised by military officials, who had begun to dominate lower echelons of the civil service which they had previously been restricted from. This continued military influence over Rith and the Roth began to take its toll with widespread corruption and investment in Pnomh Penh becoming a major issue going into 2018 . Del had worked so hard to ensure the entire country was provided for after the disaster but the new Government focused on wealth and development in the city itself, adopting strong Khmer cultural stances but not stances to support the whole of thenation.
While the 2013 protest movement had been subdued in late 2018 it again came to the forefront when the military announced new restrictions on independent farming practices not overseen by Provincial/Military officials. Many people saw this as a lack of oversight by the goverment or a plain attempt to garner more wealth and influence over the region.
Further protests in 2018 renewed by Cambodian resistance were defeated in an even harsher crackdown than previously. The Military Government would begin dismantling any remaining protest movements, and in 2019 in order to ensure a positive global image called for a series of Provincial and National elections. The margin of victory for the Military was substantial with a near 99% victory, in an election described as neither free nor fair by a variety of election officials. With no mainstream ground for dissent the new parliament would effectively rubber stamp 'President Rith' and his military advisors.
In 2020, with the demolition of much opposition and greater wealth flowing into the capital and away from the countryside, a new plan was published. Referred to as 'The New Plan for a Better Cambodia' it advocated for continued investment in Khmer Culture, greater military spending, plans to re-invest in damaged areas near the capital, reconstruction of historical monuments, growth of entertainment and tourism, a shift from agriculture and textiles (which many believed to be prone to issues and not profitable enough) and a buddhist revival.
The plan was percieved by many to be a worrying shift away from the policies of Del, and whilst the country remained stable there was a growing sense that the economic sustainability and avoidance of famine so prized by the state may collapse.
Military[]
The Military is primarily organized by the Chief of the Combined armed forces of the Khmer Republuc which consist of the Khmer Air Force, Khmer Defence Forces and The Navy of the Khmer Republic. After an agreement with Del in order to maintain power the military would be granted greater freedoms, freedoms which have empowered the military to the point of effective control over the nation.
Whilst, the combined armed forces are meant to be an effectively shared unit, the dominant force in the politics of the military are the Khmer Defence Forces (army wing), who have long dominated both Khmer politics and military activity.
Economy[]
Rice cropping plays an important role in the economy.
The Khmer economy has had a long and difficult history since the events of DD. The effects of the nuclear holocaust and continuing civil conflict were responsible for a major famine, one that combined iwth Vietnam's famine resulted in a major disaster and violent conflict between the two nations.
The civil war ravaged and effectively crippled teh Cambodian economy with incredibly high unemployment, massive destruction and huge economic decline and inflation. The nation only survived off the backs of farmers who barely fed it, farmers who would become the backbone of the economy.
Upon Del taking charge major investment would be made in infrastructure and controlling farming practices from the capital in order to improve efficiency, secondary sector investment and renewed education (Khmer education) would be put at the forefront of the agenda, an agenda that has cntinued to the modern day. Albeit, with a shift to a focus on investment in the capital, transport, cultural develpment and the wide scale entertainment/tourism industry.
The agriculture industry has faltered in recent years and while the country continues to develop, fears over possible economic collapse amidst economic stagnation in Military Economic policy continue. Major investment threatens inflation and the growing corruption in the nation has been said to be bringing down not only the internal economy but also global perception and may result in future economic disaster.
Culture in the Khmer Republic[]
Sport:[]
Volleyball-[]
Volleyball is a very widely spread sport in the Khmer Republic and one that has heavily developed since DD. While, at first practically unrecognised in the nation the Government had invested in it as a physically active sport and one that culturally identifies the Cambodian nation from elsewhere.
Major investment has been made in improving the sport in Cambodia with a number of major South East Asian Volleyball teams including players hailing from Cambodia. Whilst the nation has not been particularly succesful internationally it has remained a highly popular domestic sport, and it's domestic league is considered one of the most well-funded and prominent in South East Asia.
While Volleyball may not be a sport with a large stadium or arena, widescale investment across the country has made it the primary sport for many, even if it is not a truly internationally competitive sport for the nation.
Football-[]
Football may not be the Government's most supported Sport, but it remains one of the most popular and internationally recognised. With a rapidly growing league and team that has proven itself in SEA competition.
Religion[]
The large majority of the population follows the official state religion of Buddism, which has been highly encouraged by the Cambodian Government, with most schools and institutions across the country practicing Buddist teachings. Roughly 98% of all people in Cambodia practice buddhism, and it continues to be supported through the construction of monasteriessand development of religious architecture.
While other religions are allowed, there are major restrictions on educating children or encouraging these Faith's. The government is heavily tied to the Buddhist faith and Khmer culture which they have encouraged heavily as two aspects of their regime. Both faith propaganda and the religious advisor to the Government are crucial to the nation and support for the Government.