Lions Led By Donkeys Podcast Episode 134 - The Khmer Rouge Part 2: Year Zero
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Dec 21, 2020 Dive into the harrowing realities under the Khmer Rouge regime, where fear and paranoia permeated everyday life. Explore the psychological toll on researchers as they confront unsettling histories, akin to dystopian narratives. Discover the brutal tactics used to dismantle families and enforce control, culminating in a devastating legacy of agrarian policies that led to starvation. Amidst the darkness, humor surfaces in unexpected places, including the quirky antics of urban rats. Witness the tragic targeting of ethnic minorities and the extremes of survival in a state of brutality.
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Quotas Created Endless Purges
- Accusation alone sufficed for punishment; the system rewarded false denunciations to meet quotas.
- This created a self-perpetuating cycle of arrests and purges within the regime.
Families Disbanded Into Communal Units
- Families were broken and shuffled into arbitrary communal groups called 'croms' to destroy kin bonds.
- Children were seized into communal schooling and political indoctrination under Angkar.
Reproductive Control As State Policy
- Revolutionary marriages were forced and consummated under supervision to boost state-controlled birthrates.
- Sexual coercion became institutionalized to produce children loyal to Angkar.