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Full country name :
Kingdom of Cambodia
Area : 181,035 sq km (11,224 sq mi)
Population : 12 million (growth rate 2.2%)
Capital city : Phnom Penh (pop one million)
People : 94% ethnic Khmers, 4% Chinese, 1% Vietnamese
Language : Khmer, English and French
Religion : 95% Buddhist, Cham Muslim and Roman Catholic
Government : Constitutional Monarchy
Head of state : King Norodom Sihanouk
Prime Minister : Hun Sen
GDP : US$3 billion
GDP per head : US$300
Annual growth : 4%
Inflation : 4%
Major products/industries : Timber, rubber, shipping, rice
milling, textiles and fishing
Major trading partners : Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, USA,
Hong Kong, Taiwan |
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The
history of Cambodia began in the first century A.D with the
establishment of a State called Funan. Funan is still renowned as
being the oldest Indianized State in the whole of Southeast Asia.
Modern day Khmer customs and language evolved from this period in
time.
Sanskrit, which is part of the Mon Khmer family
dialect, was the written and spoken language of that time. The
officially known religion began with Hinduism, which over the years
evolved into Buddhism.
Distinct characteristics of that period still remain
today.
These features can be recognized in ancient buildings,
and ancient farming methods, as well as country clothing.
The State of Funan was situated in what is known today as the southern
province of Takeo and lasted for a period of 600 years. This dynasty
gave way to the powerful Angkor Empire that was eventually responsible
for establishing the Khmer Kingdom, as we know it today.
The following generation of powerful kings that belonged to the
Angkorian dynasty are believed to have come from India and Javanese
part of today's Indonesia. The dynasty reigned for a period of 650
years, and their empire covered much of South East Asia, as we know it
today. Their territory stretched from Burma, which lies east, to the
South China Sea and further north, right up to Laos.
Khmer kings, during this golden period of rule, built the most ornate
and extensive temples or prasats known to mankind. These spectacular
constructions were built throughout the kingdom, Angkor Wat, is of
course the most famous. Amongst the most successful of the Angkorean
kings was Preah Bat Jaya Varman II, Preah Bat Indra Varman I, Preah
Bat Surya VarmanII, and Preah Bat Jaya Varman VII. Besides building
the most majestic prasats on earth, they were also responsible for
huge agricultural feats of engineering which included sophisticated
irrigation systems, great water reservoirs, and countless canal
systems that guaranteed food transport. Some of these systems are
still in use even today.
Angkor became the capital of a great kingdom and the centre for
government, education, religion, and commerce. However, in the late
13th century a sudden shift of power took place. Angkor was invaded
and eventually, completely ravaged. Mankind’s most predominant
creation on earth was plunged into total destruction. The entire
population and wealth of a once proud civilization was abandoned and
covered by tropical forest.
Following the abandonment of Angkor, Cambodia's capital population
migrated south to Long Vek, then further to Ou Dong, and eventually to
Phnom Penh. The destruction of the mighty Angkorian capital also
caused a decline, adaptation, and eventual replacement of Hinduism.
Theravada Buddhism became the national religion.
From the 15th century to the 17th century, Cambodia often found itself
encroached by neighboring Thai and Vietnamese forces. They resisted,
but eventually succumbed to a European colonial power. In 1863, Preah
Bat Norodom signed a Protectorate Treaty which France, which
consequently placed Cambodia under French rule for the next 90 years.
After the death of Preah Bat Norodom in 1904, Preah Bat Sisowath,
cousin to King Norodom, was subsequently crowned as the new king of
Cambodia.
However, the throne returned to the Norodom family with the following
coronation of Preah Bat Norodom Sihanouk, our current monarch, in
1941. At that time he was only 18 years old.
Shortly after that, during the Second World War in 1945, the Japanese
ousted the French. King Norodom Sihanouk took the opportunity to free
Cambodia from foreign control. For many years following, His majesty
campaigned tirelessly for this objective, and was eventually rewarded.
Cambodian was granted its independence in 1953. The Independence
ceremony marked the end of 90 years of French protectorate rule. In
1959, King Norodom Sihanouk abdicated the throne, turning the position
of Kingship over to his father, Preah Bat Norodom Soramarith. Then,
Prince Norodom Sihanouk, became the Head of State and ruled the
government.
From 1950 through to 1970, the Kingdom of Cambodia was self-sufficient
and prosperous. It excelled in many areas of development. Cambodia was
then known as the jewel of the Orient. Unfortunately the prosperity
was very short lived. As war started to escalate in Vietnam,
Cambodia's borders increasingly became the targets of American and
Vietnamese aggression. On March 18th , 1970, General Lon Nol, backed
by the Americans, overthrew the Head of State Prince Norodom
Sihanouk. Consequently, Cambodia became deeply involved in the war,
fighting mainly against the Communist Khmer fighting faction, the
Khmer Rouge. Lon Nol's control over Cambodia's government lasted for a
period of barely five years, being eventually overthrown by the Khmer
Rouge, headed by Pol Pot on the 17th of April 1975.
History repeated itself once again as soon as Pol Pot invaded. The
entire population evacuated the city leaving a once vibrant capital in
ruin and decay. After the evacuation, The Khmer Rouge tricked Prince
Norodom Sihanouk in to returning to Phnom Penh to be Head of State,
but he was not allowed to Phnom Penh to be Head of State, but he was
not allowed to leave the Palace walls-in effect he was placed under
house arrest. The Khmer Rouge then proceeded to implement a “reign of
terror” on Cambodia's entire population. People were brutally forced
to work as slaves in the rice fields. These people had to endure long
periods of hard, painful labor while effectively being starved at the
same time. Pol pot's Kampuchean force labor camps tortured, killed or
starved to death an estimated 2 million people, including women and
children who they savagely put to death indiscriminately.
In 1979, The People's Republic of Kampuchea, supported by Vietnamese,
liberated the capital. This presented the opportunity for the country
to become re-established once again. Throughout the 1980's, Cambodia,
with the assistance of the Vietnamese re-built their economy.
In1989, the Vietnamese withdrew from Cambodia and the country was
re-named "State of Cambodia." In 1991, a Paris Peace Accord created
the United Nations Transitional Authority (UNTAC) which was backed by
some 22,000 United Nations troops to prepare the first, free and fair
general election. In May 1993 UNTAC supervised Cambodia's first
general election. Preah Bat Norodom Sihanouk Was subsequently
re-instated as King. A second general election was held in July 1998.
Today, the Kingdom of Cambodia is once again a peaceful place to
visit. It is, at present, in the process of getting rebuilt. Cambodia
now in-corporates a Parliamentary Government system, with His Majesty
Preah Bat Norodom Sihanouk Varman, King and Head of State; H.E.
Samdech Chea Sim, President of the Senate; H.R.H. Samdech Krom Preah
Norodom Ranariddh, President of the National Assembly and H.E. Samdech
Hun Sen, Prime Minister. His Majesty effectively remains the symbol of
national unity for the people of Cambodia who hold him dear to their
hearts. |
Information
provided by
Ministry of Tourism. Government of
Cambodia.
