Pol Pot’s crimes claimed millions of lives. Inhuman torture became everyday reality in Cambodia starting in 1975. The victims of this suffering were often children and young people. All because of the Hitler of Asia – Pol Pot.
Why Pol Pot?
Pol Pot’s real name was Saloth Sar. He was born in central Cambodia on May 19, 1925. In childhood, he was considered a polite and sensible boy. He expressed a love for music and art, particularly French poetry. He was very good at making new contacts.
Saloth Sar never explained why he decided to use the pseudonym „Pol Pot.” He claimed it was worth frequently changing one’s pseudonym to confuse the enemy. During his life, he posed as different people many times: as Pouk, 87, the Grand Uncle, the First Brother, 99, and Phema.
Communist Vision of the World
On April 17, 1975, Pol entered Cambodia with the Khmer Rouge. Within a few days, he ordered the closure of all educational institutions, offices, and hospitals. Residents were forced to leave their homes and move to the countryside.
Pol persecuted people who had well-groomed hands and wore glasses. He killed people who could speak a foreign language.
Through his actions, he tried to build a state of equal people. „Equality” was supposed to mean that everyone had the same amount, being simply poor.
The Destruction of Cambodia
Pol Pot wanted to rebuild Cambodia from scratch, creating from it a separate state belonging to no religion. He considered himself an atheist, despite having been raised in a very religious family. The state he led was to be self-sufficient and free from external influences.
Pol Pot’s actions in Cambodia cost the country between 2 and 3 million lives. Every day, hundreds more people died, killed in bestial ways.
The Khmer Rouge used an American entrenching tool, resembling a hoe in appearance, to murder their subjects. Prisoners were beaten with it until their skulls were shattered.
During Pol Pot’s rule, people sentenced to death dug their own graves. But even before execution, they were forced to bury living people. Human bodies were to serve as fertilizer – graves were most often dug in cultivated fields.
Khmer Torture
The torture by the cruel Khmer Rouge was exceptionally inhumane. Prisoners were subjected to waterboarding. They were tied to the floor with heavy chains. Their fingernails were torn out, needles were driven into their skin. They were beaten with cables and anything that came to hand. Prisoners were forced to constantly keep their hands raised.
A cruel torture was also pouring a drop of water on the starved and dehydrated, which after such a long time without food and drink proved to be the greatest suffering.
