ABSTRACT
Arguably the worst genocide in human history occurred in Cambodia after the Khmer Rouge came to power in 1975. Under the maniacal leadership of Pol Pot and Nuon Chea, it is estimated that anywhere from one half to one third of the population of the country was systematically eliminated. By way of further background, the Cambodian tragedy needs to be seen within the context of the larger Vietnam War. What helped to set off all these horrific events was Richard Nixon's decision to engage in a “secret war” in Cambodia, which in turn led to a weakening of the Cambodian government, and with that the eventual rise to power of the Khmer Rouge. The documentary Enemies of the People (D-21) tells much of this story, and that film closes just as the special UN tribunal for Cambodia is about to put Nuon Chea on trial for war crimes and genocide.
