ABSTRACT
One identity group was mentioned repeatedly by primary sources for their participation in exchanges: Chinese Khmers. An ethnic group that was often associated with commerce before the revolution, Sino-Khmers played a key role in the evolution of the barter economy. This section includes a brief history of ethnic Chinese in Cambodia and focuses on the vulnerability of this identity group in Democratic Kampuchea. Stereotyped as rich merchants by the anti-capitalist regime, they were often treated with hostility by Khmer Rouge cadres, as well as other villagers. Frequent abuse and isolation forced Chinese Khmers to take risks in the camps, hawking their valuables for rice and medicine, often placing them in the center of the underground exchanges.
