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Cambodia is a small south East Asian country to the west of [[Vietnam]] in the region known as Indochina. The indigenous people of Cambodia are known as the Khmer and it is believed that they have inhabited the land since 380BC.  

Cambodia is a small south East Asian country to the west of [[Vietnam]] in the region known as Indochina. The indigenous people of Cambodia are known as the Khmer and it is believed that they have inhabited the land since 380BC.  

On the 19th of February 1956 Doc Soc declared Niño Gordo as the [[Republic of Cambodia]] and renamed the capital city [[Phnom Penh]] (Khmer for Freedom City). [[Doc Soc]] was then democratically{{vague word}} elected President.  

On the 19th of February 1956 Doc Soc declared Niño Gordo as the [[Republic of Cambodia]] and renamed the capital city [[Phnom Penh]] (Khmer for Freedom City). [[Doc Soc]] was then democratically{{vague word}} elected President.  

The next few years of Cambodia's history were peaceful in contrast to its neighbour Vietnam which during the 1950's and 60's went through a series of conflicts with both the [[French]] and the [[Americans]]. In 1975 a radical Communist named [[Pol Pot]] seized control of the country and turned it into <s>what can only be described as</s> a malevolent dictatorship. Many Cambodians died while working on the rice plantations (often dubbed as "[[killing fields]]"{{vague term}}) that Pol Pot forced the entire country to work on <s>in order to contribute to the economy</s>.  

The next few years of Cambodia's history were peaceful in contrast to its neighbour Vietnam which during the 1950's and 60's went through a series of conflicts with both the [[French]] and the [[Americans]]. The war in neighbouring Vietnam spilled into Cambodia as North Vietnamese soldiers and Viet Cong guerillas used Cambodia as a staging ground and to maintain supply lines to the south. In response, the Nixon/Kissinger administreation responded with a series of bombings and an invasion of the country. In 1975 a radical Communist named [[Pol Pot]] seized control of the country and turned it into a malevolent dictatorship. Many Cambodians died while working on the rice plantations (often dubbed as "[[killing fields]]"{{vague term}}) that Pol Pot forced the entire country to work on.

In November 1978, Vietnam invaded Cambodia to stop Khmer Rouge incursions across the border and the genocide of Vietnamese in Cambodia. Violent occupation and warfare between the Vietnamese and Khmer Rouge holdouts continued throughout the 1980s. Peace efforts began in Paris in 1989, culminating two years later in October 1991 in a comprehensive peace settlement. The United Nations was given a mandate to enforce a ceasefire, and deal with refugees and disarmament.

In November 1978, Vietnam invaded Cambodia to stop Khmer Rouge incursions across the border and the genocide of Vietnamese in Cambodia. Violent occupation and warfare between the Vietnamese and Khmer Rouge holdouts continued throughout the 1980s. Peace efforts began in Paris in 1989, culminating two years later in October 1991 in a comprehensive peace settlement. The United Nations was given a mandate to enforce a ceasefire, and deal with refugees and disarmament.

After the brutality of the 1970s and the 1980s, and the destruction of the cultural, economic, social and political life of Cambodia, it is only in recent years that reconstruction efforts have begun and some political stability has finally returned to Cambodia. The democracy established{{fact}} following the conflict was shaken in 1997 during a coup d'état, but has otherwise remained in place.

After the brutality of the 1970s and the 1980s, and the destruction of the cultural, economic, social and political life of Cambodia, it is only in recent years that reconstruction efforts have begun and some political stability has finally returned to Cambodia. The democracy established{{fact}} following the conflict was shaken in 1997 during a coup d'état, but has otherwise remained in place.