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'''Pol Pot''' (born '''Saloth Sar''' May 19,1928-1998) was the ruthless [[Cambodia]]n [[Communism|Communist]] [[dictator]] and [[genocide|genocidist]] responsible for killing 1-3 million Cambodians in the late 1970s (nearly a third of the Cambodian population).  Anyone thought to be [[intellectual]] was murdered, including the killing of people simply for knowing a foreign language or even merely wearing glasses.  Pol Pot held power through a combination of enormous charm and complete ruthlessness. He is infamous for being a communist who apparently did not even like to read the works of [[Marx]].

'''Pol Pot''' (born '''Saloth Sar''' May 19,1928-1998) was the ruthless [[Cambodia]]n [[Communism|Communist]] [[dictator]] and [[genocide|genocidist]] responsible for killing 1-3 million Cambodians in the late 1970s (nearly a third of the Cambodian population).  Anyone thought to be [[intellectual]] was murdered, including the killing of people simply for knowing a foreign language or even merely wearing glasses.  Pol Pot held power through a combination of enormous charm and complete ruthlessness. He is infamous for being a communist who apparently did not even like to read the works of [[Marx]].

When Pol Pot took over Cambodia in 1975, he abolished [[private property]], [[money]] and [[religion]] and converted everything back to an [[agricultural society]]. He emptied the cities. His [[Khmer Rouge]] government fell in 1979 when the communist country of [[Vietnam]] invaded Cambodia after a series of violent border confrontations, and Pol Pot fled to the northern jungle with his forces. Pol Pot was popular in China, because they believed Cambodia would be a counterbalance to Vietnam, which was friendly with the Soviet Union. The Chinese support for Pol Pot was a reason he was not ousted earlier to disowned by the communist movement.

When Pol Pot took over Cambodia in 1975, he abolished [[private property]], [[money]] and [[religion]] and converted everything back to an [[agricultural society]]. He emptied the cities. His [[Khmer Rouge]] government fell in 1979 when the communist country of [[Vietnam]] invaded Cambodia after a series of violent border confrontations, and Pol Pot fled to the northern jungle with his forces. Pol Pot was popular in China, because they believed Cambodia would be a counterbalance to Vietnam, which was friendly with the Soviet Union. The Chinese support for Pol Pot was a reason he was not ousted earlier to disowned by the communist movement. Also the United States backed the Khmer Rouge guerrilla after [[Ronald Reagan]] took over as president. Also, the American puppet government of Thailand did so. THe USSR and Laos supported the democratic government.

An Oscar-winning film about his dictatorship, ''[[The Killing Fields]]'' brought a wider knowledge of his atrocities, but only years after they had taken place.  The United States and other Asian nations were blamed for once supporting him in order to counter Vietnam next door.

An Oscar-winning film about his dictatorship, ''[[The Killing Fields]]'' brought a wider knowledge of his atrocities, but only years after they had taken place.  The United States and other Asian nations were blamed for once supporting him in order to counter Vietnam next door.

[[Category:Dictators]]

[[Category:Dictators]]

[[Category:Cambodia]]

[[Category:Cambodia]]

[[Category:Atheists]]

[[Category:Christians]]

[[Category:Dictators backed by the United States]]