Democratic Kampuchea

Most Khmers said that they loved the King, and seemed to have high hopes for the future. Therefore, it was a shame that the only people permitted to attend the festivities at the palace were a handful of dignitaries and foreign journalists. Citizens were forced to watch the closed affair on television. Even the attendance of opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, was up in the air. Many politicians blamed Sam Rainsy for King Norodom Sihanouk delaying his return to Cambodia, after his latest trip to Beijing. Some went so far as to blame him for the King's abdication. The King had often threatened to resign his post if the CPP, Cambodia's ruling political party, and the opposition could not come to an amicable compromise. Most recently, Sam Rainsy had sent a warning letter to the King, explaining that an anti-royalist protest awaited him in Phnom Penh, if he returned from China, as scheduled. The opposition leader claimed that the protests were arranged by the CPP, but were to be blamed on Sam Rainsy. In the end, it is believed that intervention by King Norodom Sihanouk himself secured an invitation for Sam Rainsy. Although the press competed fiercely for photos of the new king, Sam Rainsy was the only coronation guest who was asked to hold an impromptu press conference. It was apparent that journalists wished to ask Sam Rainsy a slue of poignant questions, about his relationship with Prime Minister Hun Sen, as well as rumors that he would be brought in for questioning, regarding his letter to King Norodom SihanouDemocratic Kampuchea (Khmer: ) was a communist government[1] existing between 1975 and 1979 that ruled Cambodia in Southeast Asia. It was founded when the Khmer Rouge forces defeated the Lon Nol-led Khmer Republic. The governing body was referred to as "Angkar Loeu" (upper organization).[2] The Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) leadership referred to themselves as "Angkar Padevat" during this period.[3] Its constitution defined it as a "State of the people, workers, peasants, and all other Kampuchean labourers".

Pol Pot was the leader of the Khmer Rouge. In 1979 the territory of Cambodia/Kampuchea was invaded by Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation and People's Army of Vietnam troops, following which the People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK) was installed. The PRK had a pro-Soviet government, similar to that installed in Laos in December 1975. The defeated Khmer Rouge forces regrouped along the border with Thailand and retained the structure of the DK state in the regions they controlled. Most Western nations continued to recognize DK as the legitimate government of the country.

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