Cambodia: 40th anniversary celebration of Khmer Rouge ouster January 7

Event

As of Monday January 7, Cambodians celebrate throughout the country, including in the capital city Phnom Penh, the 40th anniversary of the expulsion of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime. As such, a heightened security presence is expected nationwide, particularly in the capital. Business and traffic disruptions are possible throughout the country during the holiday.

Context

The ultra-Maoist Khmer Rouge installed a reign of terror in 1975 that left two million Cambodians dead from starvation, hard labour, torture, and mass executions. The regime came to an end on January 7, 1979, when Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge leader, led Vietnamese forces into Phnom Penh to overthrow the Khmer Rouge regime.

Advice

Individuals across the country, notably in Phnom Penh, are advised to anticipate large crowds, a heightened security presence, and transportation disruptions, maintain vigilance for criminal and suspicious behavior, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities.