Year Zero

Pol Pots army seized control of Cambodia on April 17th. Pol Pot said he was going to "purify" the country. Some of the things he wanted do was;

• Got rid of all foreigners.
• Refused economical and medical help from any other country.
• The use of foreign language was banned.
• Any use of communication was shut down.
• Money was not allowed.
• Businesses were terminated.
• Religion, education, and health care were all discontinued.
• Parental authority was stopped.

All cities were evacuated by force. About two million people were evacuated at gun point, 20,000 people died. In 1975 all Vietnamese, Chinese, Cham Muslims, and 20 other small ethnic groups were killed. Pol Pot wanted to get rid of anyone who was educated or anyone who looked educated. Hospital patients that could not walk were shot, and most babies were brutally murdered.