CASE STUDY INTRODUCTIONThe Lost Boys of Sudan

The Cambodian Genocide

Where is Sudan?

Sudan’s History

• http://youtu.be/fj4hWU3VNr0

Timeline

• 1987: The Khartoum government begins a major campaign to destroy the southern region of Sudan.

• 1987-1991: Tens of thousands of boys (and some girls) aged 6-10 flee to Ethiopia. Thousands die on the way. The young refugees are called the “Lost Boys” of Sudan. Those who survive settle in refugee camps.

• 1991: Khartoum pays Ethiopia to capture the Lost Boys. Again in danger, the Lost Boys flee back into Sudan. They are pursued and attacked by the Muslim North and eventually flee to Kenya for safety.

Timeline• 1999: The United States begins a resettlement program

for some Lost Boys. • 2005: Khartoum and South Sudan sign a Comprehensive

Peace Agreement to end the war.• 2011: South Sudan votes for independence. Violence and

conflict continues between Sudan and South Sudan.

Where is Cambodia?

Timeline

• 1953: Cambodia becomes independent from France

• 1953-1968: As the Cold War heats up, U.S. President Eisenhower worries Cambodia will fall to communist influences in North Vietnam. Cambodia begins to assist the Viet Cong (the North Vietnamese communists) in the Vietnam War.

• 1960s: Meanwhile, a communist rebellion begins within Cambodia, led by a rebel group known as

the Khmer Rouge (KR).

Timeline

• 1969-1973: The United States begins secretly bombing parts of Cambodia as part of the Vietnam War

• 1970: Americans begin to invade Cambodia. The United States backs off after a series of protests, including the famous Kent State protest.

• 1975: The Khmer Rouge, after gaining strength, take over Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capitol. The KR evacuate the city and push residents into the countryside.

Timeline

• 1975-1979: The Angkor (the ruling organization) creates forced labor camps, outlaws all property and money, crushes all religion, and attempts to completely re-educate Cambodians (and especially “new people”) to believe in their communist utopian vision.

• Two million people die of starvation, exhaustion, torture, and brutal massacres in the resulting genocide.

• 1980: Vietnam invades Cambodia, ousting the KR, who continue to shape politics in Cambodia for many years (with American support). Many refugees leave.

• 1992: Cambodia reestablishes a constitutional monarchy and begins to rebuild.