Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There is a changing of the guard at the top and Hun Sen becomes prime minister of Cam-
bodia, a title he still holds today with the Cambodian People's Party (CPP).
1989
As the effects of President Gorbachev's perestroika (restructuring) begin to impact on com-
munist allies, Vietnam feels the pinch and announces the withdrawal of its forces from
Cambodia.
1991
The Paris Peace Accords are signed, in which all parties, including the Khmer Rouge,
agree to participate in free and fair elections supervised by the UN.
1993
The pro-Sihanouk royalist party Funcinpec, under the leadership of Prince Ranariddh,
wins the popular vote, but the communist CPP threatens secession in the east to muscle
its way into government.
1994
The Khmer Rouge target foreign tourists in Cambodia, kidnapping and killing groups trav-
elling by taxi and train to the South Coast, reinforcing Cambodia's overseas image as a
dangerous country.
1995
Prince Norodom Sirivudh is arrested and exiled for allegedly plotting to kill Prime Minister
Hun Sen, removing another potential rival from the scene.
1996
British deminer Christopher Howes, working in Cambodia with the Mines Advisory Group
(MAG), is kidnapped by the Khmer Rouge and later killed, together with his interpreter
Houn Hourth.
1997
Second Prime Minister Hun Sen overthrows First Prime Minister Norodom Ranariddh in a
military coup, referred to as 'the events of 1997' in Cambodia.
1998
Pol Pot passes away on 15 April 1998 as Anlong Veng falls to government forces, and
many observers ponder whether the timing is coincidental.
