In 1975, Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, fell to the Khmer Rouge, an extreme Communist guerrilla faction. Led by Pol Pot, they immediately declared ‘year zero’, banning all institutions, including stores, banks, hospitals, schools, religion and even the family in an attempt to create ‘purity’.

The Khmer Rouge killed anyone who opposed their ideology. Sometimes mere ability to read resulted in death. Minority groups, in particular the Vietnamese, were targeted by the Khmer Rouge leadership for elimination on racial grounds. Buddhism was targeted as a ‘reactionary religion’. Only 2,000 of Cambodia’s 70,000 monks survived, and 95% of its Buddhist temples were destroyed.

An estimated 2,000,000 Cambodians – around 30% of the population – died from starvation, torture or execution between 1975-1979. The victims included high numbers of Buddhist monks, Vietnamese, Chinese, Thais, Cham Muslims and Kola. Vietnam invaded in January 1979, ending the genocide.