Pol Pot, born Saloth Sar on May 19, 1925, was a Cambodian revolutionary and politician who served as the leader of the Khmer Rouge from 1963 until 1997. He is best known for his role in the Cambodian genocide and the establishment of a totalitarian regime that sought to create an agrarian socialist society.
Pol Pot studied in Paris in the early 1950s, where he became involved in leftist politics and was influenced by Marxist-Leninist ideologies. Upon returning to Cambodia, he joined the communist movement and quickly rose through the ranks of the Cambodian Communist Party.
In 1975, the Khmer Rouge, under Pol Pot's leadership, seized control of Cambodia, driving out the US-backed government of Lon Nol. Pol Pot's regime sought to transform Cambodia into a classless agrarian utopia. This involved radical social engineering, including the forced evacuation of urban populations, the abolishment of money, private property, and religion, as well as the establishment of collective farms.
The regime was marked by extreme brutality, and estimates suggest that between 1.5 to 2 million people died as a result of starvation, forced labor, and executions during the four years of Khmer Rouge rule (1975-1979). Targeted groups included intellectuals, professionals, religious minorities, and anyone deemed a threat to the regime.
In 1979, following a Vietnamese invasion, the Khmer Rouge was ousted from power, leading to the establishment of a new government in Cambodia. Pol Pot fled to the jungle, where he continued to lead remnants of the Khmer Rouge and remained active in Cambodian politics until his death on April 15, 1998.
Pol Pot's legacy is one of profound devastation, marked by the immense human suffering and loss of life caused by his policies. He remains a controversial figure in Cambodian history, symbolizing the dangers of radical ideologies and authoritarianism.