In the year of 1953, Cambodia achieved their independence. It happened in spite of World War II and the First Indochina War. The independence of Cambodia was obtained through the political savvy of King Sihanouk. He wanted to be released from the pressures of the monarchy and that was the reason Sihanouk renounced the throne. After that he became a full time politician. He also started a political sect and this was named as People’s Socialist Community or Sangkum Reastr Niyum. He won in the 1955 national elections. He was successful because of his popularity and also from police brutality at the polling stations.
His father died in the year 1960. After this incidence he was named head of state. Until then he had been the prime minister. Sihanouk remained neutral in the struggle between the USSR and US. He also changed his position regarding tensions in Vietnam in the year 1965. At that time he also eliminated diplomatic relations with the US.
At one point of time Sihanouk allowed the Communist Vietnamese admission to Cambodian soil. This has been done with an intention to set up bases. When Cambodian economy started becoming unstable, Sihanouk made up his mind to renew his relations with the US. But at that time they were secretly planning on bombing Cambodian areas. They were suspecting that some of the Vietnamese Communists are located in those areas.
In 1970, Sihanouk went to abroad. He was expelled from power and so fled to China. The Prime Minister, General Lon Nol, had hoped for US aid. But since US was occupied with Vietnamese troubles they were unable to help him. Meanwhile, since Lon Nol’s army was unequipped, they couldn’t stop the intrusion of South Vietnamese. They came their in order to search for the North Vietnamese.
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