កម្ពុជា ១៩៧៦

1976 Chronology Of Cambodia History

• Jan. 4, 1976 Serious fighting erupts on Tral Island or Phu Quoc (according to a month report by Khmer Rouge soldier on Seh Island to Son Sen - Dep. PM and Defense Minister alias Brother 89 or Khieu).  Plans, helicopters and cannons are used.  Ships carried red flags with pictures of Angkor Wat temple and white flags are shot at by people on Tral Island. [26]
• Jan. 5, 1976 New constitution (the country's third since independent in 1953) was promulgated. The country was officially renamed Democratic Kampuchea (DK). The DK constitution provided a 250-seat Assembly to be called the "People's Representative Assembly". 150 members represent the peasants, 50 the laborers and other working people, and 50 the revolutionary army.
• Jan. 9, 1976 Khmer Rouge Standing Committee convened a meeting (attendees: comrade Secretary, comrade Deputy-Secretary, comrade Doeun, comrade Art, comrade Pheas and comrade Tuch) to discuss the party propaganda and educational plan for 1976 and the future. [Minute of the meeting in Cambodian page 1-9]
  
• Jan. 19, 1976 The New York Times reports that the Khmer Rouge are again forcibly transferring hundreds of thousands of people from the cities to rural areas.
• Jan. 23, 1976 Khmer Rouge soldier reports to Son Sen that on the night of Jan. 22, the Vietnamese attacked their force.  The Khmer Rouges who were one Kilometer from Pou Nhek mountain were ordered to withdraw by the Vietnamese, who claim that it is their land. 
• Feb. 4, 1976 The Phnom Penh govt. announces that nationwide elections will be held March 20 for the newly established People's Representative Assembly.
• Feb. 6, 1976 Khmer Rouge soldier seize Thai boat (s) and brought to Rung Island but later release. [26] ……… China sign secret military aid agreement with Cambodia.
• Feb. 8, 1976 Khmer Rouge soldier reports to Son Sen about the border problem with Vietnam and seeks the minister's advise: " I'd like to report to Brother about the border problem in which the Vietnamese established their base (s) in our territory: Our soldiers met with Teu Dic who is in charge of the planting section.  They camped along the Huch Stream in Pou Trakk Village.  The info that the Region's soldier gave is that they move 1 Kilometer into our territory.  We went to inspect all together.  The Vietnamese did not recognize this borderline.  They said that our map is not correct.  Our Soldiers ordered them to withdraw from that place completely by they did not withdraw…Does Brother have any comment on the above issues?" [26]
• Feb. 22, 1976 Chhin, Khmer Rouge commander, reports to Son Sen about situation with Vietnamese and requests more ammunition. Khmer Rouge Standing Committee met (attendees: comrade Secretary, comrade Dep.-Secretary, comrade Van, comrade Von, comrade Khieu, comrade Nuch, comrade Hem, comrade Doeun) to discuss the country defense issues, including the Vietnamese's activities on Cambodia eastern border, Chinese aid, delivery of ammunition from Vietnam, and military hospital. [Minute of the meeting in Cambodian page 1 2 3 4]  On the same day, the Committee, without Nuch but replaced by comrade Thun and Tuch, also discussed the economic issues.
• Feb. 25, 1976 Three unidentified planes were reported to have bombed the town of Siem Reap, causing a number of casualties. The report blames American for the bombing. [Report in Cambodian page 1 2]
• Feb. 28, 1976 Khmer Rouge Standing Committee met to discuss the aid from Sweden and Yugoslavia. Swedish govt. planned to provide around $5 million in unconditional aid to Cambodia and Yugoslavia would provide $4 million. [Minute of the meeting in Cambodian page 1 2 3 4]
• Feb. 29, 1976 Commander Chhin sends report of border situation to Brother 89.
• March 8, 1976 Khmer Rouge Standing Committee met to discuss announcement of the election due to be held on March 20, 1976 and the monitoring of news. [Minute in Cambodian page 1 2 3 4]
• March 9, 1976 Report of the situation at the Cambodia-Vietnam border is sent to Son Sen.
• March 11, 1976 Khmer Rouge Standing Committee met (attendees: comrade Secretary, comrade Dep.-Secretary, comrade Von, Comrade Khieu, comrade Hem, comrade Douen, comrade Toum and comrade Tuch) to discuss Prince Norodom Sihanouk's resignation request. [Minute in Cambodian page 1 2 3 4 5]  On the same day, the Committee also discussed the eastern border situation. [Minute in Cambodian page 1 2 3 4]
• March 20, 1976 With about 98 percent of eligible voters participating, Cambodians elect 250 members to a newly formed People's Representative Assembly.
• April 2, 1976 Govt. of Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge) issued a statement regarding Prince Sihanouk's resignation as Cambodia Head of State. [Statement in Cambodian page 1 2]
• April 4, 1976 Khieu Samphan becomes Prime Minister (04/04/76-05/13/76).
• April 7, 1976 Prince Sihanouk and his cabinet resign; Khieu Samphan replaces Prince Sihanouk as Chief of State.
• April 14, 1976 People's Representative Assembly approves the new government head by Khieu Samphan.
• April 22, 1976 Govt. of Democratic Kampuchea held its first cabinet meeting, chaired by Comrade Secretary (Pol Pot).
• May 7, 1976 Khmer Rouge Standing Committee met to discuss trade issues. [Minute in Cambodian page 1 2]
• May 10, 1976 Brent Scowcroft, US National Security Adviser, sent a memo to Pres. Ford concerning a comprehensive report on ‘the life inside Cambodia’ prepared by the US Embassy in Bangkok.
• May 13, 1976 Pol Pot becomes Prime Minister (05/13/76-01/07/79).
• May 15, 1976 Khmer Rouge Standing Committee met (attendees: comrade Secretary, comrade Deputy, comrade Khieu, comrade Hem, comrade Douen and comrade Tuch) to discuss defense issues, factory, and airport. [Minute in Cambodian page 1 2]
• May 18, 1976 Vietnam Deputy FM Phan Nguyen and delegation visited Cambodia.
• May 19, 1976 DK Deputy Prime Minister Ieng Sary met with visiting Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Phan Nuyeng and his delegation.
• May 30, 1976 Khmer Rouge Standing Committee met (attendees: comrade Secretary, comrade Deputy, comrade Von, comrade Khieu, comrade Hem and comrade Tuch) to discuss duties of the armed forces. [Minute in Cambodian page 1 2 3 4 5]
• June 11, 1976 Telegram is sent to Brother 89 to report about the interception of a letter hat has " significant meaning".  [Read more]
• June 12, 1976 Son Sen is informed about an expected shipment of Chinese military equipment to Cambodia.
• June 16, 1976 A working session was convened, attending by comrade Secretary, comrade Deputy, comrade Hem, comrade Phea, comrade Su, comrade Si and Social and Health administrators, to discuss social and health issues.
• July 20, 1976 Pol Pot received a Vietnamese journalist delegation in Phnom Penh.
• Aug. 12, 1976 Khmer Rouge and Thai fishing fleet, protected by Thai navy, crash near Koh Kong for nearly 4 hours; one Thai fishing boat is captured. 
• Aug. 24, 1976 Brother 89 is informed about the Chinese Embassy's request. [Read more]
• Nov. 23, 1976 Thai govt. returns 26 Cambodian refugees to Cambodia, saying they are a threat to Thai national security.