Cambodia: Khmer Rouge genocide suspect asks court to release him - timeline
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- June 2009. The chief international prosecutor at the UN-backed Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC( steps down citing "family reasons".
- February 2009. The trial of Kang Kek Ieu (known as Duch), former head of the Tuol Sleng S-21 detention centre begins. Duch faces charges of crimes against humanity and serious violation of the Geneva Convention of 1949.
- January 2009. The ECCC states that its first prosecution, against Duch will begin in February.
- October 2008. Four former Khmer Rouge guerrillas are convicted of killing UK mine clearance expert Christopher Howes and his interpreter Huon Hourth.
- November 2007. The ECCC orders the arrest of former Khmer Rouge President Khieu Samphan and Tuol Sleng Duch .
- June 2007. International and Cambodian judges agree procedures for the ECCC.
- December 2006. Discussions to establish the procedures of the ECCC break down. Observers blame the government for preventing the court from beginning prosecutions.
- July 2006. Judges are sworn in for the ECCC: 17 Cambodian judges and 10 foreign UN-appointed judges.
- October 2004. King Norodom Sihanouk abdicates citing deepening health problems and age. His son, Prince Norodom Sihamoni, is named as his successor.
- June 2003. The agreement on the creation of a UN-Cambodian genocide tribunal is signed by both parties.
- March 2003. UN and Cambodian officials produce a draft agreement for the creation of an UN-Cambodian genocide tribunal.
- September 2002. The life sentences of two former Khmer Rouge leaders for the 1994 murders of three foreign tourists are confirmed by a Cambodian court.
- June 2002. The Cambodian government closes 54 publications. No reason is given for the closures.
- February 2002. The UN announces its intention to withdraw from the genocide tribunal planned to try former Khmer Rouge leaders for genocide.
- August 2001. King Norodom Sihanouk signs the law for the creation of a special genocide tribunal.
- January 2001. The Cambodian legislature passes the legislation necessary for the creation of a genocide tribunal for Cambodia.
- February 2000. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan rejects Cambodian plans for a joint UN-Cambodian genocide tribunal.
- July 1999. A judge decides that Khmer Rouge leader Ta Mok will face two trials: one under Cambodian law for membership of the Khmer Rouge, and one by a Cambodian-International tribunal for genocide.
- June 1999. A former Khmer Rouge commander is convicted in Phnom Penh for his part in the abduction and murder of three foreign tourists. The one day trial was condemned as a sham by the UN and the victims families.
- May 1999. Kang Kek Leu, alias Duch, is interviewed by a journalist and admits responsibility for torture and mass murder at Tuol Sleng. He also indicates his willingness to stand trial.
- April 1999. The government agrees to include international judges in the trials of former Khmer Rouge leaders.
- March 1999. Ta Mok, the leader of the Khmer Rouge since 1997 is captured. The government states that it intends to try him in a Cambodian court.
- February 1999. The last large group of Khmer Rouge fighters surrender. Some are integrated into the army while others are given a small payment and demobilised.
- January 1999. Prime Minister Hun Sen supports calls for a trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders suspected of genocide.
- December 1998. Two of the three remaining senior Khmer Rouge leaders defect to the government. Disquiet grows over the rehabilitation of Khmer Rouge figures suspected of genocide.
- November 1998. The Cambodian People's Party and Funcinpec agree a coalition to end the deadlock which followed disputed elections in July.
- July 1998. The incumbent Cambodian People's Party claims victory in elections marred by alleged voter intimidation and political violence.
- June 1998. The Cambodian army captures the last significant Khmer Rouge base.
- April 1998. Pol pot dies under house arrest in Khmer Rouge territory.
- February 1998. Prime Minister Hun Sen accepts a Japanese peace plan and agrees to Norodom Ranariddh's return from exile and new elections.
- July 1997. Second Prime Minister Hun Sen of the Cambodian People's Party takes power in a coup after two days of fighting in Phnom Penh. His former coalition partner Norodom Ranariddh, of the royalist Funcinpec party, flees to France.
- December 1996. Three more senior Khmer Rouge figures defect to the government side.
- September 1996. A senior Khmer Rouge, Ieng Sary, defector is pardoned byKing Norodom Sihanouk and forms a new political party. Many fighters leave the Khmer Rouge with him.
- August 1995. The government closes a newspaper for disinformation and defamation of the prime ministers.
- February 1994. Government forces capture a key Khmer Rouge base.
- August 1993. The new government launches an offensive against the Khmer Rouge with the UN's support.
- June 1993. UN-sponsored elections bring the nationalist and monarchist Funcinpec party to power. They narrowly defeat the incumbent communist Cambodian People's Party but fail to gain an outright majority.
- April 1993. The Khmer Rouge withdraw their officials from Phnom Penh.
- December 1992. The Khmer Rouge seize several UN peacekeepers.
- November 1992. The UN imposes sanctions on the Khmer Rouge after they fail to fulfil the conditions of the peace process.
- June 1992. Clashes between the government and the Khmer Rouge threaten the peace process.
- November 1991. Prince Norodom Sihanouk is reinstated as the Cambodian head of state. Before returning Phnom Penh he distanced himself from his erstwhile allies the Khmer Rouge.
- October 1991. All the major factions in Cambodia's civil war agree to a peace settlement.
- April 1990. Cambodian government forces inflict heavy defeats on the Khmer Rouge, capturing much of their remaining territory.
- February 1990. Peace talks between the government, Khmer Rouge and other major factions in Cambodia's civil war are held in Jakarta.
- April 1989. Vietnam agrees to withdraw its forces from Cambodia despite the continued presence of Khmer Rouge fighters in the west of the country.
- January 1981. Khmer Rouge forces in Cambodia's western border region continue to fight against the new government. Many of the social changes made by the Khmer Rouge are reversed and money is reintroduced.
- May 1979. The extent of the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia begins to be revealed to the outside world.
- May 1979. Vietnam launches a full scale invasion of Cambodia and rapidly captures Phnom Penh and other major cities. A new government is set up and Khmer Rouge resistance is reduced to guerrilla attacks in the countryside.
- October 1978. Border conflicts with Vietnam slowly escalate in severity.
- February 1978. Cambodian and Thai forces engage in repeated clashes on the border.
- June 1976. Prince Norodom Sihanouk resigns as head of state and Pol Pot forms a new government.
- December 1975. The Khmer Rouge forcibly evacuate all residents of Phnom Penh, approximately 2 million people, to the countryside. The populations of other large towns are also forced to leave and directed to undertake agricultural work.
- June 1975. Phnom Penh falls to the Khmer Rouge. This ends the five year civil war.
- May 1974. Khmer Rouge insurgents bombard the capital before being pushed back by a Republican counter offensive.
- October 1973. The USA ceases its bombing campaign against Viet Cong insurgents in Cambodia.
- September 1971. The civil war in Cambodia continues with Republican forces, backed by South Vietnam, holding most of the towns and communist insurgents (Khmer Rouge), backed by north Vietnam, controlling most of the countryside.
- November 1970. The US government pledges $50million of military aid to Cambodia.
- October 1970. The Cambodian government abolishes the monarchy.
- August 1970. Prince Norodom Sihanouk establishes a government in exile in Beijing.
- August 1970. The Cambodian army receives help from South Vietnamese and US forces after Viet Cong and Cambodian communist guerrillas capture government territory.
- June 1970. The USA supplies arms to the Cambodian army for use against North Vietnamese forces.
- June 1970. Prince Norodom Sihanouk is overthrown and replaced by a right-wing government. General Lon Nol assumes power on a wave of anti-Vietnamese sentiment.
- February 1970. Cambodia recognises East Germany, leading to the severing of relations with West Germany.
- September 1967. A new government is formed after rioting blamed on communist insurgents.
- March 1965. Cambodia renounces US military and economic aid and moves towards reliance on France, China and the Soviet Union instead. Economic policies become more left-wing.
- April 1961. Prince Norodom Sihanouk is sworn in as chief of state having refused the crown. Two leaders of the right-wing opposition party the Free Cambodian Movement are condemned to death in absentia by a military court for plotting to overthrow the government.
- April 1960. King Norodom Suramarit dies.
- June 1958. The Popular Socialist Community party again wins all the seats in the National Congress. Only one seat is contested by an opposition candidate.
- October 1955. Prince Sihanouk's Popular Socialist Community party wins elections to the National Congress. Opposition figures are persecuted by the government before the poll and several flee after the results are announced.
- January 1955. King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia abdicates in favour of his father in order to pursue a political career.
- July 1953. Cambodia, along with the other nations of French Indo-China, gains independence from France.
- November 1949. A treaty between France and Cambodia defining the status of the latter country as an independent State within the French Union is signed
- November 1946. Siam returns to Cambodia the territories ceded by Vichy France in 1941.
- February 1946. French rule is restored after the Japanese surrender. Cambodia becomes autonomous within French Indo-China.
- July 1941. Japanese forces occupy Cambodia along with the rest of French Indo-China.
- March 1941. Vichy France cedes large areas of Cambodia to Thailand after Japan threatens military action.
- January 1941. A border conflict is fought in Cambodia between Vichy France, the colonial power, and Thailand. Fighting ends when a Japanese offer of mediation is accepted by both sides.
- 1863. Cambodia agrees to become a French protectorate.
