Cambodia marks 47 years since Khmer Rouge fall

Phnom Penh today commemorates the 47th anniversary of the collapse of the Khmer Rouge regime, a moment that survivors describe as the day life returned after years of terror.

On 7 January 1979, Cambodian forces, backed by Vietnamese troops, entered the capital and ended nearly four years of brutal rule under Pol Pot. Millions had been displaced, starved or executed. For those who lived through it, the date is etched into memory as both liberation and rebirth.

Novelist Tim Many, now 79, recalls being forced from his home and education when the Khmer Rouge seized Phnom Penh in 1975. “I had to pretend I had no schooling,” he says.

“If they knew you were educated, you could disappear.” He remembers long days of forced labour and nights spent hoping for rescue. “If there were no January 7, I would not be alive today,” he adds.

Others share similar recollections. Ung Sayean, 77, remembers being ordered to leave her home at dawn, with no medicine and only food earned through relentless work. “I never thought I would see the bright world again,” she says. For Ny Phally, who lost her husband during the regime, the day carries a simple meaning: “It is the day freedom returned.”

The song Oh! Phnom Penh Euy, written immediately after the city’s liberation, continues to resonate. Its lyrics of longing and survival have become a cultural touchstone, reminding Cambodians of both the suffering endured and the resilience shown.

Commemorations in Phnom Penh today included speeches from Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian People’s Party and Senate, who urged citizens to strengthen national unity and remember the millions who perished. He highlighted the role of the Kampuchea United Front for National Salvation, formed in December 1978, which led the struggle against the genocidal regime.

Residents marking the day spoke of peace as Cambodia’s greatest achievement since 1979. “Without peace, nothing can be achieved,” said Aung Siya, a local resident. Another, Sot Chai Leang, expressed gratitude for the liberation that allowed the country to rebuild.

For survivors, January 7 is not just history. It is a second birthday, a reminder that against all odds, Cambodia endured.

-2026-01-07