|RConstitution:|N Under transitional UN management.
|RNature and climate:|N The country is dominated by a very fertile plain crossed by the Mekong River and the huge lake Tonle Sap. In the southwest and east forested mountains. Highest peak, Phnom Aural, reaches 1813 m.a.s.l.
Tropical climate with an average temperature between 24 and 28°C throughout the year.
Percipitation between 1000 and 3000 mm.
|RPeople:|N 90% Khmer and 5% Chinese.
|REconomy:|N 74% of the labour force is occupied in agriculture, which is based on subsistence farming, except for the rubber plantations.
Most important crops are rice, rubber and corn, but there is a substantial food shortage.
Cambodia have timber, gemstones, iron ore, manganese, phosphates, coal, lead, zinc and a great hydroelectrical potential.
Most important industries are rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, but most manufacturing and economic activities has been devastated in the civil wars that has raged the country since 1970.
|RHistory:|N On the soil of todays Cambodia formerly the kingdoms Funan and Chenla existed side by side. Funan had a time of prosperity in the 5th and 6th centuries AD and about 600 AD Chenla raised in power and wealth and conquered Funan. The Khmer-people who lived in the southern part of the country seized power in the 8th century and the Khmer empire had a time of prosperity between 800 and 1200. In the 14th century internal fightings weakened the country and several small countries emerged. And neighbouring countries Thailand and Vietnam at times occupied parts of Cambodia.
In 1864 Cambodia was conquered by France that united the old country.
In World War II Cambodia was occupied by Japan and when Japan surrendered in 1945 the Cambodian king Sihanouk proclaimed the independent Cambodia. But the French regained control and in 1949 Cambodia became an independent part of the French Union. Full independence in 1955.
Cambodia tried to be neutral, but the communist guerilla in Vietnam had bases in Cambodia and Vietnam planes attacked these bases. The north Vietnamese supported a Cambodian communist guerilla and in 1970 Sihanouk was ousted by a pro-USA general. The new regime received extensive help from the USA but in 1975 communist guerilla, the Khmer Rouge, captured the capital Phnom Phen.
Khmer Rouge evacuated all cities and towns and shuffled the people around in the jungles. More than one million people died either in executions or of enforced hard labour. The Khmer Rouge closed all borders and Cambodia was totally isolated from the world around.
In 1979 Vietnam invaded and installed a puppet government in Phnom Phen, but the Khmer Rouge still had bases in the mountains in western Cambodia and formed a coalition against Vietnam together with other Cambodian groups and in 1989 Vietnam withdrew all its forces. With the Vietnam forces away the old antagonism between the Cambodian groups grew and the old civil war started again.
Following negotiations between all parties, UN-controlled general elections were held in 1993 and the hard work to rebuild the country could start.
