
pol pot
Alias : Uncle,1 Uncle Pol,2 Brother [Bang] No. 1 or First Brother, Pol, Grand Uncle, 87, Phem, 99, Saloth Sar3
POL Pot (1925-1998) was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (“CPK”) and Prime Minister of Democratic Kampuchea (“DK”). He died of heart failure in 1998 while at liberty at the Thai-Cambodian border.
Explore the Khmer Rouge hierarchy to understand his role in the secretive system.

Key Findings
The Trial Chamber in Case 002/01 and Case 002/02 found that Pol Pot:
- Was a member of a joint criminal enterprise with CPK leaders with the common purpose to “implement rapid socialist revolution through a ‘great leap forward’ and defend the Party against internal and external enemies, by whatever means.” 24
- Exercised ultimate decision-making power in Democratic Kampuchea with Nuon Chea, drafted the first CPK Statute with Nuon Chea, and formulated the Party’s political line. 25
- Regularly met with Khieu Samphan, Nuon Chea, and other CPK leaders concerning the ongoing revolution and administration of liberated zones. 26
- Travelled throughout the country with Nuon Chea and other CPK leaders, disseminating the Party line to zone and sector secretaries, assemblies, and committees, and led education sessions in Phnom Penh. 27
- Planned the evacuation of populations from the cities to rural areas. 28
- Praised the creation and expansion of cooperatives and the collection of thousands of forces at worksites where irrigation projects were underway. 29
- Was informed about measures to be taken against traitors within the revolutionary ranks according to the Central Committee’s decision giving the lower levels “the right to smash, inside and outside the ranks.” 30
- Accompanied Chinese Vice-Premier, Chen Yonggui, to visit the Trapeang Thma Dam and the East Zone with other senior CPK leaders. 31
- Visited the 1st January Dam on multiple occasions with Nuon Chea. 32
- Ordered purges in the East Zone and the attack on Vietnam in 1977. 33
- Outlined the CPK’s “one against 30” policy that every Cambodian should kill at least 30 Vietnamese. 34
- Spoke about the presence of enemies inside the country during mass rallies and political training sessions. 35
Disclaimer
Pol Pot was not a suspect, charged person, or accused in any proceedings before the ECCC. Therefore, the findings of the Extraordinary Chambers cannot be equated to findings of guilt against him.
Some information may be sourced from confessions which were obtained under torture. The reliability of such information should be treated with caution. See Decision on Evidence Obtained Through Torture.
Drag
1925
19 May
Born.4
1940
Attended Sisowath High School in Phnom Penh, where he met Ieng Sary.5
1950
1950-1953
Was a member of the Marxist Circle while studying in France along with other Khmer students such as Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith, and Son Sen.6
1958
1958-1960
Drafted the first Party Statute along with Nuon Chea and others and began formulating the Party’s political line.7
1960
Became a member of the Standing Committee of Workers’ Party of Kampuchea (“WPK”) with Tou Samuth, Nuon Chea, and Ieng Sary, among others.8
1965
1965-1966
Visited Vietnam and China to unveil the recently formulated strategic lines of the CPK.11
1971
Presided over the Third Party Congress with Nuon Chea.12
1974
June
Met other CPK leaders in Meak village in Prek Kok commune to discuss plans for the final assault and evacuation of Phnom Penh and other urban centres.13
1975
April
Frequently met with other senior CPK leaders at his residence at K-1 in Phnom Penh.14
June
Ordered the arrest of Koy Thuon and went to Hanoi with Nuon Chea to discuss the border clashes with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam’s leader, Nguyen Van Linh.15
22 July
Attended a CPK rally at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh to announce the formation of a new Revolutionary Army of Kampuchea and Division 801.16
1977
27 September
Publicly announced the existence of the CPK at a mass rally.19
1978
Early 1978
Outlined the “one against 30” CPK policy according to which every Cambodian should kill at least 30 Vietnamese, and attended a meeting at Boeng Trabaek where Son Sen announced the plan to purge East Zone cadres.20
1998
15 April
Died in a Khmer Rouge encampment on the Thai-Cambodian border.23
Related Documents
Closing Orders
- Case 002 Closing Order, D427, Part One: Factual Findings, I. Historical Background; II. Administrative Structures.
Judgments
- Case 001 Judgment, E188: 2. Factual and Legal Finding, 2.2.1. CPK Structure.
- Case 002/01 Judgment, E313: 3. Historical Background, 5. Administrative Structures.
- Case 002/02 Judgment, E465: 3. Historical Background; 5. Administrative Structures.
Evidence
- Statement by Pol Pot, Speech entitled “Long Live the 17th Anniversary of the Communist Party of Kampuchea”, E3/9751
- Preliminary Explanation Before Reading the Plan, by the Party Secretary, translation by David P. Chandler, E3/67, pp. 120-163.
- Presentation of the Comrade Secretary Party Representative in Revolutionary Flag,11 November 1976, E3/139, pp. 4-27.
- POL Pot’s Speech at 10th Anniversary of the Founding of the RAK, E3/349, 17 January 1978.
- Speech of the Comrade Secretary of the Communist Party of Kampuchea on the occasion of the 18 January 1978 meeting on the 10th anniversary of the birth of the Revolutionary Army of Kampuchea in Revolutionary Flag, February 1978, E3/744.
- POL Pot’s Interview, April 1978, E3/7950, p. 7.
- POL Pot’s Interview by Yugoslavian Journalists, E3/5713, 20 March 1978.
- Presentation by Comrade Pol Pot, Secretary on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of the victory of the founding of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, 30 September 1978, E3/215.
- Conclusion of Pol Pot Speech at 27 September Phnom Penh meeting, 2 October 1978, E3/29.
- Book by Elizabeth Becker: When the War Was Over, pp. 424-431.
- Elizabeth Becker, Videotape shows Pol Pot Facing Khmer Rouge Justice, 29 July 1997, E3/7277.
- Photo Array with ID, undated, E3/584.