The Citizenship and Acts of Genocide Against the Cham of Cambodia

The main research object is the Cham minority (Khmer Islam) in the severe conditions of armed conflict in Cambodia (pre-1975) and of genocide in Democratic Kampuchea (1975–1979). Initial stages of the genocide had been found several years before Khmer Rouge seized power in April 1975. The term “auto-genocide” is criticized and proven to be unacceptable from legal point of view. Meanwhile, destruction of the Muslim and other religious and ethnic minorities organized by Khmer Rouge was genocide in the 1948 Convention’s terms. The fact that the Chams (together with Malays) was the most affected ethnic and religious minorities in Democratic Kampuchea is corroborated with different data and testimonies from legal documents and academic works. The crime of genocide committed by Khmer Rouge against the Cham Muslims in many provinces was reported as early as 1974. Tragic history of Cham women survivors is also touched upon, given the exclusive role of women in resistance to genocide and post-genocide revival of the Muslim identity and the Cham culture. Many parallels with other genocides are useful for further comparative studies. Finally, the current situation in the Kingdom of Cambodia is briefly broached.