What happened on December 29th?

Khmer Rouge leaders issued an apology for genocidal crimes in Cambodia

Author

Matthew Jones
December 29, 2024

1998 Khmer Rouge Leaders Take Responsibility for the Deaths of 1.5 Million in Cambodia

On December 29th, 1998, leaders of the Khmer Rouge, the brutal regime that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, publicly apologized for their role in the deaths of approximately 1.5 million people. This apology came decades after the regime's collapse and was an important, albeit rare, acknowledgment of the atrocities committed under the leadership of Pol Pot. The Khmer Rouge's genocidal policies led to widespread starvation, forced labor, and mass executions, particularly targeting intellectuals, ethnic minorities, and perceived political enemies.

The photo shows the skulls of the victims of the Khmer Rouge occupation of Cambodia in the memorial stupa at the Choeung Ek Killing Field, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

🗞️Today’s Headlines

Everything important that’s ever happened on December 29:

2015 ─ Guinea was declared free of Ebola by the World Health Organization after West Africa’s long battle with the virus.

1937 ─ The Irish Free State officially became known as Ireland with the enactment of a new constitution, marking a significant step in its independence from Britain.

1895 ─ Leander Starr Jameson led a failed raid into the Transvaal to overthrow the Boer government of Paul Kruger, an event that escalated tensions in South Africa.

1890 ─ US troops under Colonel James W. Forsyth massacred over 200 Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee Creek, a tragic episode in American history.

1865 ─ William Lloyd Garrison, a prominent abolitionist, published the final issue of The Liberator, marking the end of an era in the fight against slavery.

1845 ─ The United States approved the annexation of Texas, which would lead to its admission as the 28th state and contribute to the outbreak of the Mexican-American War.

1170 ─ Knights of King Henry II of England killed Archbishop Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, an important moment in English religious and political history.

🎂 Today’s Birthdays

On December 29, we’re singing to:

Andrew Johnson (1808) ─ The 17th President of the United States, known for overseeing the Reconstruction era following the Civil War and being the first US president to be impeached.

William Cunningham (1849) ─ British economist known for his work in the fields of economic theory and political economy.

 🪦Who Died Today?

On December 29, we’re saying goodbye to:

Thomas Malthus (1834) ─ An influential English economist and demographer best known for his theory on population growth and its relationship to food supply, which influenced economic and social thought for centuries.

Pelé (2022) ─ Legendary Brazilian footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. His extraordinary career and achievements left an indelible mark on world football.

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