Chenla II: Lon Nol Strikes Out

What was the political fallout from Lon Nol's Stroke?

How did race and religion become such a key theme of his regime?

What led to the worst military defeat of the Cambodian Civil War?

Time Period Covered: March - December 1971

In this episode, Lon Nol returns to Cambodia after recoving from a mild stroke in Hawaii. While many hoped he might step aside, and that the US might provoke a change in leadership, Lon Nol remained in power. His little brother's influence grew, and his obsession with race and religion became even more pronounced. Amongst the Vietnam War playing out on Cambodian land, the carnage of American bombs became a regular occurrence. Meanwhile, politics in Phnom Penh leaned toward a military dictatorship. By the end of the year, the Khmer Republic had to face its worst military defeat, one that it would not recover from.