April 25, 1941 - Prince Norodom Sihanouk crowned King of Cambodia at the age of 18. March 12, 1945 - King Norodom Sihanouk proclaims Cambodia's independence (a sovereign state) while Japanese under occupation October, 1945 - The French return to try and restore the former "Protectorate" status to Cambodia, despite King Norodom Sihanouk's resistence. November 8, 1949 - France accords "limited independence " status to the Kingdom of Cambodia. Nov 9, 1953 - King Norodom Sihanouk proclaims independence from France. July 20, 1954 - The Sovereignty, Independence, unity and the territorial integrity of Cambodia accorded international recognition in the final Declaration of the Geneva Conference on Indo-China. March 2, 1955 - Sihanouk abdicates his thrown in favor of his father Norodom Suramarit, to devote his attention to political affairs. Norodom Sihanouk formed the Sangkum Reas Niyum (The Popular Socialist Community) which he headed and which dominated the parliamentary political life. Feb 21, 1959 - Cambodia captures General Dap Chhoun, who headed a plot in which the CIA, Thailand and South Vietnam were involved. Aug 31, 1959 - The lacquer-box bomb attempt in which Prince Sihanouk, King Suramarit, Queen Sisowath Kossomak Nearireath, narrowly escapes assassination. April 3, 1960 - King Norodom Suramarit die, provoking a constitutional crisis over the succession of the throne. April 14, 1960 - The National Assembly elects Prince Norodom Sihanouk as Head Of State thus resolving the constitutional crisis. Sept 30, 1960 - Pol Pot and other communists hold secret congress at Phnom Penh railway station and elect future Khmer Rouge leaders to top party posts. July 23, 1962 - Agreements based on three neutralist government in Vientiane reached at Geneva Conference on Laos, held at initiative of Prince Norodom Sihanouk. May 1, 1963 - Visit of President Liu Shao-Chi-People's Republic of China to Cambodia. Nov 20, 1963 - Per the initiative of Norodom Sihanouk, the National Congress of the Sangkum Reash Niyum unanimously votes not to accept grants from the United States of America in the domains of military, economics, technical or cultural affairs. Oct 27, 1964 - The Royal Cambodian Government and the National Assembly warn the US that diplomatic relations might be severed should the United States continue to violate Cambodian airspace. May 1, 1965 - Bombardment by United States airplanes of villages in the "Parrot Break," Cambodian border area with South Vietnam. May 3, 1965 - Prince Norodom Sihanouk breaks relations with the United States Of America. Sept 11, 1966 - Cambodia's first General Election, in which Sangkum Reashniyum leadership did not pre-select the electoral candidates. Oct 22, 1966 - A new Government under Lon Nol was approved by the rightist National Assembly which had emerged from the general elections. April 30, 1967 - Lon Nol resigned as Prime Minister, ostensibly due to injuries during car accident. April 1967 - Peasant uprising begins in western district of Samlaut over rice tax. May 3, 1967 - Samdech Penn Nouth appointed as Prime Minister of an Emergency Government. March 1969 - Secret U.S. bombing of Vietnamese communist bases in Cambodia begins. June 11, 1969 - Diplomatic relationship resumed with the United States of America in exchange for US pledge to respect Cambodia's independence and sovereignty in the present territorial boundaries. August 1, 1969 - Samdech Penn Nouth resigned as Prime Minister for reasons of health. August 12, 1969 - Lon Nol replaced Samdech Penn Nouth as Prime Minister of Cambodia. Sept. 3, 1969 - Death of Ho Chi Minh, Prince Norodom Sihanouk departs for Hanoi, as Head of State to attend the funeral ceremonies. Setp, 1969 - Deputy Premier Sirik Matak takes over as acting Prime Minister. Dec. 27, 28 and 29 1969 - Sangkum Reashniyum National congress which delegates supports of Prince Norodom Sihanouk's rejection of Sirik Matak's measures to denationalize the bank and the import and export trade. Jan. 7 1969 - Prince Norodom Sihanouk and his wife, accompanied by Samdech Penn Nouth and his wife leave Cambodia for Grasse on French Riviera, where Prince Norodom Sihanouk took a medical cure. March 8, 1970 - Anti-Vietnamese demonstration in Province of Svay Rieng. March 11, 1970 - Embassies of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam sacked, by troops in civilian dress in Phnom Penh. March 13, 1970 - Prince Norodom Sihanouk leaves France for Moscow, Soviet Union. March 18, 1970 - US-backed premier Lon Nol ousts Prince Norodom Sihanouk while he is on an overseas trip. March 23, 1970 - Sihanouk appeals for a formation of The Khmer National United Front, Joint with Khmer Rouge to fight the Lon Nol government. April 29, 1970 - South Vietnam to support Lon Nol regimes after massive uprisings in support of Prince Norodom Sihanouk. May 1, 1970 - US forces invaded Cambodia From South Vietnam. May 5, 1970 - A Royal Cambodian Government of National Union is formed in Perking, with Prince Norodom Sihanouk remaining the Head of State, and Samdech Penn Nouth appointed Prime Minister. The heading key of the ministries of defence, Internal affairs and Information are three left wing deputies inside Cambodia, Khiev Samphan, Hu Nim and Hou Youn. Note: at this time most Cambodians who support Prince Norodom Shihanouk go into the Jungle Join with Khmers Rouges (The Killing Fields Started). Without this formation and a Secret U.S. bombing in Cambodia, The Killing Fields will not accured in Cambodia during 1975-1979. July 5, 1970 - After three day trial in Absentia by a military tribunal court in Phnom Penh, Prince Norodom Sihanouk is sentenced to death. March , 1971 - The Resistance troops (Khmer Rouge) claims four of the five territories and five out of the seven million person population falls under its control. Oct. 18, 1971 - Dissolution of The National Assembly by Lon Nol and the institution of government by degree. Dec. 17, 1971 - Lon Nol issues decrees, banning political meetings, anti-government demonstrations and the suspension of all constitutional civic rights. March 11, 1972 - Lon Nol Proclaims himself President Of Republic, dismissing Cheng Heng who had replaced Norodom Sihanouk as Head of State on March 18, 1970. Sirk Matak named Prime Minister. March 13, 1972 - Sirik Matak dismissed as Prime Minister. Post temporary assumed by Lon Nol, but later Awarded to Son Ngoc Thanh. June 4, 1972 - In The General election wad deny by Prince Norodom Sihanouk and the probity of which hotly contested by the two opposition candidates, In Tam and Keo An, Lon Nol were elected as President Of the Khmer Republic. April 17, 1975 - Khmer Rouge seize Phnom Penh and begin reign of terror in which an estimated 1.7 million die. April, 1975 - Pol Pot kills Hou Youn and throws his body to the lake. He had protested against Pol Pot's order to let civilians leave their home. April 30, 1975 - Son Ngoc Thanh was secretly arrested by Vietnamese Soldier. July 8, 1977- Son Ngoc Thanh dies, Vietnamese Communist leader gives Son Ngoc Thanh's body to his family. Dec 25, 1978 - Vietnam invades Cambodia, occupies Phnom Penh on January 7, 1979, driving Khmer Rouge to the Thai border. June 22, 1982 - Under pressure from China and others, the Khmer Rouge, Sihanoukists and Khmer People's National Liberation Front form a coalition government, recognized by United Nations. July 7, 1982 - Agreements signed with Vietnam in Ho Chi Min City. December 27, 1983 - Signed agreements with Vietnam in Phnom Penh, Cambodia favored to Vietnam. December 27, 1983 - Hun Sen signed agreement with Vietnam in Ho Chi Min City with Vieng CoThach, Cambodia, Hun Sen was favor to Vietnam. Dec 2-4, 1987 - Sihanouk holds first meeting with Phnom Penh government premier, Hun Sen, at Fere-en-Tardenois in France. Oct 23, 1991 - Four factions and their backers sign peace treaty in Paris. Nov 14, 1991 - Sihanouk returns to Phnom Penh ending 13-year exile. May 23-28, 1993 - U.N.-run general election. The FUNCINPEC party of Sihanouk's son, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, wins 58 of 120 seats. After brief political crisis he agrees to a power-sharing coalition with Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP). Sept 24, 1993 - Constituent Assembly restores constitutional monarchy, Sihanouk reinstated king. March 30, 1997 - At least 16 people killed when four grenades are thrown at a rally led by government critic Sam Rainsy. July 5-6, 1997 - Second Prime Minister Hun Sen ousts First Prime Minister Ranariddh after two days of battles in Phnom Penh. July 25, 1997 - Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot is denounced as a rebel show trial at their Anlong Veng headquarters after a bloody split among the group's top leaders. March 30, 1998 - Ranariddh returns to Phnom Penh for first time since ousted, after his father pardoned him for two convictions earlier in March on security charges. April 15, 1998 - Pol Pot dies in a Khmer Rouge zone on Thai border. July 26, 1998 - General election. Hun Sen's CPP wins 64 seats, Ranariddh's FUNCINPEC 43 and Sam Rainsy Party 15. Observers say vote sufficiently fair but opposition rejects result, calls protests. July 28, 1998 - Funcinpec and The Sam Riansy Party was protested to reject the result of the election. They say "Many Irregularities in the Polling, counting and reporting of the election result." July 30, 1998 - At Royal Palace in Siem Riep, There is a meeting between Samdech Hun Sen, Sar Kheng ,Say Chhom, Tea Banh and Sok Ann. August 1, 1998 - At Hun Sen's resident, he told Embassador of England, France and Australia that Hun Sen Government has arrested Noun Peth, the Khmer Rouge commander who kills the Foreign tourist. Sept 7, 1998 - Two grenades exploded in the compound of Hun Sen's Phnom Penh residence, but Hun Sen was not there at the time and the blasts caused no deaths or injuries. A senior military police officer said four men on two motorbikes stopped outside Hun Sen's house, held up guards there with handguns and threw the grenades into the compound. Nov 30, 1998 - New coalition between CPP and FUNCINPEC, led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, approved by parliament. Dec 4, 1998 - Last Khmer Rouge fighters and field commanders surrender. Dec 25, 1998 - Top Khmer Rouge political chiefs Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea surrender. Dec 29, 1998 - Khieu Samphan publicly apologises for the masses who died under Khmer Rouge rule. Feb 9, 1999 - Last Khmer Rouge fighters join Cambodian army. Feb. 25, and 26, 1999 - Prime Minister Hun Sen arrives in Japan for aid summit, where he received aid from donor countries totalling $460 million US dollars. Feb. 25, and 26, 1999 - Sam Riansy called on the Government of Japan to arrest Prime Minister Hun Sen while he was in Japan for the "Aid Summit" . March 4, 1999 - National Assembly passes a law to set up an upper house of parliament. March 5, 1999 - Chief U.N. war crimes prosecutor Louise Arbour says an international tribunal probably best forum to try Khmer Rouge leaders. March 6, 1999 - Ta Mok is seized as he crosses into Cambodia from Thailand and brought to Phnom Penh under heavy guard. March 6, 1999 - US States Department expresses support for the arrest of Khmer Rouge Chief Ta Mok. March 7, 1999 - Government says Ta Mok will be tried in a military court under Cambodian law. March 7, 1999 - Ta Mok trial in Cambodian Court. March 7, 1999 - General Nhek Bun Chhay loyal to Prince Ranariddh return to Phnom Penh. March 22-28, 1999 - Cambodia delegation headed by Var Kim Hong to negotiate border with Vietnam . Long Visalo, Bun Sem, Bun Hom Oun Mony, Touch Nareth, Chhom Bun Khan, Choung Sivuth, Mom Somean, Houn Savang, Chan Ean, Chhun Socheat, Oung Sam Khan, Ouk Somari. March 29, 1999 - Cambodia forms a new District Police department April 1, 1999 - A 33 years old Cambodian lawyer,Chiv Songhak offered to defend Ta Mok. April 2, 1999 - A lawyer for two native Cambodians filed charges today against three former Khmer Rouge leaders Ta Mok, Khieu Samphan and Ieng Sary for arbitrary sequestration, torture and murder.' April 7, 1999 - Prime Minister Hun Sen made the comment in talks with a visiting US senator. The new policy reverses the premier's earlier stand on the issue. Hun Sen agreed with what April 11, 1999 - Public Forum with an American, Rich Garella. Who's works with Cambodia since 1995. There were about 25 people showed up for the forum, including representative from CPP Party, Funcinpec party, National Movement for Democracy of Cambodia ( NMDC), SRP party, Executive Intelligence Review (EIR Magazine), and The Seattle Times Newspaper. April 28, 1999 - The Hong Kong-based Far Eastern Economic Review, reported that Khmer Rouge Prison chief identified as "Duch " (the chief of the Khmer Rouge Security Service who ordered the torture and killing of at least 14,000 men, women and children in the late 1970s) was found. Duch - born Kaing Khek Iev in 1942 - headed the internal security organization and was the director of Tuol Sleng, a Phnom Penh high school transformed into an interrogation prison. April 30, 1999 - Cambodia formally join the ASEAN nations as their tenth member. May 5, 1999 - Prime Minister Hun Sen took part in the destruction of almost 4,000 confiscated guns as part of his government's drive to rid the country of illegal weapons and improve security. Hun Sen clambered into a bulldozer and drove the machine over rows of old rifles lined up on the track at Phnom Penh's main sports stadium. "The war has ended but it doesn't mean there is complete peace if robbery and stealing have not been abolished, public order has not been strengthened and the people are still living in fear,'' Hun Sen said. May 26, 1999 - Ta Mok said Pol Pot, who died in a rebel camp in April 15th, 1998, was murdered. July 1, 1999 - Starting 7 AM Cambodia Local Time, at lease 100 Cambodian Students Held a rally outside of Thai embassy in Phnom Penh as part as of a protest against the alleged encroachment of Cambodian territory. July 3, 1999 - Prime Minister Hun Sen urged Bankok to help resolve a dispute over territory in Gulf of Thailand. July 16, 1999 - The United States gave $3.4 million to Cambodian human rights and pro-democracy groups to support freedom of expression. (US group the Asia Foundation will help fund several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) including the human rights group LICADHO and the Khmer Institute for Democracy think-tank.) July 20, 1999 - Prime Minister Hun Sen has defended his government's handling of border disputes, asking protestor for patience,who have been protesting against alleged foreign encroachment. Hun Sen said he could not recover parts of old Cambodia long lost to Thailand and Vietnam but said if the activists wanted to get them back they were welcome to try. July 30, 1999 - Ta Mok's lawyer, Benson Samay, said he expected the trial to begin by late August. He insistend that if it does not start by then, he would insist that his client is released as soon his six-month pre-trial detention period is up. July 30, 1999 - Prime Minister Hun Sen said that the trial of a Khmer Rouge rebel leader could embarrass Thailand, long accused of backing the rebels. August 11, 1999 -The National Assembly passed a measure allowing pre-trial detention of up to three years for genocide suspects. The legislation allows the courts to set aside the six-month deadline that would have put captured guerilla leader Ta Mok, 72, on trial within a month September 7, 1999 - Ta Mok charged with genocide under a 1979 law in a move aimed at ensuring the legality of his continued detention. September 8, 1999 - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen arrived in Cuba for a five-day visit aimed at strengthening ties between the two former Cold War allies. September 10, 1999 - Kang Khek Ieu, known by his revolutionary name "Duch, was arrested in May 1999 and charged with murder and torture but has now also been charged with genocide under a 1979 decree. September 24, 1999 - Japan signed an agreements with Cambodian government for $39.4 million, USD in loan to upgrade Cambodian port facilities. The agreements signed with Japan's Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund.

*This chronology was excerpted from the web site of Voice of Cambodia Radio International and was written by Savun Neang. Accordingly, this edited version does not necessarily express the views of the Royal Cambodian Government and is provided only as a convenience to researchers of Cambodian history.