Cambodia Timeline By AmaraIzCool227 1970 U.S bombing campaign of Cambodia 1975 All citizens are moved to countryside and forced to work Apr 17, 1975 The Khmer Rouge captures Phnom Penh Period: Apr 17, 1975 to Jan 7, 1979 Cambodian Genocide 1976 Tuol Sleng is converted into a prison 1976 Extremist policies are intensified, ethnic minorities are targeted Dec 25, 1978 Vietnam's full-scale invasion of Cambodia 1979 Khmer Rouge continues guerrilla operations toward the western border Jan 7, 1979 The fall of Phnom Pen and deposition of Pol Pot 1997 Pol Pot is sentenced to house arrest by Khmer Rouge leadership Apr 15, 1998 Pol Pot dies of a heart attack