The History Hour

The Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and World Book Day


Listen Later

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service.

It’s 50 years since soldiers of the communist Khmer Rouge party stormed into the capital, Phnom Penh. It was the start of a four year reign of terror which resulted in up to two million people being killed. We hear two stories from people affected by the regime.

Our guest is journalist and author, Elizabeth Becker. She is one of the foremost authorities on the history of Cambodia, and one of the few westerners to have interviewed Pol Pot.

The scientist who invented the white LED lightbulb in 1993 tells his story.

Plus, the Bali Nine: young Australians facing the death penalty for drug smuggling and, Spain’s historic link to World Book Day.

Contributors:

Youk Chang – lived through the Khmer Rouge regime

Aki Ra - child soldier of Cambodia
Elizabeth Becker – journalist and author
Professor Shuji Nakamura – inventor of the white LED lightbulb
Bishop Tim Harris – friend of one of the Bali Nine families
Pere Vicens - book publisher and one of the creators of World Book Day

(Photo: The fall of Phnom Penh in 1975. Credit: Roland Neveu/LightRocket via Getty Images)

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The History HourBy BBC World Service

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

542 ratings


More shows like The History Hour

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,407 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

381 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,855 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,831 Listeners

History Extra podcast by Immediate Media

History Extra podcast

3,187 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

493 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,770 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,061 Listeners

Lives Less Ordinary by BBC World Service

Lives Less Ordinary

590 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

954 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,965 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,063 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,899 Listeners

In Our Time: Science by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: Science

712 Listeners

Unexpected Elements by BBC World Service

Unexpected Elements

357 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

752 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,587 Listeners

Curious Cases by BBC Radio 4

Curious Cases

796 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

778 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,031 Listeners

The Ancients by History Hit

The Ancients

2,858 Listeners

The Rest Is History by Goalhanger

The Rest Is History

12,297 Listeners

History's Heroes by BBC Radio 4

History's Heroes

483 Listeners