5 January 1976

Kampuchea in Red

The communist Red Khmer government that came to power in Cambodia in 1975 had to distinguish the new state from the old one. On 5 January 1976 a new constitution was announced for the new state, which was called Democratic Kampuchea. The constitution also describes the national hymn and national symbol (modern irrigation channels and a factory). As to the flag, the constitution stated: 'The background is red. In the centre is a drawing of a monument with three towers, in the colour yellow'. The red background of course symbolized the revolution. The monument, although not mentioned by name, clearly referred to Cambodian traditions. It was the stylized representation of Angkor Wat, the national monument that had been part of the Cambodian flag since the nineteenth century.

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