The great Khmer Empire, which flourished between the ninth and thirteenth centuries, encompassed present-day Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and southern Vietnam. Its power declined when the Thai and Vietnamese conquered the Khmer and restricted them to the area that now known as Cambodia.

In 1970, Cambodia became "the killing fields" of the Vietnam War. Thousands fled to Thailand and Laos in hopes of finding a more peaceful climate. Unfortunately, Laos has also had many invasions, as well as a series of land wars. It was also the object of political competition between Vietnam, Russia, and China.

What Are Their Lives Like?
In 1975, the Khmer Rouge regime nearly destroyed Cambodia. To depopulate the cities, three million people were forced into the countryside to do slave labor. Widespread starvation led to the deaths of over one million people in the name of "the ideal of rural social reform." The people either fled north into Thailand, or took the "trail of tears" into Communist Laos where they did not find the sanctuary they sought. Instead, they struggled to find clothing, shelter, medical resources, and food.

Most Cambodian in Laos inhabit small villages. There, they grow rice in irrigated paddies. The villagers commonly use red and white checkered cloth to make everything from headdresses to "pouches" for carrying babies.

More men than women were killed between 1975 and 1979, creating a skewed sex ratio among the Cambodian. Today, mostly widows and remain, requiring many women to perform the duties that once belonged to the men.

The Cambodian have a simple social structure. Each village has its own chief, and there is no political structure beyond the village. The village chief is the link between the people and the central government. Village leadership is usually divided; the chief has authority in secular matters, while the Buddhist monk has authority in religious issues. The Buddhist Wat, or temple, is the center of village life, and Buddhist rules of conduct are used to maintain social control. These "rules of conduct" include abstaining from lying, stealing, drinking alcoholic beverages, committing adultery, and killing living creatures.

The Cambodian have acquired the languages and cultures of their Laotian neighbors. Ancient Khmer influences on the Lao are strong as well, giving the two groups a common ancestral bond; yet the Lao see the Cambodian as a lower class. Traditional Khmer music reflects a tie to Indonesia. Folk dancing and the classical royal ballet are also popular.

What Are Their Beliefs?
The former Khmer Empire was influenced by India, from which it adopted Hinduism and Buddhism. Today, 91% of the Cambodian in Laos are Buddhist. However, relics of ethnic religions such as ancestor worship (praying to deceased ancestors for guidance) and spirit worship are very important to them.

Due to Buddhist influence, the Cambodian also seek the middle path to nirvana, or ultimate peace through gaining "merit" in this life. Merit may be gained through supporting the construction of new Buddhist temples, giving food to Buddhist monks, and studying in the monastery. Peasant boys often became monks in order to gain an education in the Buddhist monasteries.

What Are Their Needs?
The Cambodian left their homeland in search of peace. Unfortunately, the peace they desired has not been found in Laos. Many of them need food and shelter, as well as emotional healing from the fears and horrors of war. Most importantly, they need loving Christians who will introduce them to the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.

• Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to Laos and share Christ with the Cambodian.
• Pray that God will grant favor to the missions agencies that are currently targeting the Cambodian.
• Ask the Lord to begin revealing Himself to these precious people through dreams and visions.
• Pray that God will use the few Cambodian believers share the love of Christ with their own people.
• Ask God to send Christian humanitarian aid workers to Laos to minister to the physical needs of these war-torn people.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Cambodian bound.
• Ask God to call forth prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through intercession.
• Pray that strong local churches will be planted among the Cambodian of Laos.

See also the following Groups:
The Central Khmer of Cambodia; The Central Khmer of Vietnam; and The Northern Khmer of Thailand.

THE PEOPLE

• People name: Cambodian
• Country: Laos
• Their language: Khmer
• Population: (1990) 12,400
  (1995) 14,400
  (2000) 16,600
• Largest religion: Buddhist 91%
  Ethnic religionist 4%
  Nonreligious 3%
• Christians: <1%
• Church members: 14
• Scriptures in their own language: Bible
• Jesus Film in their own language: Available
• Christian broadcasts in their own language: Available
• Mission agencies working among this people: 5
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 6,400 (45%) Those evangelized by local Christians: 700 (5%)
  Those evangelized from the outside: 5,700 (40%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 8,000 (55%)

• Country: Laos
• Population: (1990) 4,201,700
  (1995) 4,881,800
  (2000) 5,602,200
• Major peoples in size order: Lao 53%
  Khmu 7.5%
  Chinese Shan 2.6%
  Phu Tai 2.5%
  So 2.1%
• Major religions: Buddhist 58%
  Ethnic religionist 32.5%
  Nonreligious 4.7%
• Number of denominations: 8