World Nuon Chea, architect of bloody Khmer Rouge policy, dead at 93 in Cambodia August 5, 2019 Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon, Florida Today Comments Off on Nuon Chea, architect of bloody Khmer Rouge policy, dead at 93 in Cambodia An estimated 1.2 to 2.8 million Cambodians died from starvation, disease and execution during the Khmer Rouge rule from 1975 to 1979. Chea said he had "no regrets" over the deaths.