Editorial | Articles about Cambodia | Khmer
The Loss of Cambodia's Territorial Integrity Part 2:
The Real Defenders of Khmer Land
By AnetKhmer
Border problems with Vietnam have made headline news again with the recent incident in Ta Poeu village, Bavet commune, Chantrea district, Svay Rieng province where a young Khmer man whose buffaloes and farm equipments were confiscated, was beaten savagely and kicked severely three times in the chest by the Vietnamese border security forces for attempting to work in his own fields and in his own country. His escape from the Vietnamese border security forces was only made possible by the courageous actions of his loving mother who, despite being alone, continued to struggle without regards to her own life to help free him from their bondage.
This is once again very sad news for Cambodia. I remember hearing Cambodian prime minister, Mr. Hun Sen declare at the top of his voice, while he was making his usual speech at his usual inauguration ceremony, that there were no encroachments on Khmer territory at all on the part of Vietnam, that he should be informed if such an encroachment existed and that Cambodia had never lost her territory to her neighbours.
Well, this recent incident is one of them and by far, I hope he has been fully informed, as there seems to be no reaction at all from him publicly, especially if the incident happens on the eastern border. This is quite surprising from a vocal and quick-tempered prime minister whose capricious arousal of patriotism led to the destruction of the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh a few years ago and the loss of more than 50 million US dollars from the foreign donors-dependent state budget. For the prime minister's personal information, there was also a recent incident on the high sea inside Cambodian water where the Vietnamese fishermen mistreated very badly the Khmer fishermen and two Khmer fishing boats were sunk. The question he should ask is what on earth the Vietnamese fishermen were doing inside Cambodian territorial water and the answer the Khmers should expect from him is what he intends to do about these maritime violations.
We should also note that Mr. Var Kim Hong, Hun Sen's minister in charge of negotiating to accept the status quo as far as Cambodia's territorial integrity is concerned, did admit that the Vietnameses violated his own illegal Jan 17, 1995 agreement signed by the two countries in Hanoi. Obviously, he must have known without any doubt that this agreement is illegal as it violates totally the 1991 Paris Peace Agreement with respect to the protection of Cambodia's territorial integrity.
Why Mr. Var Kim Hong did not seek to initiate the talk with his Vietnamese counterpart promptly at a national level and to protest in the strongest sense of the word against such abominable violation and simply delegated this immense responsibility to the local governments to handle this case is beyond me. Mr. Suos Kang, deputy chief of the Bavet commune criticized the district and provincial authorities for having failed many times to denounce the violations of the Khmer territory by the Vietnameses. This delegation of responsibility will amount to nothing being done concretely and the poor Khmer peasants who live along the Khmer-Vietnamese border will continue to suffer and will have to resort to depending upon themselves as a group to work in their fields and to protect their land.
We should also keep in mind that Mr. Var Kim Hong's illegal Jan 17, 1995 agreement has already given illegally to Vietnam a large chunk of Cambodian terrestrial and maritime territory and the Vietnameses continue to desire more and more. Is it possible that Mr Var Kim Hong and his boss, Mr. Hun Sen are afraid to upset their Vietnamese master? However, please help me, as I am totally confused as I thought that the Khmer people are supposed to be their boss and didn't both of them swear to serve and protect the Khmer people and defend their land, which, of course, are also the two gentlemen's land? If you love your job so much and do not want to give it to others who truly care for Cambodia, then why wouldn't you, Mr. Prime Minister and Mr. Minister, do this job properly? For the sake of Cambodia and your own ancestors, please wake up! It is better to go into history as a poor man with no prestige rather than as a strongman who sold his own country and people for the ill-gotten power.
It seems to me that the Royal Government of Cambodia is composed of so many officials, but only a few persons, namely Mr. Hun Sen, Mr. Sok An, who is a supernatural minister with more than a few dozen of ministerial portfolios to himself, Mr. Hor Nam Hong, Mr. Var Kim Hong and a few others of the same kind are the decision makers. What happens to the institutions such as the National Assembly and the Senate? I haven't heard any reactions from them either. Do they exist to simply rubber-stamp everything Mr. Hun Sen and his government wish to do? Where is the Member of Parliament in the constituency of Bavet/Chantrea? Doesn't he/she want to visit his/her constituents at all? I guess not as election is far away yet in the future.
I have never seen any government in this world of this century turn such a blind eye to the plight of its citizens. The villagers of Ta Poeu village themselves complained of receiving no assistance from the Cambodian authority whenever they encountered the problems with the Vietnameses; on the contrary they were scolded for defending their land and thus defending Cambodia's territorial integrity. They are indeed the true defenders of Cambodia's territorial integrity. The Cambodian security forces, police and army are too busy setting up illegal checkpoints to rob the Khmers of their daily meagre earnings, grabbing lands from various villagers in Kampong Speu and other parts of the country, protecting foreign logging company, brothels, casinos, squashing any peaceful demonstrations and engaging in all sorts of illegal activities to really have time or concern about the poor people living along the borders.
Perhaps the Royal Government of Cambodia should realize that, even though they themselves love to live on the hand-out from the international community for a long time to come, hoping that the world community's mercy on them doesn't run out, the Khmer peasants do not really want the hand-out from their government every now and then, especially around the election time; they would rather have their land so they can work on it and proudly enjoy the fruits of their labours. All they ask from their government is a simple protection and help which constitute the responsibility of a government anyway and that's why people in different communities form government. Remember the good period of the 60s when they had worked their fields happily and proudly and they were well fed and very well defended by their leader, Norodom Sihanouk. I have a saying for the Royal Government of Cambodia to ponder over: Feed me daily and I am forced to call you God, Help me learn to feed myself and I will become like you and I do want to become like you.
Some of the villagers at Ta Poeu village are even jealous of the good and guaranteed protection the Vietnameses receive from their caring authority. The Khmer peasants receive no protection for themselves or for their crops from the Khmer authority on their own land inside Cambodia. They have now decided to go farming in groups at the same time so they can help each other. How long they can last trying to fight to protect their land and their country on their own is simply a matter of time and for sure, it won't be long. The farming land they possess is their livelihood. To lose it is simply to lose their livelihood. These villagers are truly the real defenders of Cambodia's territorial integrity in the area where they live!
History has shown clearly that the Khmers will never go and take the land that belongs to Vietnam. The Khmers will not even think of going to live in Kampuchea Krom. It is always the Vietnameses who not only are born to be expansionists and aggressors, but also ambitious settlers. Mr. Hun Sen and his government must also be very happy to see so many illegal Vietnamese settlers in Cambodia as they all vote for him anyway because they know he willingly serve their interest very well. The continued influx of these illegal immigrants to the detriment of the Khmers economically, socially and politically and the on-going nibbling at the Khmer land constitute a serious danger for the always-divided and never-united children of Angkor.
We know for a fact that the Royal Government of Cambodia under Mr. Hun Sen is incapable and unwilling to restore Cambodia's territorial integrity to that between 1963 and 1969. The land area of Cambodia under Norodom Sihanouk, who successfully defended Cambodia's territorial integrity, was 181, 035 square kilometres. It was too bad for the Khmers that a genuine and dedicated leader and great defender of Cambodia's territorial integrity such as Norodom Sihanouk was overthrown in an illegal coup by those who served only their own interest at the expense of the little Khmer people.
How committed and willing the Royal Government of Cambodia is at defending the current and undeniably smaller Cambodia's territory remains to be seen; after all, the responsibility before the Khmer people, nation and history is now in the hand of Mr. Hun Sen and his Royal Government after the Supreme National Council on Border Affairs has been sidelined and marginalized drastically.
For whatever reason, the attempt made by the Royal Government of Cambodia to marginalize the great role of Norodom Sihanouk, the man who is the champion and successful defender of Cambodia's territorial integrity, in the struggle to restore Cambodia's territory to 181, 035 square kilometres is a serious and fatal mistake. This mistake will come to haunt the Khmer nation as long as it exists as a dwindling nation among others in this world.
Cambodia still can and should pursue to get back its lost land. However, there is absolutely no political will on the part of the current Royal Government to do so. In fact, this government will work very hard to obstruct instead any attempt by anyone to restore Cambodia's territorial integrity to that of Sihanouk's regime. As it stands right now, the restoration of Cambodia's territorial integrity to that of the 60s is out of the question. Even the protection of what is left is not solidly put in place. Will one day the Khmers in Cambodia become a minority in their own land? Only time will and can tell.
SUBMITTED BY: AnetKhmer
Email: anet....@yahoo.com
Fri, 29 Jul 2005
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Cambodia, a land once beautiful, proud, independent, sovereign, neutral and prosperous, is now facing several mortal dangers. One of these dangers is Her continued loss of territorial integrity to Her neighbours. Vietnamese encroachments upon the Khmer territory continue unabated with the Royal Government of Cambodia turning a blind eye completely to these serious problems.
The leaders of the present Royal Government of Cambodia, for their own selfish and personal ambitions and interests, have never acted, do not act and will never act to prevent these illegal and outrageous encroachments, much less attempt to restore Cambodia's territorial integrity to that of the golden era of Sangkum Reastr Niyum.
Unfortunately, but expectedly the Supreme National Council on Border Affairs presided by His Majesty, the King-Father Norodom Sihanouk was killed before it was even born by a new royal decree of June 14, 2005 which granted full authority to Mr. Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of Cambodia to resolve the border problems.
The sole person who can tackle successfully these very complex and difficult border demarcation problems with Cambodia's ambitious neighbours is none other than His Majesty, the King-Father Norodom Sihanouk. Norodom Sihanouk known as Samdech Euv is Cambodia's last and only hope to get back what She has lost to Her neighbours. Hun Sen has always been part of the problems of Cambodia's territorial integrity loss to Her neighbours. For his own personal power and glory and his readiness to be subservient to Vietnam he is always a bad choice when it comes to dealing with Cambodia's border problems.
Listening to Hun Sen's statements in the past several months, one cannot miss noticing several inconsistencies and threats he has used against border activists. What Hun Sen and his group forget is that he is only one single Cambodian and his group consists of a few number of Cambodians only and Cambodia belongs to all Cambodians no matter where they happen to be. He may not have any serious concern about the loss of territorial integrity as long as he can remain to be the Prime Minister and they are his ministers, but the rest of the Cambodians do! This responsibility of defending and restoring Cambodia's territorial integrity is so heavy that Hun Sen and his small group, even though they want to, can definitely not bear the responsibility. Just look at Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Khieu Samphan and the Khmer Rouges. They have continuously denied their responsibilities, even if they want to assume them and I don't think they will, who has so far suffered tremendously?
Using threats against those who want to defend their lands is not helping to defend the lands. With this logic in mind one can ask how Cambodians should entrust to Hun Sen and his group the responsibility to resolve Cambodia's border problems with Her neighbours, especially Vietnam. Perhaps Hun Sen should concentrate his efforts more on fighting endemic corruptions within his own government and cronies and work very hard on his failed plans to reduce poverty in Cambodia, a country that has received massive foreign aids, sold its state properties and destroyed rapidly its national resources, i.e. deforestation and leave this task of restoring Cambodia's territorial integrity to His Majesty, the King-Father Norodom Sihanouk who alone can and will solve this territorial integrity issues.
For Hun Sen and his government it is not too late to pull themselves out of this deep trap and disgrace by granting full authority to His Majesty, the King-Father Norodom Sihanouk and standing steadfastly behind Him (the King-Father) so that He (the King-Father) can successfully carry out His difficult and complex Mission to restore Cambodia's territorial integrity. This way he and his government will be remembered in history as equal patriotic partners in His Majesty, the King-Father Norodom Sihanouk's crusade to restore Cambodia's territorial integrity.
For Cambodia to survive this forever loss of territorial integrity and to get back the territorial integrity of the golden time of Sangkum Reastr Niyum, every single Cambodian must stand firmly and unanimously behind His Majesty, the King-Father Norodom Sihanouk and demands to the Royal Government of Cambodia that His Majesty, the King-Father be the only person to lead and carry out this vital mission with full authority.
By Anet Khmer
SUBMITTED BY: AnetKhmer
Email: anet....@yahoo.com
Fri, 29 Jul 2005
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SUBMITTED BY: KIRIRUM
Email: ki....@yahoo.com
Wed, 20 Jul 2005
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By Prak Hap
June 8, 2005
Per Reuters - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Wednesday (6-8-2005) relatives of the 1.7 million people who died under the Khmer Rouge should not be paying for genocide trials, fuelling concern that he did not want them to take place.
This lame excuse may come as a no surprise that Mr. Hun Sen and former King Sihanouk somewhat shared the same view. No one seems to know for certain either man real motif. But it is clearly alarming how this government downplaying people suffering and anguish over its own inability. People are not that ignorant after all. They already understand why such culpable obstructions took place. Both Mr. Hun Sen and Sihanouk are directly linked to the rise and demise of DK-GRUNK. So far it appears the process has been solely delayed in part by the government of the kingdom. Other hand KR Trial could have been done along time ago if the men of power would really seek justice for society and humanity.
We can understand the political implication if the opposition succeeded in this Endeavour then the raw straw poll may measure up the real mood of voters in term of responsibility on government part. Some officials may feel embarrass since they should have shown own cognizance of justice for the mass along time ago. This delicate challenge may cause unfavorable outcome for the ruling party credibility if people determined to mobilize this important task ahead which has been 30 years passed already.
Traditionally people of common background are not driven by greed but survival. It is a prime example of their resilience in rebuilding thousands of pagoda or sanctuary or school after DK-GRUNK treacherous and self destruction over the period 70-79. Citizens of Cambodia have shown support to redeem what important to their society. Inevitably this will serve as a national drive for people of Cambodia to fulfill their long overdue closure.
Most people recognized their situation but bound by tradition of generosity and sacrifice. Thus financially ONE dollar is a lot for poor family but it deems significant impact on communal duty. They have been starved before yet most managed to survive due to their strong will. Yet if this is a moral calling at the most sincere admission of government failure, people will cooperate and achieve such task.
Comparably if this is an indirect denial of failure on government part which is another strike on its habitual poor performance for the last 20 years. The snow ball effect may play a part in transition of new era of responsible governance and leadership which clearly damper the future of the existing one. That will be a poor calculation on RGC leadership, and only time will tell.
Constitutionally people can exercise the rights in accordance with the lotus kingdom 1993 Constitution articles 39 &41 either to overtly express their concerns necessary included public demonstration or rally or lodging written grievance to the legislative branch demanding its prompt attention on matter. This is based on its principle frame of democracy which stipulates government by the people to serve or protect people. In any case if the government is no longer in the best interest of people then people have choices to correct the problem.
Nonetheless Cambodia is not belonged to Mr. Hun Sen personal but its citizenry as member nation to UN general assembly. With due respect UN has paid much expenses for Cambodia stability therefore UN earned the right to do what necessary in order to preserve justice for all mankind. Additionally the trial matter is no longer just Cambodia humanity but worldly affair. Cambodia people earned the rights to receive full justice for their losses and sufferings now. Importantly it is people justice, therefore democratic government may need to heed the people call accordingly.
SUBMITTED BY: Hap Prak
Email: prakh....@hotmail.com
Wed, 8 Jun 2005
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Mealtime of Street Children
He had a meal in a local restaurant without having to pay. Is it a free meal for this kid? He is a boy of about 12 years old. He is neither a son of high ranking officials, nor of wealthy families. He trades his own labor to make a living.
As a shoes polish boy in the city of Phnom Penh, he work more than 8 hours a day, much more than ordinary people. Unfortunately he earns much less than them. At dinner time, I chose to eat outside. I went to a local store for dinner. It was where I observe him. After two guests sitting at another table left, he was there. It was his turn. As some food left, it was his. He grabbed the left food into a plastic bag, and handed it his another younger boy, probably his colleague. I was asked to have my shoes polished, but unfortunately it was black sandal, not my dress shoes. At least he works for himself and by himself. And it is a life of many street children in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. He will never starve to death.
Everyone learn to live their lives on their own and in their own ways.
SUBMITTED BY: ThaRum
Email: thar....@gmail.com
Thu, 26 May 2005
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Sihanouk Incredulously Bias
By Prak Hap May 8, 2005
In the wake of recent development of the so called Supreme Border Council of seven members headed by former King, Mr. Sihanouk, has grabbed many headlines in Cambodia press circle including state manipulated TVK. Apparently Cambodia real detrimental problems i. e UN KR Trial, Human Rights Deprivation, Reduction of Poverty have been cleverly diverged by the true masters once again. Relatively all played down as non-urgent.
On May 5, 2005 Mr. Sihanouk made known to his targeted website surfers most external and non Cambodians likely press that he was not granting audience to people advocates such Mr. Sean Peng Se, Mr. Sam Raingsi and Ms. Chak Saroeun prior to the so called official meeting scheduled for May 11, 2005 at his residence in Beijing due to his eminent physician order and avoiding appearance of reconciliatory with opposition of CPP+ FUNC agendas.
I assumed these three individuals may not be strangers to his residence and diner companionship in the recent past. I am wondering why he is denying his acquaintances request to privately and sincerely pay his royal homage. Two strokes already within few weeks of his announcement, first the delayed return and meeting then the second denials of his own responsibility that France ceded lands to neighbors but not his fore bearers, or DK-PRK's Hun Sen- his immediate superior.
Obviously Mr. Sihanouk curled up in his own created biases and self-excuses. He shamelessly linked up his own poor excuses with France's Napoleonic's likened Pol Pot personas who slaughtered millions and had allowed Siam or An Nam to carved up Khmer territories prior to Nay Duong or the French protectorate arrival. For the record Sihanouk liked to relive the Napoleonic personas and glory as he wished was his own. Unfortunately he was no Napoleonic nor was Cambodia no France then or now.
Is there CPP conditional and fearful directive upon its subordinate namely Sihanouk from revealing?
With this scenario reminded many of us of the DK-FUNK 75-91 scare tactic to hold people hostage under their suppressive and dictatorial control. No one dared to resist or displeased rulers otherwise the rest of family would be accounted for the fatal consequences. Undoubtedly this reflected CPP's Hun Sen convenient leverage and very same tactic to blackmail Mr. Sihanouk as his naive son King and the rest of his royal clans be easily contained by CPP supreme enforcer order. Once Cambodia record shown Mr. Sihanouk was a fearful Maccu Raj (King of Death) but today that authority belongs to his superior instead.
Unadvisedly Mr. Iron Fists got a grab of Mr. Sihanouk by the be-all (the usual discretely where and what), therefore, his Endeavour is not so immune and impartial as he would have claimed to be. Clearly he was not as smart as many seemed to think.
This is his last breath to implore Hun Sen for merciful amnesty and pardon if the UN sponsored KR Trial found him guilty of heinous crime against humanity. The sentence could carry out after his death as he personally had ordered Dap Chhuon Mochul Pech body chained up to the grave site as a stern warning to the livings that treason was the serious crime even after death the victim still bore eternal court sentence and some form of imprisonment.
According to Buddhist teaching, Mr. Sihanouk has willfully violated Pancca Sila and Eight Fold Paths profoundly. Therefore his bad deeds slowly come to haunt him and oblige his siblings to weigh in their share while still living. All of his words and deeds or whatsoever were groundless and incredible.
The history has shown over and over how cruel Sihanouk was and all about him and cliques not Cambodia people. Therefore it is time for all to re-evaluate his action and responsibility to safe keep lives and nation from his self delusion and disorientation.
Please don't mistake wolf hidden violent nature for a shepherd dog appearance. Wake up people, Sihanouk is no friend of your dead or alive family members as he had colluded with colonialist France and expansionist An Nam, devious killers, and dictators for all of his living years.
SUBMITTED BY: prak hap
Email: prak....@hotmail.com
Sun, 8 May 2005
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Cambodia's troublesome borders
By Verghese Mathews
Just last week the world commemorated the 50th anniversary of the first ever Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung, Indonesia, and separately remembered the 30th anniversary of the arrival in Phnom Penh of the Khmer Rouge. Both, in retrospect, were audacious events; both had outrageously held out promises of hope at a time when such hope was at a premium. Neither delivered.
Bandung collapsed within a decade, though it arguably was a catalyst in the subsequent formation of the Non-Aligned Movement. The Khmer Rouge effectively held demonic control of a dehumanized people for all of three years, eight months and 20 days - but managed within that short span to unleash an unprecedented and unimaginable brutality on a gentle land.
One person who would have vivid memories of both events is former Cambodian monarch Norodom Sihanouk, who now goes by the revered title Father-King.
Sihanouk, 33 years old at the time of the first Bandung summit, had a couple of years earlier secured Cambodia's independence from the mighty French. He will remember it was at Bandung that he was introduced to and became a life-long friend and admirer of then Chinese premier Zhou Enlai and, subsequently, of succeeding Chinese leaders.
That relationship probably saved Sihanouk's life when he became a virtual prisoner in his palace during the Khmer Rouge regime. Like other Cambodian families, Sihanouk lost several of his children to the brutality inflicted by the Khmer Rouge. In 1979, the Chinese airlifted Sihanouk and the surviving members of the royal family to Beijing just before the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia began.
Sihanouk is now 82, and far less healthy, with multiple medical problems, such as cancer. According to the latest report, posted on May 1 on the royal website, "recent follow-up showed progression of a tumor [related to a gastric lymphoma]. Another course of chemotherapy [has been] suggested."
Still, there is the old fire in his belly. Nobody writes Sihanouk off. He remains an extraordinary patriot and a force to contend with in Cambodian politics.
Since January this year he has traveled overseas - initially for his regular medical treatments, but he stayed on as an open expression of his unhappiness with political developments at home. One long-standing peeve of his has been the question of Cambodia's territorial integrity; in particular, the bilateral border agreements signed with Vietnam at the time of its occupation of Cambodia.
Sihanouk never recognized those agreements. Neither have several other groups, including the royalists and the Cambodian diaspora.
On March 31, Sihanouk unexpectedly wrote an open letter in French accusing Thailand, Vietnam and Laos of continuing "to nibble away little by little the villages, lands, seas, and islands belonging to Cambodia, an ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] member just like you".
In an unofficial English translation of the letter Sihanouk declared that, "The nation, the people and the state of Cambodia (Kampuchea) would not accept to lose (unfairly and illegally to your unjustifiable gain) even one square meter, one-tenth of a square meter, or a square centimeter of her (land and maritime) territorial integrity, which she owned in all legality and legitimacy as clearly indicated in the military maps produced by the USA (your friends, an ex-enemy of Norodom Sihanouk). These are maps produced between 1963 (one year after the equitable verdict on Preah Vihear by the Hague International Court of Justice) and 1969 (one year before the anti-constitutional putsch by Lon Nol, Sirik Matak and co, the satellites of Uncle Sam and President Richard Nixon)."
Sihanouk went on, in the same tone, to point out that numerous villages belonging to poor Khmer people living well within Cambodia during his reign (1955-1969) now find themselves located in Vietnamese territory.
"Everyone knows that the new maritime borders delimitation between Cambodia and Thailand on one hand, and between Cambodia and Vietnam on the other hand, gave enormous advantages, in terms of seas and islands, to these two large neighbors with respect to what these two large neighbors owned up to 1969."
Sihanouk called on his neighbors to respect international law, the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements, and the UN Charter, "by accepting, with a fair play which will avoid you dishonor, to surrender to the current Cambodia the villages, lands, seas, and islands that you had stolen and took away from us".
Sihanouk invited Thailand, Vietnam and Laos to join Cambodia "with an open heart, and as soon as possible" to jointly verify "kilometer by kilometer, on the ground and on the spot of the delimitation of our common borders found in the US geographic maps produced by Washington DC between 1963 and 1969".
The stridency in Sihanouk's letter may have surprised many, as he is by nature and reputation extremely polite and ever conscious of proper protocol. Writing in his personal capacity, as an ordinary citizen, he let his emotions flow.
Territorial integrity and border encroachment remain a sensitive issue in Cambodia's relations with its neighbors and in domestic Cambodian politics. Sihanouk has himself been a severe critic of the border agreements reached between Cambodia and its neighbors during the 1979 to 1991 period of the Vietnamese occupation.
Sihanouk is not alone in this. The Paris-based Cambodian Border Committee (CBC), which is dedicated to the return of territory lost during the Vietnamese occupation, has outlined the most significant border agreements as:
The Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation Treaty dated February 18, 1979: valid for a period of 25 years, and [which] will tacitly be renewed every 10 years if one of the two contracting parties does not notify in writing to the other party its desire to repeal it one year before its expiration date; the agreement on the maritime zone, also known as the Historical Waters Agreement, dated July 7, 1982, which recognized both the SRV [Socialist Republic of Vietnam] annexation of many Cambodian islands, along with a considerable portion (30,000 square kilometers) of its sea water; the Agreement on the Border Statute and the Treaty on the Principle of Resolution of Borders Issues, dated July 20, 1983, which recognized the free crossing of the Cambodian border and the surge of Vietnamese settlers into Cambodia, along with a new border delineation; the Treaty on the Border Delimitation, dated December 27, 1985, which recognized new settlements (on the demarcation) of land borders between the two countries from north to the south along an overall border length of 1,230km - settlements imposed by Vietnam in accordance to the agreements with the PRK [People's Republic of Kampuchea] dated July 20, 1983, July 13, 1984, and November 6, 1984.
Within Cambodia, Sihanouk's letter accelerated the implementation of an agreement that had earlier been reached between the dominant Cambodian People's Party of Hun Sen and the royalist Funcinpec Party of Prince Norodom Ranariddh to form a seven-member Supreme National Council on Border Issues to resolve the long-standing and acutely sensitive, emotional issue.
Each of the three political parties, including the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, has nominated a member to the national council, as have the Senate, the National Assembly and the government. Cambodia's current King Norodom Sihamoni had the prerogative of appointing the chairman, and in the event he invited his father, Sihanouk, who accepted. The king said that Sihanouk, in his sunset years, wished "to serve the nation and the people in the framework of his mission to protect the kingdom's territorial integrity".
It is more than likely that King Sihamoni had the tacit understanding of Hun Sen and Ranariddh in the offer. A long-time observer privately suggested that since Sihanouk has been highly critical of an existing border committee of officials, appointing him to chair the new supra body was one way of resolving the problem.
Sihanouk has mighty problems ahead of him. He intends to meet with all council members soon after his return to Phnom Penh - members who are clearly divided down the middle with some supporting the validity of the agreements reached during the Vietnamese occupation and others rejecting it outright and demanding demarcation on the basis of detailed maps issued by the US in the 1960s.
The Cambodians need to speak with one voice, otherwise their cause is lost even before the negotiations begin. A far greater problem for Sihanouk will be with the neighbors whose feathers he has already ruffled with his open letter. Emotions must necessarily give way to hard facts, legitimate documents and much patience and tolerance.
Notwithstanding his well-honed skills, his subtle persuasiveness and his renowned charm, Sihanouk has a mammoth problem ahead. The negotiations could drag and perhaps take more years than Sihanouk can spare.
SUBMITTED BY: Verghese Mathews
Email: math....@iseas.edu.sg
4 May 2005
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Former King Sihanouk to head a sensitive and difficult mission
Tue, 3 May 2005
Former King Norodom Sihanouk, who has been on an extended stay in Beijing since January this year, partly for his regular medical consultations and partly as an expression of his unhappiness over certain domestic political developments, is now expected to return soon to Phnom Penh.
Concern and speculation over the health of the 82 year old King-Father, as he has been designated since his retirement in Oct 2004, were heightened when his son, King Norodom Sihamoni, left for Beijing on 23 April to be with his father.
A newspaper hastily contacted Sihanouk's biographer in its preparation of an obituary. This and other speculation prompted the former King to apologise, tongue-in-cheek, for not being able to oblige those who were prematurely predicting his demise explaining that "for the moment, God and the Buddha have not decided to send me to the afterlife."
While this was welcome news and put an end to fears about the health of the much-loved former monarch, most Cambodians were not prepared for an unexpected development that followed - the retired King accepted an invitation to chair the newly formed Supreme National Council on Border Issues.
In a letter from Beijing to Prime Minister Hun Sen, King Sihamoni said that his father had accepted his invitation to lead the Council explaining that, "at the end of his life, he wishes to serve the nation and the people in the framework of his mission to protect the kingdom's territorial integrity". The King added that Sihanouk was "still full of energy to fulfill this duty"
The King went on to mention that if neighbours Vietnam, Thailand and Laos were agreeable to appoint representatives, Sihanouk would enter into discussions with them on the modality for undertaking the demarcation of the disputed borders based on detailed maps prepared by the US in the sixties.
Border integrity is a sensitive issue in Cambodia's relations with its neighbours and in domestic Cambodian politics. Sihanouk has himself been a severe critic of the border agreements reached between Cambodia and her neighbours during the 1979 to 1991 Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia. Sihanouk is not alone in this. There is a strong and vocal lobby not only in the country but among overseas Cambodians who argue that not only had Cambodia significantly lost out territories in these agreements but that encroachment of Cambodian land has continued unabated to this day.
To drive home the point, a story circulated not too long ago that the family home along the Cambodian Vietnam border, of Heng Samrin, the Honorary President of the CPP, was now in Vietnamese territory.
Not surprisingly, too, border integrity was an issue during the last elections and again factored in the negotiations between the dominant Cambodian Peoples Party and the royalist Funcinpec (FCP). Interestingly, it is now FCP, the party founded by Sihanouk, which is championing the border cause and calling for the implementation of the previously-agreed seven-member supra-council in which the King, the National Assembly, the Senate, the Government and the three political parties nominate a representative each.
The King nominates the Chairman of the Council and in the event has chosen his father, a decision that must have had the tacit support of CPP leader Hun Sen and FCP leader Prince Norodom Ranariddh, the King's half-brother.
The former King's acceptance of the important post suggests a much-welcomed easing of tensions between him and the politicians and paves the way for him to return home to the welcome of a people he genuinely cares for.
There are, however, serious difficulties ahead for Sihanouk's Council. In the first instance, he has to work out an internal consensus among the heavyweight politicians who are Council members. They represent those who want the cancellation of all bilateral border treaties entered upon between 1979 and 1991 and those who uphold the validity of the existing treaties.
Sihanouk has the skills, the experience and the personal standing to hammer out a loose working arrangement.
His major difficulty will be in dealing with his neighbours - especially given his intention of basing the negotiations on the maps prepared by the Americans in the sixties. Even if the modality for the negotiations are agreed upon, the process can take years.
There is already in existence a Border Committee which has been negotiating with the neighbouring countries on the basis of the border agreements already in force. There has yet been no official disclosure on the future of this Committee,which is not universally popular, but which some believe can serve the new body on technical matters.
Given Sihanouk's strident criticisms about the loss of Khmer land, there are those who believe that heading the Supreme Border Council presents him the opportunity to bring his wisdom to bear on this sensitive issue.
The neighbours, however, will not easily forget a strongly worded open letter Sihanouk sent on 31 March this year to the governments of Laos, Thailand and Vietnam on the loss of Khmer land. He pointed out that Cambodia was not clamouring for "her lands, seas, and islands" lost during "the post-Angokorian Period from the 15th to 19th century and even after that"
Sihanouk continued, however, that " the Nation, the People, and the State of Cambodia (Kampuchea) would not accept to loose (unfairly and illegally to Your unjustifiable gain) even one square meter, one-tenth of a square meter, or a square centimeter of her (land and maritime) territorial integrity which she owned in all legality and legitimacy as clearly indicated in the military maps produced by the U.S.A. (Your Friends, an ex-Enemy of Norodom Sihanouk): these are maps produced between 1963 (one year after the equitable Verdict on Preah Vihear by the Hague International Court of Justice) and 1969 (one year before the anti-constitutional Putsch by Lon Nol, Sirik Matak and Co., the satellites of Uncle Sam and President Richard Nixon).
"Since my return to my Homeland, in 1991 up until now, I had, alas, observed that You 3 (Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos) never ceased, do not cease and continue to nibble away little by little the villages, lands, seas, and islands belonging to Cambodia, an ASEAN member just like You. "To cite only the villages belonging to poor Khmer people [living] near Vietnam, numerous of these villages which, under the Sangkum Reastr Niyum Era (1955-1969), were well within Cambodia, now find themselves located within the S.R. of Vietnam boundary; these villages are well kept and protected by militia and soldiers of this S.R.V. Everyone knows that the new maritime borders delimitation between Cambodia and Thailand on one hand, and between Cambodia and Vietnam, on the other hand, gave enormous advantages, in terms of seas and islands, to these 2 large neighbors with respect to what these 2 large neighbors owned up to 1969.
"The Cambodian People, all Khmer men and women both inside and outside of Cambodia, who are not traitors to their Homeland, request that You nobly come to respect international Law, the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements on Cambodia, and the UN Charter, by accepting, with a fair play which will avoid you dishonor, to surrender to the current Cambodia the villages, lands, seas, and islands that You had stolen and took away from us.
"Since You had claimed to the world that You are neither thieves nor gulpers of Khmer villages, lands, seas, and islands, please accept with open heart and as soon as possible, my Proposal of verification, kilometer by kilometer, on the ground and on the spot of the delimitation of our common borders found in the U.S. geographic Maps produced by Washington D.C.between 1963 and 1969) by both Your accredited envoys and by those of Cambodia."
These are tough words which explains the deep emotions over the issue. Emotions, however, will not resolve border problems anywhere in the world - what's needed are documents, maps, goodwill,patience and tolerance. Fortunately, Sihanouk has the astute political sense and the long experience to rise above emotions. He,nevertheless, has a tough job ahead of him.
Postscript: Sihanouk was expected to return to Cambodia on 8 May but this has had to be delayed as his doctors in Beijing have just recommended further treatment. Given this, Sihanouk has invited the members of the Supreme National Council to travel to Beijing for the inaugural meeting.
The writer, until recently Singapore's Ambassador to Cambodia, is a Visiting Research Fellow in the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.
SUBMITTED BY: Verghese Mathews
Email: math....@iseas.edu.sg
Tue, 3 May 2005
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Big DADA is Coming, Don't Worry We Are Family
By Prak Hap
April 27, 2005
During Cold War ( not really cold as it said),Sihanouk willfully conspired and arbitrarily sheltered hundreds of thousand Viet to build hospitals, homes and warehouses to conduct war against US ally South Viet Nam that provoked US fury. He violated his own non aligned neutrality policy in hope Ho Chi Minh would make sure no more violation or returning Prey Nokor to Cambodia ownership if he conquered all Viet Nam. What's the fuzz?
Few days ago, Cambodia press headlined Mr. Hun Sen letter of intent to create a council to oversee Cambodia border problem which was not new or extraordinaire matter as it appeared on the news. People who used to work for Sihanouk when he was King, Head of State, President then King again knew problem well. Of course it is important to preserve territorial integrity and sovereignty but priority is people daily living standard too.
Khmer Republic boldly did protest and fought the Viets illegal occupation. Other hand Sihanouk rallied against and defeated it with heinous penalty on his so called Kaun Chau. At that time Mr. Hun Sen responded to Sihanouk second crusade call and joined the fight for Sihanouk return in 1975. Less than 3 years after his revered President Sihanouk forced retirement, Pol Pot and Dracula Mok led incursions and raids along Viet Nam border (old Khmer territory given to Viets by French in 1949) in the illusion to recapture its permanent control.
In 1977 President Khieu Samphan, Ph. D and his DK government demanded Viet Nam and others to respect Kampuchea 1960 border lines over the radio with severe ultimatum if not responsive. When the clashes ensued, Mr. Hun Sen responded to another call except this time from Sihanouk revered mentor, Viet Nam, to rise up and topple Sihanouk's own created murderous DK in 1978.
After that Sihanouk was not so nice and made Hun Sen his enemy with all name calling and derogative remarks about Khmeng wat Hun Sen government in 80 and 90. Surprisingly when they both met face to face in Djakarta to broker peace negotiation, Sihanouk was envious and jealous of Hun Sen ability then begged him over lavish dinner to be his adopted son with the elevated rank as Samdech afterward.
Less than three weeks ago Samdech Hun Sen responded to another crusade call from his beloved adopted father Sihanouk open letter demanding Cambodia proper boundary respect from neighboring countries especially Viet Nam. Swiftly Samdech Hun Sen sent letter to his adopted little brother King Sihamoni proposing the creation of Border Council before he and his elder brother Samdech Kom Pah RRidh president of Assembly jointly paid visit their gravely ill father who may not live past that weekend.
Upon the King return the news broke out Sihanouk was not that bad and with concurrence from elder brother Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen, both made big DADA Sihanouk as the Chairman of such undefined role Border Supreme Council to straighten up Viet Nam government of his late Apouk chenhchem Ho Chi Minh followers once for all and for good.
This is clever but predictable politic so far. During 70's Sihanouk used DK to topple Khmer Republic then in the 80’s he used DK, Republican inclined KPLNF and monarchist to topple PRK but failed miserably and ended up dissolving his own CGC. Late Mr. Son Sann camouflaged as republican and led KPNLF to fight alongside with Sihanouk then kicked them on the shin in 1991 as he declared his allegiance to monarchy. Now Mr. Sam Rainsy who appears as rival to monarchists and DK-PRK but will appease to Sihanouk own call. Beware the present opposition behaves not far from So Sann then.
Sihanouk who was terminally ill and almost died last weekend according to his elder son RRidh but miraculously, with a new job title Mr. Sihanouk seemed in full recovery and spirit offering to physically walk miles and miles of frontier lines to search for the long gone demarcation markers. Dawn it, he is 83 year old to perform this daunting task which it should be more meaningful and suitable when he was a stud King then.
The consolation is all in Sihanouk family matter, so Cambodia people are in good hands especially those who recently lost land to Viets can relax now because Big DADA is coming. Thus Viet Nam better be ready to comply to his elderly statesman and kinship or else. He will tell his Apouk Chenhchem Zhou En Lai worshipers to repeat 1979 lesson to Viet Nam once again if Viet Nam ignored him? Best of luck big DAH!
SUBMITTED BY: Prak Hap
Email: prak....@hotmail.com
Wed, 27 Apr 2005
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OH! YEA! OH! YEA!
PRK APRIL SELL OUT DAY
By Prak Hap
April 22,2005
How insulting to all with morality. This is the last thing that mordacious Sihanouk had done to turn society not only heartless but no soul. RGC’s just sold one of the main Killing Fields sites Choeung Ek to Japan’s profit making organization according to news today.
How this happened? Well the game began in late 60 or early 70 with maniac Sihanouk. He called upon and misled people to rise up against Khmer people who bravely fought his uncle and revered mentor Ho Chi Minh Viet Cong’s peasantry hero, the real historical enemy of Cambodia people.
Illusory Sihanouk blind believers turned murderous DK who killed off millions. Then the in fight broke ranks at the urge of Viet Cong turned Unifier of Viet Nam to split and toppled Sihanouk’s courageous DK liberation army in 1978.The turned coat DK known as PRK submitted and manned by Viet Nam former Thieu- Ky soldiers as its liberation army.
While we, the conscionable ones, demand justice for our loved ones who were killed by the living Maccu Raj Sihanouk soldiers of death 30 years ago, he at one hand overtly pardoned the DK’s killers and other caressed the compulsive PRK’s sell out.
Mr.. Kofi Annan UN Secretary just finished begging the world for funding for the Genocide Trial on Cambodia behalf and at the same time RGC’s unscrupulous Kep Chutama Governor of Phnom Penh just finished signing a selling deal of DK victims’ skulls to a profit making organization from imperial Japan. How immoral that is?
After long gone 30 years, most murderers were dead or pardoned by their ill will leader Sihanouk who is now telling people what he wants people to do with his body after he died. Outlandish son of the hell raiser, no shame, no remorse whatsoever, damn the religion he belongs to.
Just an idea since it was OK for him to pardon DK murderers and let PRK sell killing fields remains why won’t RGC strongman sell Sihanouk body after death as well. The phenomenal sell price may break Japan banks over night. Out of the deal, RGC can pay for the entire KR Trial cost and there may be a left over to buy back the Choeung Ek memorial site from humanity profiteer Japan. May be that’s why his never had son alias Iron Lips kept stalling the court process for all these times.
Now we begin to see how the game ending.
I have thought Sihanouk is more than a coward who denied own sins even knowing death is at the door step. People should never forgive his hypocrisy and curse upon his grave since how he has recklessly disgraced Cambodia. In the spirit of victims, May hell befell upon his soul eternally.
SUBMITTED BY: Prak Hap
Email: prak....@hotmail.com
Sat, 23 Apr 2005
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April 17,1975 Sihanouk Victory Day
By Prak Hap April 12,2005
The day is here for the victims families,my heart filled with sorrows and my eyes filled with tears as I enter the morning of the gruesome day. Please look at a check list that former King memory has the responsibility to invoke this hellish day that he claimed his vengeful victory anniversary celebration.
As the result of his failures to carryout his vested duty people removed him from his office accordingly in 1970. But the dispirited Sihanouk took anger out on over 3 million peoples starting 1970 until1993.
Relatively the infamous Killing Fields was Sihanouk own diligence and ingenuity. In triumph on April 17,1975 he had punished Cambodia for its rejection of his treacherous and unethical rule in 1970. The world knew and yet he categorically denied of all accounts of his indicative heinous involvements.
Hence if April 17,1975 never happened the three million individuals would die at old age after fulfilled family obligation and duty.Cambodia might have been nearly 20 million citizen nation now. Secretive authorization for China's proxy Viet Nam sanctuary and arms conduit,
Secretive authorization for China's proxy Viet Nam sanctuary and arms conduit,
President of the Great Leap Forward Revolution after March 18,1970,
High Command position in DK liberation army communiques,
Cruel evacuation to uproot societal orders and systems,
Execution Khmer Republic army,
School closures and abolished modern functionality,
Mass enslavement, torture, stravation and forced laborous quotas,
Deprivation of fundamental human rights,
Use many temples or schools as execution centers or prisons,
Turn rice fileds to killing fields,
His actions led Pham Van Dong to reinvade Cambodia on December 25,1978,
1979 obedient mouthpiece for Pol Pot at UN,
Granted DK tyrants and murderers amnesty.
How can he sleep and live with himself by knowing he had audaciously violated the Buddhist very fundamental Panca Sila and inflicted pain and suffering upon not one individual but millions that is not only a disgrace to his children but Cambodia history and humanity altogether. People should give him the following post pothumous titles as the Kambuja king of death (Maccu Raj) ,Sangkum Reast Ningyum ingrateful prince,and royal family ever immoral example.
SUBMITTED BY: Sacrava
Email: Sacr......@aol.com
Sat, 16 Apr 2005
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Thursday April 7, 2005
News Comment
FOCUS ON TRADE, NOT POLITICS Investment and trade possibilities do exist in Vietnam, Cambodia
Verghese Mathews
The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers and the Singapore Manufacturers' Federation are jointly organising a trade and investment mission to Vietnam and Cambodia in May.
It is heartening to see the private sectors of the two countries cooperating meaningfully and setting the pace for their politicians.
The hard-nosed private sectors of the two countries see opportunities in both countries.
In Cambodia, the private sector, according to reports, is looking at "investment in infrastructure development, agro-business, light and medium industries, tourism-related activities, engineering, construction, public works and real estate", while Vietnam offers possibilities in "business areas such as electric and electronic, information and telecommunications, construction, agricultural, property and infrastructure development and power generation".
The visit is timely and will be warmly welcomed. There is a far greater acceptance - at the bureaucratic and business levels in the two countries - that the onus is upon them to make their countries attractive to foreign players, in particular to visiting trade and investment missions.
The two countries also realise that they play an integral role in the success or failure of these missions.
On their part, they want the opportunity to work with the Singapore and Malaysian business communities, for whom they have a healthy respect. They also see the networking advantages and the global reach of the Singapore and Malaysian partners in Asean.
Several businessmen in Singapore and Malaysia already have an understanding of doing business there.
First-timers in the mission will be impressed not only by the opportunities the two countries offer but also by some of the officials they will meet.
Cambodia, for example, has young bureaucrats who are extremely competent, dedicated and determined to play a legitimate role in the economy of the region.
They see this as an inevitable means of creating much-needed jobs and enhancing the living standards of their people. These bureaucrats are pragmatic both in their outlook and in their assessments and are deeply conscious that there are elements in their environment which remain an impediment to enhancing business confidence even though Cambodia has been successful in recent years in securing and maintaining macroeconomic stability and in having put in place an attractive and liberal investment regime.
These young bureaucrats, who have the confidence and support of Prime Minister Hun Sen, are the ones who are quietly spearheading the reforms away from the limelight.
Foreign investors, too, have confidence in them and in the direction the Cambodian government is taking, although they bemoan the slow pace of much-needed reforms.
In particular investors want to see an end to the "hidden costs", a euphemism for pervasive corruption, in their business operations and want greater transparency in the judiciary which is widely regarded as being susceptible to external influence - which could favour local partners.
To overcome this, foreign investors often include an arbitration clause in contracts for disputes between foreign and local partners to be resolved in a stated third country.
Cambodia, like Vietnam and Laos, is set to move forward. It is more democratic and has made strides but it often gets bad international press - of its own making.
What invariably makes the headlines are reports on the fractious politics and the unending politicking.
Singapore and Malaysian investors may see it as an impediment. While such concern is not without merit, they should see it in perspective.
Meanwhile, not withstanding the different political styles, Cambodia and Vietnam will become even more attractive investment destinations for our businessmen if the two governments are willing to open up their countries even further.
Our businessmen should also look at Laos, landlocked and with few viable industries, but which has potential for eco-tourism and the production of hydroelectric power.
The World Bank has just agreed to provide loans and guarantees for a $1.95 billion hydroelectric dam project designed to produce electricity for export to neighbouring Thailand. Laos needs all the help it can get.
The writer, until recently Singapore's Ambassador to Cambodia, is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore.
SUBMITTED BY: Verghese Mathews
Email: math...@iseas.edu.sg
Sun, 10 Apr 2005
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ATTITUDE THAT TELLS A SAD STORY
Sun, 3 Apr 2005
Sim Sina (Mrs)
Even a die hard optimist would find it difficult not to see that Cambodia, as a nation, has sliding toward oblivion. The image of the recent visit of the secretary-general of the Communist Party of Vietnam to Phnom Penh may be a prelude confirming a relationship that extends far beyond two neigbouring souvereign nations. It is bordering on a master-servant interaction. It should not be a surprise, with an existing the laissez-faire immigration policy, if Cambodia becomes another province of Vietnam in fifty years time, if not sooner.
Overall, it seems the issue of national pride, identity, and existence does not pan out to be really of national significance to major political players in Cambodia, at least not to the extent that it would attract their undivided attention. Each of those leaders appears to have their own axe to grind in their politicking. They perhaps unwittingly forget that their focus should be primarily on national interests, which regrettably may or may not too clear to them.
The King Father would have benefited a great deal from a Khmer proverb that expounds the virtue of being silent, “silence is better than talkingâ€. He seems to believe that his undoubted love and devotion for the nation frees him from gullibility and human errors. In the latest episode, it appears he really believes his childhood friend, Roum Ritt, exists mainly to share his pain and agony for being trapped in a foxhole, from which he has neither tenacity nor audacity to get out. Worse, he seems to believe that others have taken in this imaginary childhood friend of his. Otherwise, he could have gone through a severe anguish in the past few days when the prime minister and his own son, the National Assembly president, renewed their verbal attacks on Roum Ritt. The King Father may not have been given any authority to rule Cambodia when he was King, but he appeared to have lost also the moral authority a long time ago. It is rather sad that he may not even realise the significance of this loss.
Eventhough it may not be a public knowledge that there is no love lost between National Assembly president Prince Ranariddh and his father, the King Father, the usual respect accorded by a son for his father has also disappeared. According to the prime minister, the Prince refers to his father’s friend and pen pal as “Ah Roum Rittâ€. Given his level of intellect, it is most difficult to assume the Prince would not know – what the rest of us know – that Roum Ritt is his father’s imaginary friend. Perhaps, the King Father is asking for it.
The public display of the disgraceful relationship between the father and son may have brought unlimited joy to the prime minister who has been successfully keeping them in the foxhole since the UNTAC intervention in the early 90’s. He has been gloating over his success in humiliating the two major players in Cambodia politics. He ridicules them by claiming that he is more polite than the Prince in calling Roum Ritt “uncle†when the latter prefers “Ahâ€. The prime minister could have pretended to deliberately slip his tongue to indicate that Roum Ritt was the Prince’s father. He has turned public sarcasm into an art form. And, perhaps sadly the father and son are asking for it.
Derogatory language in public forum seems to become a flavour of the month for the Khmer leaders. The prime minister seems to be a master of offensive language that would not even fit a gentleman, let alone a statesman. Yet, interestingly some western linguist argues that the prime minister’s “language faithfully represents their [Khmer] cultural heritage and expectationâ€.
It seems the Khmer cultural heritage and expectation have sunk to an all time low, and the national pride and existence can not be that far behind. Sim Sina (Mrs)
SUBMITTED BY: Mrs. Sim Sina Email: sims.....@westnet.com.au Sun, 3 Apr 2005
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March 22,2005
How Long the Lotus Kingdom II Continues its Senseless Dances?
By Prak Hap
The eminent abuse of power and corruption are Cambodia facts of life. If we look at its political dominos in term of overly representation of 13 millions versus 20 provinces which interpreted Senatorial (3.05) or half of the Assembly (6.15) per province in performance and results. Cambodia does not safeguard millions whose life still depend on sun, moon,land free of the neighboring countries encroachment, or corporates and officials illegal take over of rightful ownership, and mercy of unpredictable disastrous climates.
According to 2003 US Department of State report “Cambodia GDP was approximately $4,000,000,000 and Khmer ( not immigrants) family income was approximately $282 annually or $0.78 per day.” Technically average Khmer works year round in order to barely live with no paid days off. The national awesome budgetary still relies on foreign donations. The extraordinaire legislative branches took a lumpsome out of its donation annual budget accordingly: Assembly $2,000 x123 x 12=$2,952,000 and Senate $2,000 x 61 x 12=$1,464,000.
Comparatively, it takes common folk 91 days to catch up with one day of an average senatorial earning based on the average less than $1 per day out of 365 days vs individual Senatorial earning $90.90 per day out of 22 work days excluding all perks and extensive privileges. Legislative session may last from 2 to 6 months per year and the remaining time the elected individuals can float and do nothing but still entitles to full $2,000 allowance likely without income tax. Most of these guys can afford abroad trips and foreign health services or education for their kids. No ethical and moral examplary in the governance from top to bottom.
Contrarily, average folk has no access to very basic health care services, or basic education for their children, or daily movement, or ability to use land without interference or inadequate constitutional guaranty of endowed rights to life,liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
How this senate came into existence? Why exactly Cambodia needs such senate to begin with?
No one knows exactly the real reason behind this quickly put together Senate post the anarchic riot in July 1997. The present Senate is non democratic. It is comprised of appointees by dominant political parties or institution of power excluded the independent or DK cliques. Many are either the cliques or remnants of previous regimes such as Khmer Republic or DK turned royalists, Vietnamists then opportunists. These guys did not have to earn people vote but yet have the audacity to legislate laws.
If the voters determined to do away with the senate whose primary job is to obediently echo the Royalty endeavour anyway, the predicament is the current Assembly setting may have to expand from 123 to 184 in total. And at the convenience, the King and the leadership of the Assembly can adjust another or two year if the senate office 5 year term expired with technical mishap. This is the most privilege and lucrative job on Angkor land out of the labourous and systemic enslavement of simple Khmers.
It appears that Cambodia has no longer trusted its own sense of responsibility unless the foreigners said something first. This is the time the Constitutional Council does its job in reviewing what is not needed. Please for the sake of Cambodia people survival, enough extra government of no performance and let people have their say so as stately in the Constitution.
SUBMITTED BY: Prak Hap Email: prak....@hotmail.com Tue, 22 Mar 2005
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March 14,2005
Live the Dream of Democracy
By Prak Hap
Synonymously, Cambodia is Sihanouk Killing Fields and treachery. People of Khmer descents, your land had changed from names to names but the truth remains that you are Khmer who Siam or Annam categorically wished to extinct forever. With clear conscience and pre-meditated intent, Sihanouk committed heinous crime against Khmer Republic people to fulfill his ancestral lineage dream.
Out of cowardness and servitude, the wanna-be enlightened Dhammik former King Sihanouk, has illegally spent people money to aid Khmer hereditary enemies in finishing off the braves who had stood to denounce his un-constitutional and treacherous acts in 50, 60, and 70’s. He personally plundered taxation and national treasury to bankruptcy in serving own erotic and unworthy endeavours. Furthermore his families lived off Khmer blood and toils yet claimed to be divine supreme Buddhists.
For centuries, the royalties are the pedigrees of the ruling Siam or Annam clans with French’s motto diviser peuple Khmer pour regner. In the 1930 French built houses modeled after the Siam’s Chakry dynasty grand palaces of Bangkok to make Siam emisary of Nay Duong royalty brand felt at home. French elevated cultural image of glorious Siam political and diplomatic conquest of Khmer nationalism in the heart of Phnom Penh. To balance out,French ceded more Khmer territories to Annam before colonial departure. Then French entrusted royalty of own incested lines to breathe and behave as French remnants.
After the long cruel and destructive rules of colonials, Khmer generations strive for changes. Many died to fight off the ruling and taxing of European colonials then yet submitted to the spoiled and destituted aristocratic rules which in turn shown no gratitude or credits for Khmers.
March 18,1970 was the precursor day for the courageous patriots and informed generations inspired by the self-determination and democracy vision.The unprecedent democratic process had removed the despots and corrupted god like palace occupants. But unfortunately it did not last long. Some of the braves survived or ended up living abroad or bannished from entering the birthland politic for life unless repent.
Out of personal vengeance, the self proclaimed divine former King Sihanouk of such pedigree turned worldly tyrant atheist Mao–Ho (Nguyen) worshiper who coldheartedly exterminated thousands to millions aspired idealists on April 17,1975. To this day he is profusively in denials of crimes.
No matter how you look at it, Khmer people is still under the foreign lineage and nemesis ruling anyhow as long as the Constitution did not do justice to vote out monarchy for good. Therefore the 35th anniversary of the Dream of Republic will be just another unscripted matter for Khmer history.
The lament will be, if and only if, the Khmer will need not to realize own dream of ideal democracy with self rule of justice, liberty, fraternity, amicably, national integrity, and sovereignity soon enough.
SUBMITTED BY: Prak Hap Email: prak....@hotmail.com Mon, 14 Mar 2005
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The Straits Times, Singapore
March 5, 2005
Cambodia's continuing crisis
By Verghese Mathews
For The Straits Times
IF THERE is one lesson neighbours in the region should learn from contemporary Cambodia, it is to never ever end up as a donor-funded country. Should some outrageous fortune result in that happening, one should expect to see within that country a collective nationalistic fervour bent on quickly redressing the situation.
This is unfortunately not so in Phnom Penh where once again political infighting is preoccupying decision-makers instead of nation-building and working towards self-reliance.
Politicking, it would appear, is in the blood, bones, hair and finger nails of Cambodian politicians who practise it with great enthusiasm and blatant impunity.
The melodrama is at the expense of the poor, the weak and the marginalised who are becoming increasingly frustrated.
Worse, there is also a tiresome pattern of the political discord in Phnom Penh invariably becoming externalised, resulting in strident condemnation of the government by the usual 'democratic' sources - and, as happened not too long ago, a shrill call for a 'regime change'.
The latest upping of the political ante is essentially the continuation of inter- and intra-political party intrigues that have been going on since the last general election in July 2003 - obscenely delaying for more than a year the eventual coalition government between the dominant Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the royalist Funcinpec party (FCP).
Tension moved up several notches on Feb 3 when the Cambodian National Assembly voted to remove the parliamentary immunity of Mr Sam Rainsy and two other members of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) so the courts could charge them with defamation. Prime Minister Hun Sen and FCP president Prince Norodom Ranarridh, who had earlier lodged the defamation charges, argued that no parliamentarian should be allowed to malign others under cover of parliamentary immunity.
Mr Rainsy 'fled' the country the same day. He had similarly fled or sought refuge at some embassy on previous occasions.
He was soon in Washington, Brussels and Paris to externalise the problem. Here, he must be given credit - he has used his excellent outreach to identify powerful people and groups that are against Mr Hun Sen and the CPP.
Mr Rainsy scored on Feb 17 when long-time Hun Sen critic, US Senator Mitch McConnell, and Senator Sam Brownback tabled Resolution 65 at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee calling on the Cambodian National Assembly to reverse its decision to strip the three SRP members' parliamentary immunity.
It also urged donor countries to impose 'appropriate sanctions' against the Cambodian government and assembly until the decision was reversed.
The resolution further demanded that US visas not be issued to any parliamentarian who had voted in favour of the decision and all his family members.
For good measure, the resolution urged the State Department, the United Nations Secretary-General, international financial institutions and 'democrats all around the world to continue publicly to condemn the actions of the Cambodian Assembly'.
It is interesting that international financial institutions are specifically mentioned. The SRP has been highly critical of them for releasing funds to the Cambodian government for various development programmes.
Mr Rainsy also appeared on the BBC's Hardtalk. To criticisms from his detractors that he did not fare too well and was on the defensive, the SRP retorted that the interviewer, Zeinab Badawi, was overly aggressive and 'would have made an excellent interrogator at a concentration camp'!
It is now a month since Mr Rainsy has been away on his campaign. But it is unlikely that the international community will be persuaded to impose sanctions or blanket travel restrictions - there are those who are not taken in by the SRP's choreographed campaign or who argue that Mr Rainsy is no less guilty than those he has accused of authoritarian tendencies and of undermining the country's democratic credentials.
While Mr Rainsy is right that much more needs to be done - fighting endemic corruption, reforming the judiciary, promoting financial and administrative transparency, and ensuring good governance - it is important to view these in perspective.
For a post-conflict country, Cambodia has done well and it is a fair comment that for Cambodia, every year since the Paris Peace Agreement of 1991 has been better than the preceding one. In the latest Index of Economic Freedom published by the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal, Cambodia is ranked 63 out of more than 155. Cambodia was termed 'mostly free', higher than Thailand in the same category at 71, while Vietnam at 137 was 'mostly unfree' and Laos at 150 was 'repressed'.
Mr Rainsy knows that sooner or later he has to return to Phnom Penh and is now making arrangements. His latest stand is that he will return to Cambodia as soon as he receives a 'legitimate court summons with specific charges'. He has also written to the King to help resolve the crisis and ensure that the court's decisions are more consistent and equitable.
Some think Mr Rainsy overplayed his hand this time but his supporters at home remain mostly faithful and that is his plus factor.
The writer, a former Singapore ambassador to Cambodia, is a visiting fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
SUBMITTED BY: Verghese Mathews Email: math...@iseas.edu.sg Sun, 6 Mar 2005
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March 3,2005
TO DO vs TO DO NOT?
By Prak Hap-FLUS
The newly packaged extra size government reportedly of 300 cream of the crops was bound in agreement to abide the top 72 priorities as its plan for this term? Unfortunately, February 3,2005 event took precedence over the real hot problems. Cambodia Constitution states Assembly is the people therefore does the real people know about the real problem yet?
Framework of Constitution is farcically convenient for self-serving agenda. Executive Branch or the so called Administration is still absent of transparency and moral duty. Members of the government continue to abuse code of ethics and duly sworn accountability.
Khmer Rouge Tribunal Opening: in less than six weeks will be the 30th anniversary of the Killing Fields. It is apparent the melodramatic Democracy and Human Rights are still repressively melancholy. What are the remedies?
Territorial integrity: Viet Nam still violates Cambodia border, matters are the future and guaranty of people who live on their ancestral land. According to one of the lead citizen advocates, Mr.Sean Peng Se, on behalf of Committee of Cambodia Border based in Europe and those interested in abroad, many treaties are supposed to be rescinded by the Assembly with his Majesty seals and signatories. Therefore the government and the monarch alike duly task is to see to it promptly. What’s the progress on this?
Corruption and Poverty Reduction: World lending bodies and donors alike made insults and demands in the face of this esteemed extra extraordinaire extra large government many times over. Reported acknowledgement of the rampant corruptions including governmental self-destructive conducts are overwhelmingly present. Needless to say more upon years passed and found no evidence of corrective. Where is the Assembly good faith and responsibility to meet the obligation. Who is responsible in the corrective action to ensure friendly lending banks demands? When will it start on these?
Sympathetic countries warn to lift sanction and embargo on trade against Cambodia as a whole. Economy and Commerce are servitude of foreign unscupulous investors. Taxation vs extortion, illegal logging, and smuggling are still usual means of the low governmental posts to discover nouveau riches. Who’s accountable for the officials unscrupulous conducts?
Good sounding Education is impetus to the human resource and capital needs but
the long overdue ineptness and unaccountability still perpetuate the disparity gap of the great majority needs. No innovation,descipline, and self-reliance spirit to assure population competency to compete with world standard labor and market.It has to take responsibility to lead people to depend not the donation but own ernest resilience. Who’is to blame for uncontrolable unemployment and anti social behaviors in the real society?
List can go on and on but let just pause here momentarily and allow the worldly esteemed Assembly time to forge its altruistic nationalism.Since some of the long time top echelon officials felt there was nothing give them more ecstacy but to serve the people. Let’s all agree and re-entrust the task which is clearly conscientionable on the Assembly part now. Be mindful, there is no excuse to turn on people demands of action.We are watching and so are the donors.
Momentary as the result of ”To Do orTo Do Not” the world is impatiently working against people hence Assembly.
Khmer land withstands the snake in the grass from the west and the rancorous beast from the east.
SUBMITTED BY: Prak Hap Email: prak....@hotmail.com Thursday, 3 March 2005
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February 24, 2005
What will Be the Future of Dissenting View
in Cambodia Parliamentarian Government?
By Prak Hap-FLUS
The Assembly of real gentlemen and ladies of the laws had made move to infringe the rare voice of opposition on February 3, 2005. The vocal critics and truth seekers as it seemed have been ousted by hand raising votes in stacking number. According to article appeared on Kohsantepheap daily 12-03-2004, it pointed out Mr. Sam Rainsy legal filing suit to seek truth in regard to the 1997 incident-grenade tossing at the demonstrators was a political motivated plot backed by Mr. Hun Sen to eliminate the oppositions.
The legal process has taken place but yet incomplete. No one knows for sure who is the real culprit? The contentious dual turned out to be misfortune for Mr. Sam Rainsy. One thing is true that, most people do not like to loose and in this case Mr. Sam Rainsy bore the brunt alone.
In this battle who is the real loser?
My opinion the whole Parliamentarian system is a loser eventually. World democracy is watching and Cambodia citizen suffers the short change all the time. In truth, it is not necessary that the opposition lost but all the voters lost their rights to be heard and expressive. Mr. Sam Rainsy and his two other colleagues were no strangers to the rest of MPs. They are Khmers who tried to do the same things for their constituency but in the Constitution in Chapter VII Article 77: states” the deputies in the Assembly shall represent the entire Khmer people, not only Khmers from their constituencies. Any imperative mandate shall be nullified.”
Therefore, what Mr. Sam Rainsy and his group did was not supposedly to be just only for Khmers from their constituencies. So it led to another argument, what was the rest of Assembly did for? Their constituencies alone or what? How the justification worked for the majority but not Mr. Sam Rainsy and colleagues?
In a sane opinion, President R. Ridh or Prime Minister Hun Sen is not the entire Khmer population and they are not so innocent either. I don’t know these two gentlemen personally, according to press they are not that Koshered. One thing about press, they are bound by journalistic ethic. They supposed to report what they see and hear with both side verification. No put down here, I may have some reservations about some Cambodia reporters whose motifs are not journalistic truth but Mr. Benjamin Franklin bills. That is another problem. People eat food not news.
Other side of the coin, if Mr.Sam Rainsy is found malicious and groundless to accuse such god-like Hun Sen and Rannaridh but the court has not done its duty to prove otherwise yet. Who says the two are crook and hellishly dishonest? Why people say that? People let’s not lose your sense because of pledge of allegiance to certain group. If you have some conscience left please use it. It is your duty to protect people. Look each of MP got $2,000 a month working in nice A/C and plush offices, let‘s not be complacent and insult voters because of affiliation with big wigs in Phnom Penh.
I like to say this un-religiously, according to natural or universe law, what goes up must come down or what goes around comes around, right? What happened to Mr. Sam Rainsy, Mr.Cheam Channy, and Mr. Chea Poch may be in violation of the constitution but I guess your guys don’t care as long as you don’t lose $2,000 per month.
The concern is why other parliamentarians are so wrapped in the partisanship not the voters’ interest. The question is the MPs for the people or each of their respective Party? If each of them allowed this to happen then the Constitution means nothing. They are next when the Party bosses do not like them.
Kohsantepheap Newspaper on 12-3-2004 said the PRK MP H.E Samrin Heng stated that such move to remove H.E Sam Rainsy from his mandated duty as people representative is in the hand of H.R.H Speaker R. Ridh. What are the unethical violations that MP Sam Rainsy committed against the parliament rules? Is it the truth that he opted to fully expose the leadership wrongdoings to the public? What are the rest of MPs from CPP /Funcipec doing? Buffing zones or rubber stamp may be both.
Let consider that each Party can voice its dissenting views but each should not disregard the Constitutional mandate and rights. Executive Branch is accountable to the Legislative Branches scrutiny. They are public servants. As private citizen, according to Article 38:”the accused shall be considered innocent until the court has judged finally on the case.” Then Article 39:” Khmer citizen shall have the right to denounce, make complaints or file claims against any breach of the law by State and social organs or by members of such organs committed during the course of their duties, The resettlements of complaints and claims shall reside under the competence of the courts.” That is one step up for such historical violent society, Cambodia.
It may be the case that MP Sam Rainsy filed suit against PM Hun Sen in the best interest of people. MP Sam Rainsy is entitled to do such as private citizen in the eyes of laws as well. But his action is on behalf of people. The leadership and the rest of MP headless body are concerned of the guilts of their beloved leaders. This reminded me a parallel in Khmer saying ”Gaur dombao khnang Khaek hour rom long romsai kontouy.”
Why the rest of MPs including the leadership did not see that? However, if the Legislative branches condone such move then the principles of true democracy is in serious jeopardy. The dilemma for Cambodia democracy and its citizen is at cross road. Are we still in tune with the stronger rules and live or let live mantra?
One citizen rights not respected is one too many.
SUBMITTED BY: Prak Hap Thursday, 24 Feb 2005
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February 17, 2005
By Prak Hap FLUS
Subject: Luke Hunt ruffled scholars’ feathers with his book review” Cambodia after Khmer Rouge by Evan Gottesman”
Let me started with E. H Carr’s definition of history: as a body of ascertained facts. What’s a historical fact? What passes as a fact of history is in fact made into such by a historian’s conscious decision. However, for a historian attempting to write a history of the Third Indo China War the problem is more basic than that of exercising subjective judgment in choosing facts from a plethora of events. There simply may not be enough relevant information to choose from. Other than relating self-serving selections of confidential documents, the communist governments of China, Viet Nam, and Cambodia are unlikely to open their archives to independent historians,” (Enemy Brother book, by Nayan Chanda p.ix).
Historically since 1700 Viet Nam has not been a grateful neighbor to Cambodia. This letter is to voice out the conflicting history done by Non-Khmer scholars. Among few alive on the planet, Mr. Michael Vickery was recognized as an absolute authority on Khmer tragic history but Mr. Michael Vickery has not been nearly candid about the situation. There is no such thing called anti-Viets. The gentlemen had points of arguments but yet the truth remains. It is self-rule and respect. Let’s be honest, how well that Engle live with Gaelic or Scott descendants? How about people of old Palestine presently called Israel? Viets disliking anyone referring them by their ancient origin, Yuan. Apparently Mr. Vickery was bias for that matter.
I recalled Dhammasad elite University students in Bangkok (Ly Beng Long aka Nuon Chea or Loeuth old school) shared their views and reference of krieat bak ha khi kong Yuan as non-trustworthy back biting or a lot worst. Generally Thais or Laos share the same feeling toward Viets. It is blatantly irresponsible that the perceptions were laid on Khmer such as General Lon Nol heavily uneven as racist, lunatic, and inhumane. He was a good and leveled head person who believed in and defended his people. . This makes me wonder how the Mr.Vickery makes out of US present occupation in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
The reviewer, Mr. Luke Hunt a journalist attempted to provide non-bias cheering opinions and academic measured praises on the recent published book namely, Cambodia After Khmer Rouge by the young zealous author alias barrister, Mr. Evan Gottesman. Pointedly Mr. Gottesman book might have skirted up Mr. Vickery’s self-serving selections of confidential documents of the PRK government. Adversely, Mr. Vickery did not think so he categorically put Mr. Hunt book review as non-sense and discriminatory.
He went on to say in 1979 there was nothing as “elite” but I say Mr. Vickery can’t tell the difference, which is serpent or snake. The same scenario goes for those PRK or DK. There were plenty of them. Again and again in Cambodia where everything relevant to cultural root, as elite is not necessary mean in western view. It is an inheriting badge of namesake. That might have embarrassed Mr. Vickery that some one else has more courage to speak the truth.
As for “Rape or violence against women”, the absolute and gross human rights violation. Remember there was no explicit distinction between PRK and DK. So does the North and South Viet Nam. All are in the same mentality. Viet soldiers raped many young women at gunpoint whom I knew parents. I am stunned that Mr. Vickery seemed to vigorously defend such abusers. Cambodia women were bound by their traditional value and norms “face.” The victims may not speak about such disgrace openly especially if her life is in jeopardy.
Further, Mr. Vickery claimed to see voluminous literatures on the period I find that hard to accept. All books were valued as cigarette papers. Worst no one dared to write anything for publishing. As far as the Constitution matters, I don’t believe Mr. Luke Hunt needed approval from Mr. Vickery to conclude Goats-man (although Gottes-man knew it) book review as Mr. Vickery was edging his denigration. Not all Khmers were brain-dead. In a nutshell that’s proved E.H. Carr synthesis. I rest my case.
Foreign language options for students then were not French or English but Viet, Russian and elective Cuban’s Spanish verse. My relative who later admitted that medical school was no medical training but political indoctrination with Russian instructors. French-Russian-French dictionary was a rare treat for students in Faculte de Medicine then. I had no doubt my relative and others made up thing. They were there. I hope Mr. Vickery is familiar with French Fables’ Monkey vs. Goat dispute over Farmer Lunch by Mr. Lafontaine.
Pen Sovan matter- No one surprised that former Premier Pen Sovan was stripped from power. Also Mr. Pen Sovan was one of the major PRK historical facts. He knew Viet Nam true intent. But Mr. Vickery claimed to know more than the natural never mind Mr. Gottesman and the rest. In this case his claim proved he has accesses to voluminous false documents.
In Chan Si’s death warranted strong credibility of Viet Nam intent with help from its young –naïve client. This reflected Mr. Sihanouk conspiracy in 60’s claiming Khieu Samphan, Hou Nim, and Hou Youn were executed and buried at Pich Nil Pass. Is Khieu Samphan still dead yet? Mr. Vickery claimed on one of his old friend visited Chan Si in hospital. Had he not thought if that friend was a convenience? Or how long will it take for KGB and Hun Sen men to transport Chan Si to Moscow?
As the matter of facts, did Mr. Vickery know how many times that Hun Sen had flown at night by Ieng Sary nephew-a personal helicopter navigator to rendez-vous with Ieng Sary or other DK leaders? Who is Ieng Sary ? He was comparably to Hitler’s SS commander of Auschwitz extermination camp in Poland during WWII. He was boss of Kaing Kech Iev aka Duch S-21 Cambodia 20th Century Dracula. After all Ieng Sary was comrade Van who was then Pol Pot’s Deputy Premier and Foreign Affairs Minister originally from South Viet Nam with a different identity (Brother Enemy By N. Chanda). He was assigned to watch every move of Sihanouk while in abroad to campaign for DK in 1979 at UN in New York. On Hun Sen behalf, Sihanouk granted amnesty to his personal sworn enemy, Ieng Sary. Please do not insult people intelligence.
I wonder what Viet Nam provided Mr. Vickery in exchange to libelously defamed Khmers. Viet Nam liberated Cambodia? It sounded familiar, US approved Ngo Din Diem and Nguyen Van Thieu regimes to do Cambodia over and over. The North under Ho Chi Minh disciples pitted its foster children such Son Ngoc Minh and alike to undermine one another. Viet Nam set out agenda to out maneuver Saloth Sar aka Pol Pot, Ieng Sary and alike since 70’s. Viet Nam annexation of Khmer land is obvious (Wicked-ry knew it). But many scholars shamelessly slighted Khmers for what they did to protect their rightful dignity and integrity.
Khmers refused to be absorbed by French culture. French never forgave Khmers for that. They purposely labeled Khmer race as lazy, incorrigible, can’t learn anything, unreasonable, unmotivated, and literally placed Khmer as Mien (forest people, uncivil, barbaric). French purposely discounted Khmer court credibility. It cannot prosecute criminal Viets. My parents lived to see that with their own eyes. It happened again during PRK. May be that was why the rapists got away. Some scholars gave no merit to the truth and unload bias on Khmers.
Historians said French saved Khmer land from Viet Nam and Siam annexation? That was a big lie.
In contrast Emperor Napoleon family abetted Siam to carve up more territories from Khmer least most of the eastern part of present Thailand. Then during World War I Siam carved up for more past present Battambang up to Svay Daun Keo creek as its imaginary frontier. Siam subdued Khmer revolts and mutinies with forced nationalization.
Viet Nam did no less for its Nam Tien plan. Viet Nam repeated its mass killings on Khmers during the course of its expansion. In 1949 at the whimsical of oscillated monarchist, French arbitrarily ceded Khmer lowland population and territory to the neo colonial Viet Nam. Viet Nam did not stop there yet. Some modern Khmer history authorities are in such selective memory for conveniences. Did Mr. Vickery know about Canal Vinh Te massacres or Koh Tral problems? Burning rice storage houses filled with Khmer Kroms in South Viet Nam then?
It is preposterous of Mr. Vickery to belittle fellow scholar Mr. Gottesman attempts to educate the world that Viet Nam invasion of Cambodia 1978 was not a justified compassion and mercy. How it be acceptable for Viet Nam to come in and rule Cambodia against the world condemnation. Then in contrast for the China who did barge in Viet Nam in 1979. China could have swallowed Viet Nam for breakfast if it was not for Viet Nam secret appeal to US with a note U O us. Due to self interest between China and US, Viet Nam got a break. In exchange China ignored people of Canton origins appeal for help to stop Viet Nam racially mistreatments and secret elimination for those standing up to Viet authorities. That goes for Chams (Montagnards) of FULRO as well. Is that not racial for Viet Nam? How would the justification fit only Khmer situation?
South Viet Nam territory belonged to Cambodia before French arrival in 1863. Strategically Both Viet Nam played cat and mouse game to subjugate Cambodia and its people. Both took turn to raid and encroach Cambodia territorial since 1700 up to1991. It is problematic. Yet the worldly scholars scolded Cambodia as the victimizer, the bad, the cruel, and the racist toward Viets. The West down played Cambodia pain. Mr. Kissinger-President Nixon had secretly bombed Cambodia that left gruesome scars and causalities to those lived along eastern border of Cambodia. In 1975 former Presidents Bush Sr head of US Mission in China then and Ford knew dawn well about the Khmer Rouge situation but turned the other cheeks. France warned President J. Kennedy not to be so involved in Indo-China and look at what happened to France then. Libel and slander of Khmer history continues with the help from people like Mr. Vickery.
As it seems everything comes at the last stop and worst condition. Without a doubt Khmer Rouge (PRK+DK) crimes against humanity are no excuse. As human and victims of Cold War, Khmers did not get much respect and committed agenda form UN main characters as opposed to other genocidal victims. It appears bias and selective when come to needs of Cambodia.
The situation is a wakening reminder for those of us who still care and dare to defend the not daring one. There is no end result to it yet but we, Khmers, cannot allow this to go on without our voice heard. For sure, both Mr. Evan Gottesman and Luke Hunt moral characters deserve respect from all.
SUBMITTED BY: Prak Hap Sunday, 20 Feb 2005
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