Pen Sovann, former PM of the People's Republic of Kampuchea (Photo: RFA)February 2, 2001
By Professor NaranhKiri Tith
Posted Online
Dear Mr. Pen Sovann:
I came across your web site through Radio Cambodia International. I also just read your declaration on the anniversary of the so-called Vietnamese "liberation" of Cambodia on the 7th of January 1979, as well as your interview in the most recent edition of the Phnom Penh Post on that anniversary celebration by the CPP.
Before going any further, let me introduce myself and tell you what I am doing with the information that I hope you will be able to provide me on your background and role in the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia until you were removed from the power by the Vietnamese Political Bureau after your trip to Moscow in the early 1980s.
I am presently a professor of International Economics and Asian Studies at the Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies, here in Washington, DC. I have never belonged a member of any political parties. I am every much involved in trying to bring democracy, society and real freedom to the Cambodian people by working very closely with the US Congress, the academic community, and the NGOs, local and international. I am 67 years old, and a citizen of the United States of America. I have no political ambition except to see real freedom, peace, justice, and moral and material decency to all Cambodians. I am not a Vietnamese hater, nor am I naive and expedient to thank Vietnam for the so-called liberation. I sincerely think that Vietnam has been committing genocidal against the Cambodian people, especially against Khmer Krom people, as they did against the Chams a few centuries ago.
I also read a recent book written by Colonel Bui Tin former editor of the Nhan Dan Newspaper of the Vietnamese army. From these readings, I would like to ask you the following questions:
(1) Acceding to Bui Tin you were serving with the Vietnamese army with the rank of major until you were appointed to be the defense minister, Secretary General of the Cambodian Communist Party, and Prime Minister, after the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia.
(2) What motivated you to be member of the Vietnamese Communist Party and a member of the Vietnamese army?
(3) Did you know that Vietnam has always been using Cambodian kings and other traitors to take over Cambodia land and committing genocidal policy against the Cambodian people, and the Chams before that?
(4) Did you really believe that the Vietnamese were sincere in coming to "liberate" Cambodia without conditions attached?
(5) Who else were with your group that came with the Vietnamese tanks to invade Cambodia, besides Chan Si, and Say Pouthong?
(6) Do you believe that Hun Sen, Sar Kheng, and Chea Sim are still serving Vietnamese national interest at the expense of Cambodian interests? Please, tell me why if you agree with this assessment?
(7) You still seem to praise Vietnam as the liberator of the Cambodian people, but you only objected to their insincerity How do you justify your position in this regard?
(8) What is your judgment on King Sihanouk's role during the Khmer Rouge regime? During the Vietnamese occupation? And since the 1997 coup d' etat by Hun Sen? Is he guilty at all in all these activities with all these events in Cambodia? Is he the God father of the Khmer Rouge and Hun Sen?
Please, elaborate for the so - Kov5 Plan? What is it how was it organized? who led it? And what were the objectives of that plan? What kind and extent of damage did the plan cause the Cambodian people and where?
(9) What is your strategy and policy to reverse the tragic course history that you personally brought about to make the Vietnamese master of Cambodia's
destiny?
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and kind answers. With best regards.
N. Tith,
The School of Advanced International Studies,
The Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. N. Tith,
I am very happy that you have asked me nine questions, dated Feb. 2, 2001. I am Pen Sovann and my answers to your questions are the following:
(1) I was sent by the Khmer People¹s Revolutionary Party to continue my study in Vietnam from 1955 to 1970. I studied at the "Modern Infantry Institute". I did not belong to any Vietnamese army, but I participated in the hand-on training requirements given through the Vietnamese armed forces to build my technical military experiences so that I could eventually use it to serve my own country.
(2) I have never been a member of the Vietnamese Communist Party nor was I ever a soldier of any Vietnamese armed forces. I was just a Cambodian designated to go and fulfill my study in a foreign country with the intention of returning to serve my country.
(3) According to history, I knew that Vietnam had used Cambodian kings and other group of traitors as a mean to seize Cambodian territories and to implement their genocidal policy to swallow Cambodian land. Kampuchea Krom, was another example of what they implemented to absorb the territories belonging to Champa.
(4) I have clearly expressed in my statement as of Jan. 1, 2001, regarding the cooperation to free Cambodia from the genocidal regime but the party of Vietnam violated the cooperative contract and instead jailed me for over ten years when I rebelled and chose to serve the interests of my own country.
(5) There were indeed a lot of people that I am not able to explain everything, but you will soon see everything in my book to be published in the near future.
(6) It is true that they still serve the interests of Vietnam as they receive perks, power, and protection in return. Because of these benefits they never acted on problems such as illegal Vietnamese immigrants or border encroachments, etc.
(7) Yes, as for me and other Cambodians who survived the massacre, it is appropriate to say that Vietnam timely saved Cambodians from the genocidal regime. Contrary to this, Vietnam held intentions to inappropriately colonize Cambodia. They illegally sent their people into Cambodia in order to seize Cambodian land.
(8) As for this question, let's not judge it yet as there are many angles that we cannot address. And as for the KOR 5 PLAN, you will see and understand it when my history book is published in the near future.
(9) My strategies and policies are to destroy dictatorship, family and clan interests by using nonviolent means based on real democratic principles.
Sincerely,
Pen Sovann
Phnom Penh Feb. 8, 2001
I came across your web site through Radio Cambodia International. I also just read your declaration on the anniversary of the so-called Vietnamese "liberation" of Cambodia on the 7th of January 1979, as well as your interview in the most recent edition of the Phnom Penh Post on that anniversary celebration by the CPP.
Before going any further, let me introduce myself and tell you what I am doing with the information that I hope you will be able to provide me on your background and role in the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia until you were removed from the power by the Vietnamese Political Bureau after your trip to Moscow in the early 1980s.
I am presently a professor of International Economics and Asian Studies at the Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies, here in Washington, DC. I have never belonged a member of any political parties. I am every much involved in trying to bring democracy, society and real freedom to the Cambodian people by working very closely with the US Congress, the academic community, and the NGOs, local and international. I am 67 years old, and a citizen of the United States of America. I have no political ambition except to see real freedom, peace, justice, and moral and material decency to all Cambodians. I am not a Vietnamese hater, nor am I naive and expedient to thank Vietnam for the so-called liberation. I sincerely think that Vietnam has been committing genocidal against the Cambodian people, especially against Khmer Krom people, as they did against the Chams a few centuries ago.
I also read a recent book written by Colonel Bui Tin former editor of the Nhan Dan Newspaper of the Vietnamese army. From these readings, I would like to ask you the following questions:
(1) Acceding to Bui Tin you were serving with the Vietnamese army with the rank of major until you were appointed to be the defense minister, Secretary General of the Cambodian Communist Party, and Prime Minister, after the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia.
(2) What motivated you to be member of the Vietnamese Communist Party and a member of the Vietnamese army?
(3) Did you know that Vietnam has always been using Cambodian kings and other traitors to take over Cambodia land and committing genocidal policy against the Cambodian people, and the Chams before that?
(4) Did you really believe that the Vietnamese were sincere in coming to "liberate" Cambodia without conditions attached?
(5) Who else were with your group that came with the Vietnamese tanks to invade Cambodia, besides Chan Si, and Say Pouthong?
(6) Do you believe that Hun Sen, Sar Kheng, and Chea Sim are still serving Vietnamese national interest at the expense of Cambodian interests? Please, tell me why if you agree with this assessment?
(7) You still seem to praise Vietnam as the liberator of the Cambodian people, but you only objected to their insincerity How do you justify your position in this regard?
(8) What is your judgment on King Sihanouk's role during the Khmer Rouge regime? During the Vietnamese occupation? And since the 1997 coup d' etat by Hun Sen? Is he guilty at all in all these activities with all these events in Cambodia? Is he the God father of the Khmer Rouge and Hun Sen?
Please, elaborate for the so - Kov5 Plan? What is it how was it organized? who led it? And what were the objectives of that plan? What kind and extent of damage did the plan cause the Cambodian people and where?
(9) What is your strategy and policy to reverse the tragic course history that you personally brought about to make the Vietnamese master of Cambodia's
destiny?
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and kind answers. With best regards.
N. Tith,
The School of Advanced International Studies,
The Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC.
************
Dear Mr. N. Tith,
I am very happy that you have asked me nine questions, dated Feb. 2, 2001. I am Pen Sovann and my answers to your questions are the following:
ANSWER
(1) I was sent by the Khmer People¹s Revolutionary Party to continue my study in Vietnam from 1955 to 1970. I studied at the "Modern Infantry Institute". I did not belong to any Vietnamese army, but I participated in the hand-on training requirements given through the Vietnamese armed forces to build my technical military experiences so that I could eventually use it to serve my own country.
(2) I have never been a member of the Vietnamese Communist Party nor was I ever a soldier of any Vietnamese armed forces. I was just a Cambodian designated to go and fulfill my study in a foreign country with the intention of returning to serve my country.
(3) According to history, I knew that Vietnam had used Cambodian kings and other group of traitors as a mean to seize Cambodian territories and to implement their genocidal policy to swallow Cambodian land. Kampuchea Krom, was another example of what they implemented to absorb the territories belonging to Champa.
(4) I have clearly expressed in my statement as of Jan. 1, 2001, regarding the cooperation to free Cambodia from the genocidal regime but the party of Vietnam violated the cooperative contract and instead jailed me for over ten years when I rebelled and chose to serve the interests of my own country.
(5) There were indeed a lot of people that I am not able to explain everything, but you will soon see everything in my book to be published in the near future.
(6) It is true that they still serve the interests of Vietnam as they receive perks, power, and protection in return. Because of these benefits they never acted on problems such as illegal Vietnamese immigrants or border encroachments, etc.
(7) Yes, as for me and other Cambodians who survived the massacre, it is appropriate to say that Vietnam timely saved Cambodians from the genocidal regime. Contrary to this, Vietnam held intentions to inappropriately colonize Cambodia. They illegally sent their people into Cambodia in order to seize Cambodian land.
(8) As for this question, let's not judge it yet as there are many angles that we cannot address. And as for the KOR 5 PLAN, you will see and understand it when my history book is published in the near future.
(9) My strategies and policies are to destroy dictatorship, family and clan interests by using nonviolent means based on real democratic principles.
Sincerely,
Pen Sovann
Phnom Penh Feb. 8, 2001
17 comments:
KI and KI readers,
About a week ago or so I saw the original 1979 treaties between Heng Samrin and Vietnamese. I didn't save nor bookmark the page. Now I couldn't find where it is. When I read that treaty, I was so upset where it stated that they're to disolve the border between the two country of what it's become the "border of peace".
The agreement was in Khmer text with official seals and signature. I try to google search couldn't find it. If anybody know please post. Thank you.
To believe Pen Sovann is like
to believe Heng Pov or any other
prisoners.
I am sure that if we ask prisoner
how fair the world is, most of
them will problably think we are
all criminals.
Of Course the Yuan are criminals created the genocide in Cambodia.
Nothing good about Yuan.
The Vietcong dog eater will never throw away their old trick! Nobody in the whole world understand more about the Vietcong than Cambodian people! There are over 10 million Cambodian suffered at the hand of the Vietcong right now in Southern Vietname!! How much more proof does the whole world need in order to understand the Vietcong intention!!!Cambodia will continue to be a thorn at the side of the Vietcong politic!!!
There are no 10 millions cambodians
in Vietnam. You are on the wrong
planet, Dude.
Dear post 1, if you would like to have that document, please go to the folling website:
www.cambodiapolitic.org
then you will see the document posted in there.
We, all Cambodians, are the losers in the polictical games with Vietnam.
We have lost Kampuchea Krom and we are losing Cenral Kampuchea. Cambodia / Cambodians are existing by name only, not by real spirit or blood any longer.
It is a new way of controlling, occupying and annexing Cambodia by the Vietnamese, through the larger influx of the Vietnamese into Cambodia. These Vietnamese-blood Cambodians are now intruding silently into the blood vessels of the present Government,the legislative body and economic and politcal domains... of Cambodia and sooner forming a majority of blood in those bodies.
While we are cutting one another's throat of the same blood for nothing, the Vietnamese-blood Cambodians are gradually replacing the real-blood Cambodians in all domains.
In the less than two decades, as I assume, there will be a Vietnamese-blood dominated government and parliament of Cambodia. This means Cambodia is legally and totally controlled and occupied by the Vietnamese.
What and how to do to prevent this from happening?
This is a question for every Cambodian to answer.
Thank you! Anon@9:27AM . Through at link I found the treaties 1979 I was looking for.
The genocide was done in US too in 19 century and early part of 20th century. Col.Custard was one of the culprit under US flag.
Mexicanos and Tribal natives would say and attest to that.
Yuan or Siam were the Khmer royal families studs,therefore their progenitors would not know the difference.
Ask that clown Sihanouk for verification.The clown was the author buddy.
Oh, stop whinning post 9:48, just
tell me how many yuon is in
cambodia today. It sounds like
you are saying that they are hoping
the fence by the millions every
day. That will be 365 millions
yuons a year if you know what I
mean.
The Vietcong even deny the existence of the Khmer Krom people in Southern Vietname? Damn all these Vietcong to hell!!!Damn them all!
These are very interesting comments for a foreigner to read. This VN occupation cuts very deep into the Cambodian soul. What I miss is the broader perspective of the political landscape in that region in the 1970s and 1980s. It is apparent that VN plundered Cambodia during their occupation. But don't forget that Kampuchea Krom was given to VN by the French, they didn't take it. Yes, they installed Hun Sen and his cronies into their offices, and those are still beholden to VN interests. But this is 2007, VN is changing too. Of course, they continue to reap the most from their relationship with the present government, and they want to be the leader in the region, competing against Thailand in this, by the way. But in the end, Cambodia will become stronger through its own development, and even if Hun Sen remains in power for some time to come, even he will retire one day. Khmer people, be patient, the country has come a long way, injustices still occur, but those can be reversed later. That is the price of development. Other countries have gone through the same process. Even VN is going through this process. In some respects, the VN people are worse off than you. They have no freedom of speech, no freedom to travel, no freedom to live where they want, etc., etc. The time of colonialism is over and VN will look to make progress at home, just the same as eventually Cambodia will too, once those greedy for Khmer Rouge commissars are gone.
You dog try to ask us to wait till you kill us all one by one?
Let your mother father go to hell with the rest of all your of spring for steal and rob and kill people!
Post10:39, vietcon is staying
because they got skills. Khmer
Krom Extremist are losers, which
is why they whine and making
noise constantly.
ahhahahahahahahah!
Yeh! Yeh! Yeh! The Vietcong got skill but what kind of skill are you talking about?
All of the Vietcong activities operated in Cambodia are supported by the Vietcong government in Hanio! Now tell me!! Does AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave ever support Cambodian people in anything!
After the Khmer-Rouge, the Khmer-Vietminh, the Khmer-Vietcong kill off all educated Cambodian people and now the Vietcong claimed that they have skill to look down on Cambodian people!ahhahahahhahah
The Vietcong have skill to label Khmer Krom as extremist???What kind of Vietcong skill is this???
To 12:36 and 8:57
This must be the same person. Man, you are blinded by hatred. Therefore, you can not see clearly. Or you are just plainly a nutcase.
You go, mate!!!
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