Op-Ed by Jayakhmer
Posted online
In my last article, I mentioned casually that relation between Cambodia and the U.S was strained at best. Since this pivotal moment changed the faith of the country, I decided to investigate further. The evidences contradict the popular notion that Norodom Sihanouk was hastily and readily embraced the North Viet Nam and China in the sixties.
I know that Norodom Sihanouk was "no angel." That does not give us the rights to make a gross generalization about all his conducts. If we continue to let our passion dominates our otherwise rational selves, we are vulnerable to repeat the mistakes our predecessors committed again and again.
American's attitude about the Cambodia's border issues played and important role in this matter. To achieve its objective which was defeating the Vietcong, America was indifferent about violations of Cambodia's borders by its neighbors Viet Nam and Thailand despite endless complains from the former king.
Thailand repeatedly occupied Preah Vihea at the time. "According to the White Book of the Cambodian Foreign Ministry, from 1962 to May 1969....the Saigon authority committed 7,178 violations of Cambodian territory (165 by sea, 1864 by land, and 5149 by air), killed or wounded 983 Khmers..."
The diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and Cambodia in the spring of 1964 alone tell us that Norodom Sihanouk was not hasty. He was unsuccessful in his attempt.
February 8, 1964 Norodom Sihanouk held the U.S. responsible for "the South Vietnamese attack on a Cambodian village on Feb. 4," and the former king asked the US to finance truce observation posts along the Cambodian-South Vietnamese border. February 11, 1964 Norodom Sihanouk proposed, "An international conference to guarantee Cambodia's neutrality." By February 13, the former king warned that, "If the US does not agree to an international conference by May, he would sever diplomatic relations with Washington and possibly sign assistance agreements with 'certain great friendly countries'. [Referring to China and North Vietnam]" Basically, the warning was if the U.S. does not take the former king's proposal seriously he would support the Vietcong. Here is a piece of Dean Rusk's telegraph from the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1964. "To sum up, I think it is possible that your and my approach to these issues differs somewhat because of our different situations. We are heavily engaged in South Viet-Nam and are taking casualties every week in an effort to keep that country from going communist. Further, the Thais obviously rely more heavily upon our bilateral commitments than upon the general structure of SEATO in which they think non-regional members will be negligent of Thai security. Our regional stakes in Southeast Asia are so great that it is not easy for us to cooperate with the non-regional members of SEATO at the expense of South Viet-Nam and Thailand. I do not see how the United States can come to a general Geneva Conference without Saigon and Bangkok. Since Sihanouk's initiative was aimed at both these countries, I do not see how a conference could produce any worthwhile result unless they were present. You may believe that we have unlimited influence in Saigon and Bangkok, but this is simply not the case. Were we to try to drag these two countries kicking and screaming to a Geneva Conference, the situation in Saigon might well collapse through fear of neutralization and Thailand might well decide that we are wholly unreliable and that their only course is to make their peace with the communists in the North. This is the heart of the matter as I see it, and should not be glossed over by purely procedural considerations as to whether it is congenial to have a conference. If the issue is whether an unbalanced Sihanouk will irrationally turn to the communist North, we must balance this against the impact of a complete loss of morale in South Viet-Nam and Thailand." America was uneven handed and indifference when it came to resolving Cambodia territorial issues.
Could Norodom Sihanouk side with a hesitated America who sided with the perceived enemies of Cambodia at the time? The answer to this question demands our rationality. We all knew too well of the faith and consequences of this pivotal moment.
I know that Norodom Sihanouk was "no angel." That does not give us the rights to make a gross generalization about all his conducts. If we continue to let our passion dominates our otherwise rational selves, we are vulnerable to repeat the mistakes our predecessors committed again and again.
American's attitude about the Cambodia's border issues played and important role in this matter. To achieve its objective which was defeating the Vietcong, America was indifferent about violations of Cambodia's borders by its neighbors Viet Nam and Thailand despite endless complains from the former king.
Thailand repeatedly occupied Preah Vihea at the time. "According to the White Book of the Cambodian Foreign Ministry, from 1962 to May 1969....the Saigon authority committed 7,178 violations of Cambodian territory (165 by sea, 1864 by land, and 5149 by air), killed or wounded 983 Khmers..."
The diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and Cambodia in the spring of 1964 alone tell us that Norodom Sihanouk was not hasty. He was unsuccessful in his attempt.
February 8, 1964 Norodom Sihanouk held the U.S. responsible for "the South Vietnamese attack on a Cambodian village on Feb. 4," and the former king asked the US to finance truce observation posts along the Cambodian-South Vietnamese border. February 11, 1964 Norodom Sihanouk proposed, "An international conference to guarantee Cambodia's neutrality." By February 13, the former king warned that, "If the US does not agree to an international conference by May, he would sever diplomatic relations with Washington and possibly sign assistance agreements with 'certain great friendly countries'. [Referring to China and North Vietnam]" Basically, the warning was if the U.S. does not take the former king's proposal seriously he would support the Vietcong. Here is a piece of Dean Rusk's telegraph from the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom on March 22, 1964. "To sum up, I think it is possible that your and my approach to these issues differs somewhat because of our different situations. We are heavily engaged in South Viet-Nam and are taking casualties every week in an effort to keep that country from going communist. Further, the Thais obviously rely more heavily upon our bilateral commitments than upon the general structure of SEATO in which they think non-regional members will be negligent of Thai security. Our regional stakes in Southeast Asia are so great that it is not easy for us to cooperate with the non-regional members of SEATO at the expense of South Viet-Nam and Thailand. I do not see how the United States can come to a general Geneva Conference without Saigon and Bangkok. Since Sihanouk's initiative was aimed at both these countries, I do not see how a conference could produce any worthwhile result unless they were present. You may believe that we have unlimited influence in Saigon and Bangkok, but this is simply not the case. Were we to try to drag these two countries kicking and screaming to a Geneva Conference, the situation in Saigon might well collapse through fear of neutralization and Thailand might well decide that we are wholly unreliable and that their only course is to make their peace with the communists in the North. This is the heart of the matter as I see it, and should not be glossed over by purely procedural considerations as to whether it is congenial to have a conference. If the issue is whether an unbalanced Sihanouk will irrationally turn to the communist North, we must balance this against the impact of a complete loss of morale in South Viet-Nam and Thailand." America was uneven handed and indifference when it came to resolving Cambodia territorial issues.
Could Norodom Sihanouk side with a hesitated America who sided with the perceived enemies of Cambodia at the time? The answer to this question demands our rationality. We all knew too well of the faith and consequences of this pivotal moment.
18 comments:
America should learn from the past. They think they are untouchable that is while we have all these trouble of terrorism. For the Cambodia case a huge difference could have made for the reputation of America and millions of Cambodian people's lives did not have to be lost and there are also no need of International tribunal in Cambodia for the genocidal Khmer Rouge. American bears huge responsibility for Cambodia suffering over Vietnam war because Cambodia is a silent sheep they are eluding their humanly rightiousness responsibility.
This is why the neighbors are engulfing us because of our internal conflicts. We had Sihanouk, who is like a 5 years old that can manipulated and reinforce a certain behavior with a reward. Because of the Sihanouk has a trisomy syndrome, he was borned Retarded. I loss faith in him. Yes, i knew he can speak multiple languages. But, that just a re-inforcer.
He was a very incompetent leader. So, in order to hold to his seat, "sdach ta" needed an incompetent followers. Today, I went to accredited school, instead of accepting PhD from Vietnam.
I prayed that "sdach ta may grow out his peanut brain, accept his wrong doing, and go to Hell to repent his sins!" In my book, Norodumb is still idiots.
Kone Khmer
It was jaw dropping when the USA abandoned us during the '70s. The USA left us to die by the communists' hand. Why don't Khmers take the US to court for killing Khmers when they sent the B52s to do the deeds? Crimes against humanity, right?
Thank for writing the article. It is purely based on your own conclusion.
I agree with anon. @ 8:21 AM.
If you killed the educated and held your children accountable for the "Who was the wrong doing", then, what made you as a father?
Forget about finger pointing at somebody else. It is over and long gone! If you are the so-called "true hero", focus on what you have now and try to do things to improve the lives of the innocent people that are struggling to survive on their daily basis.
Look at your children, grandchildren, or whatever. Everyone of them is useless to Khmer society. Don't you have any shame at all?
Talking to you is like blowing horn in the cow's ear!
"Today, I went to accredited school, instead of accepting PhD from Vietnam."
That is why your lost the war, jut like your leader LonNol/Sarimatak.
Sihanouk came out ahead in this mess because he knows what he's doing, not because he's incompetent.
I like to ask you to get your fact straight, but what is the use, when you are retarded and incapable of such.
"It was wrong for sihanouk to be friend with these two devils."?
If it wasn't for the two devils, all khmer would have been extinct by now because of you idiots.
"Sihanouk came out ahead in this mess because he knows what he's doing" ON THE PRICE OF 2 MILLION LIVES OF INNOCENT KHMER PEOPLE.
SUCH AN ASS! GO ON KEEPING LICKING, MAY BE ONE DAY YOU WILL GET LICKED!
THAT'S RIGHT! ACCREDITTED SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS WITH FULL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES. SCHOOLS THAT BEING RECOGNIZED AROUND THE WORLD. NOT THE SCHOOL THAT YOUR DUMB ASS AND YOUR CRONIES GOT PHD'S.
In the past, you and your cronies were going around wearing "STARS." The international community was making fun of Cambodia - they said "Cambodia does not electricity because the generals had all the stars".
Then, you and your cronies awarded each other with the title "Ochnah". Every freaking bastard of you and your members were "Ochnahs".
Now, you and your cronies awarded each other "PhD's". In the industrial countries, PhD's stands for Philosophy of Doctor. Where as in Cambodia, PhD's stands for "Pho Houy Deiy".
Ah Lop! Ber Men Ches Te Kom Tver Ches!
You got it all upside down, fool.
People who knew what they are doing do not lose a single soul to anything. On the contrary, People who don't know what they are doing is the people responsible for the lost of millions lives and properties. Who are you trying to kid, motherfucker?
How could we kidding with the lost of our 2 million innocent Khmer people? Ask your mother, how painful was she when she was growing up during your ass hero! Keep on licking, Ah Sva Kres!
I never heard of any complaint about our ExKing hero, except for a very very and extremely few. On the contrary, I can't say the same about LonNol and SariMatak; Otherwise, they would have succeeded. And if that is not fact, I don't know what is?
Dear fellow Khmer,
Let us look exam the event of our history rationally.
The bottom line is Norodom Sihanouk has done both good and bad things. I wish that the former King agree to testify as a witness.
Cambodia as well as all of us will benefit a great deal from the truth.
I think if we approach this issue diplomatically and calmly encourage the former king to testify, we have a better chance of hearing his side of the story than confronting the former king the way we are.
Testifying will put many questions in our mind to rest.
I sincerely hope that Norodom Sihanouk understands the suffering the wars and conflicts have done to our lives as citizen of Cambodia.
I also sincerely hope that the former king acknowledge the mistakes or the missteps.
Most of all, let us deal with this issue calmly. After all, this our internal conflict between Khmer and Khmer.
Koun Khmer,
Jayakhmer
Hey, stop waving and bobbing in the bushes. If there is something you really want from Sihanouk, just spit it out, and let us hear it. And if you have question for him, just ask him directly, you need not to drag him into court for that. Get it?
AND WHY SHIHANOUK IS ATILL HATING PEOPLE AND MONK IN PHNOM PENH IN 1970;S WHO TRAP WITH LON NOL SO MUTCH?
AND WHY SHIHANOUK ALWAY GENERALIZED PEOPLE WHO HAVE IDEA AS KHMER ROUGE, KHMER BLUE, AND SO ON?
AND WHY SHIHANOUK NEVER FORGET AND FORGIVE AND LIKE TO PAIN CAMBODIA FACE SO THE WILL HATE AND FIGHT EACHOTHER.
STOP DOING THAT AND GO TO PREY WITH YOUR LOYAL KING OF MONKEY TEP VONG SO YOU CAN PREPAIR HELL FOR HUN XEN!
You! stupid 8:18PM,how can I ask him (Shihanouk) directly, you fool?
And Fool Brain, do you know that court is not jail, they not going to put him (Granfathe the king) in jail or detention center, just to have him question under the LAW, in front of formal court with knowledge expert professional lawyer! not by a fool like you 8:18!
They can have the court set up at the palace if he wanted but formal, fool!
Professional lawyer will question hin that all they ask!
I absolutely agreed with you 7:59.
We have to study this very difficult case.
We used to know that the US protect the weak, the goods and the innocents people.
JayaKhmer, thank you.
"You! stupid 8:18PM,how can I ask him (Shihanouk) directly, you fool?"
Just send him an email.
And if that don't work, post your question, and I will get the answer for you. Feel better now?
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