Political Debate between Cambodian and Vietnamese on "Invading or Saving?"

First, your argument has some weigh. Many foreign scholars have called current ongoing trial of Khmer Rouge leaders as "travesty of justice". They have commented the same thing like what you are telling me here. But I am really disturbed by this low class analysis and alien approaches to describe the situation in Cambodia.

Post at: http://cambodianbrightfuture.blogspot.com/

4:33 AM and for Main Link of this Debate

I am aware that Khmer Rouge brutality is unacceptable. Now I am insulted as too ignorant, simplistic and cocky to understand the current Cambodia position. You can say whatever you can express your personal opinion. But be aware that your personal opinion is just yours. It cannot be ours. Thus, I am not in the imagination world or in the world of opinion. I would like to allow you to understand that I am in the real world and empirical opinion.

I am young Cambodian. I lost my parents, siblings and other several relatives. This loss has trembled me ever since. But I have never lost to call for fair treatment from others, particularly Vietnam who should not use hegemonic policy over Cambodia through the expense of our relatives' suffering in their great westward march. They should stop try to legitimize their invasion.

First, your argument has some weigh. Many foreign scholars have called current ongoing trial of Khmer Rouge leaders as "travesty of justice". They have commented the same thing like what you are telling me here. But I am really disturbed by this low class analysis and alien approaches to describe the situation in Cambodia.

For Cambodia, if we don't have the UNs and international communities, we don't have present Cambodia. But what is worse is that "present Cambodia has not yet been well solved by the UNs". Cambodia still has imperialistic legacy of Vietnam. I know your word is logical and sweat, but I can say your word is good to keep Vietnam's "status quo" of hegemony and domination over Cambodia.

Secondly, many other countries like Germany or Japan experienced brutality or genocide or race elimination, but after the war, these countries have stopped to debate about right and wrong, legitimate or illegitimate to what was happening in the past of their countries. Only Cambodia who is using Khmer Rouge brutality as the pretext to seek justice, healing, and strengthening the rule of laws. Actually, it is only serving the "status quo" of Vietnam inside Cambodia. I know your word here is really logical and reasonable to current Cambodian political leaders. They are drunk of power and sometime feasibly brainwashed by Vietnam. The present Cambodian political leaders inside the government, most of them are working for personal fame, money and power, they don't care what is going to happen in the future.

These two things might help you to understand more about "real world and empirical opinion" of younger Cambodians.

KY
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Le
Well said, the young generation in Cambodia NEVER understood what had happened to their parents' generation, instead only looking at present issues like land annexing or ideological difference, or political diversion. It's true that although we are very close neighbours, we are totally different in every senses, unlike Vietnam and China. Vietnam was under Chinese domination for thousands of years and most Vietnam tradition, language and rituals are from China. But nothing like that seen in Vietnam - Cambodia perspectives. I could imagine Cambodia opposition to Vietnam is much like Vietnam's opposition to China, but causes must be clearly distinguished.

With regard to the presence of Vietnam in Cambodia in late 70s to 80s, I bet most Cambodians weren't tauched how their past generations had gone thru the murderous regime of Polpot. The current generation in Cambodia is simply too young and ignorant, too preoccupied by other issues so as to jump conclusion rather than look at historical context and why they should have been grateful of the Viet, including my dad serving there for 3 years. Without the Viet intervention, Cambodia was just a another sad story like North Korea under the Chineses' chessboard.

By the way, UN is NOT a standard for anyone to take stand. If you look at the impotency of UN, the ignorance of big powers, the filthy politics all together, I would suggest you that Cambodia is just a mockery of UN failure. Although Polpot was convited of the massacre of more than 1 million Cambodians from 75-79, he DID it with the support of Beijing, and arms from US, UK and many other countries simply because they wanted to stop the Soviet expansion in Southeast Asia, regardless of how many human lives lost. Even after the collapse of the Polpot regime, such countries still RECOGNISED the Polpot's seat at UN. What? And now, they made up their mind by asking INTERNATIONAL COURT to try Polpot regime, so basically outlawing that regime and REVERSING their own position. WTF? If you look at the latest example of Iraq, you would know why UN was, and is, a mere tool for some countries to manipulate the whole world.

There is no gain or loss for both our countries, as we are too small and often being taken as a pawn on the chessboard of big countries, we were ALL LOSERS. Vietnam has learnt a lot from its history and I think we have a pretty good government in presence. Be soft to deal with contentious issues, but tough when it comes to national soveignty. Many young generations are just too ignorant, simplistic, cocky to understand the position we are now.