Opposition leader Sam Rainsy gave a speech during the commemoration of 23 October (Photo: Sok Serey, RFA)23 October 2009
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Click here to read the article in Khmer
KI-Media Note: Mr. Khieu Kanharith forgot that the current regime as well as the one installed by the Vietnamese regime were filled with former KR cadresOn 23 October 2009, opposition leader Sam Rainsy declared that the 23 October date is a day that Cambodia receives true freedom and democracy, and it is also the day that Cambodia and her population receive full independence and sovereignty that are fully recognized by 18 signatory countries.
Sam Rainsy, leader of the largest opposition party in Cambodia, said on Friday that: “If there were no 23 October, then there would be nothing that we have today. If there were no 23 October 1991, Cambodia would be vanished and she would become a colony of a neighboring country that maintained its troops in Cambodia, and that Cambodia would be controlled by a regime installed by foreign troops. If there were no 23 October, there would be no freedom rights, no progress for democracy.”
In addition to considering 23 October as an important date, Sam Rainsy also indicated that 09 November is the independence day for Cambodia, allowing her to get out of the French colonial rule in 1953.
He criticized 18 march 1970 as being the day that a coup d’état took place to topple former King Norodom Sihanouk out of power, and it brought in war between Cambodians that led to the subsequent Khmer Rouge killing fields.
He added that 07 January was the day foreign troops invaded Cambodia, and that led to the formation of 4 disputing Cambodian factions, as well as the civil war in Cambodia.
The ceremony took place with 18 Buddhist monks and about 100 SRP supporters, as well as representatives from the US embassy in Cambodia. The religious ceremony marked the 18th anniversary of the 23 October 1991 Paris Peace Agreements on Cambodia.
Sam Rainsy’s declaration was not welcomed by high-ranking government officials. Khieu Kanharith, government spokesman and spokesman for the CPP, reacted strongly by saying that 23 October is the commemoration of a portion of what Sam Rainsy’s mentioned about the KR, and it also brought in the KR into the Cambodian government at that time. He added that is there were no 23 October, there would be no trial for the former KR leaders either.
It should be recalled that the 4 disputing Cambodian factions included: the Funcinpec party, the Son Sann resistance movement, the KR Democratic Kampuchea movement, and the State of Kampuchea movement [installed by Vietnam]. They all signed the 23 October 1991 Paris Peace Agreements, along with 18 other signatory countries, such as the US.
11 comments:
January 7th, 1979 was a tragic day! viets invaded cambodia in 1979October 23rd is the 23th day of the month.
March 18,1970 was the historic day that Khmer had become Republican Country until Oct. 23,1991.
Hey Sam Rainsy,
Don't you dare criticizing March 18th 1970.It was the right thing to do.You should remember ,if there were no March 18th ,royal family will still control Cambodia until today.It's going to happen anyway.Were you not sick and tired with Sihanouk who said one thing and do another for exemple proclaiming NEUTRALITY and allowing vietcong to stay inside youe country ( neutrality my ass) .Under Sangkum reas yum,the poor people were treated like garbage.Cambodia under Sihanouk was like a bomb ready to be explode.We were the backward country .Khmer rouge were on the rise in SOMLOT and yuon communist troop were all over our land simply because Sihanouk was a pro yuon communist while he should be a pro West and South vietnam .You should have known all that if you want to run for Prime minister .So don't blame our heroe Gen. LON NOL and the khmer republic ,you moron.
Don't you feel disgust that Cambodia was ruled by a pro communist, a sex addicted, a womanizer chief of state with the name Sihanouk who is an immoral person who screwed his own aunt and produced 5 or 6 kids. His grandpa became his father-in-law.His mother became his sister -in -law .King MONIVONG's son screwed Sihanouk's daughters .This family is screwing each other like animal.
In all ,even though khmer had to pay a heavy price to get rid of Sihanouk but it was a right thing to do.
The republican.
7:40am congratulated? You have it all.
I am not Hun Sen supporter neither Ransy I like the Ransy has the gut to stand with the blind hyena traitor,but this time I condemn Ransy that insulted 18 March 1970 seem like he spit on khmer hero heroine whom sacrificed lives for Cambodia to get rid of youn and the corrupted feudalism ,especially Ransy him self that his father was killed by Sihaknuk so Ransy if you wanted to win over Hun Sen stop using Sihaknuk as your politic gain Sihaknuk reputation not famous any more so keep your distance away from that dumb king ..
March 18,1970 is the date I cherish most till the day I die.
I was among the first khmer students to exchange my 'kingdom' passport to a 'republican' one. The Khmer Republic will rise again.
Sam Raingsy celebrate 23 October. From the 24th until the next 22nd October, it's forgotten.
Sam Rainsy criticised 18 March 1970 the same as Hun Sen and Sihanou did.
What you do for Sam Rainsy?
I AM SAMRAINSY SUPPORTER, I LIKE SAM RAINSY AND ALWAY WILL, BUT I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH HIM ON THIS ONE.
I AM A PROUD OF LON NOL GENERATION AND WILL ALWAY REMEMBER THAT. WE MUST NOT GORGET THAT LON NOL IS PROUD
SIMPLY BECAUSE HE IS NOT A VIET SLAVES,UNLIKE SIHANOUK AND HUN SEN SO THERE FOR WE MUST GLORIFY LON NOL AS A GREAT LEADER.
Raisy gets lost with the real Khmer History of March 18 1970.
Rainsy cannot change the reality of the events.
Pls thinks more before U talk.
Do not discredit yourself to twist the history.
The Lon Nol's Government had given back the property back to Sam's family that Sihanouk seized it.
Being honest as a good Politician.
Ung Bun Heang,
A khmer Political Observer
since 1970
I learn more from 2 ex Khmer Politicians, ages more than 80 yrs old in Paris.
I'll reveal more of Khmer History
during 70. Thanks.
Ung Bun Heang
January 7, 1979 is the day that youns (vietnam) invaded Cambodia and killed about 800 thousand khmer people during 10 years of invasion (1979-1991).
October 23, 1991 is the day that finished the youns (vietnam) invasion in Cambodia
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