Logically, the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation between Sen's Cambodia and Vietnam is an important instrument for Sen to invite Hanoi's troops -- the "liberators" against Pol Pot -- to help fight the Thais on Khmer soil, a repeat of history.
January 6, 2010By A. Gaffar Peang-Meth
For Pacific Daily News
Tomorrow is the 31st anniversary of the Vietnamese army's takeover of neighboring Cambodia's capital of Phnom Penh. The event prompted controversy; debates and discussion about the ramifications of that takeover continue today.
In 14 days of 1978, Hanoi's army, backed by aircraft, moved swiftly across the Cambodian border, sending Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge fleeing towns and cities. The Vietnamese captured Phnom Penh Jan. 7, 1979. Hanoi's troops remained in Cambodia for the next 10 years, until December 1989.
For the victims of Pol Pot's genocidal rule, which began April 17, 1975, and resulted in the deaths of upwards of two million people, destroying a culture and a society, Jan.7, 1979 was the day of deliverance by Vietnam. Surely, Vietnam was their "savior" and their "liberator" at a time when the world watched the horrors of the killing fields.
But others -- Cambodians and a host of foreign governments -- worried.
The world was still governed by the well-specified rule of law founded on the principle of absolute, comprehensive, permanent and inviolable sovereignty and independence. As Singapore argued before the international community at the United Nations, the world is no longer safe, and peace and security are no longer assured, if a more powerful state is allowed to invade a weaker one like Vietnam had done. The Association of South East Asian Nations spearheaded calls for Vietnam to withdraw its troops from Cambodia.
As a result, the United Nations and other international organizations became a political-diplomatic battleground for many years between proponents and opponents of Vietnam's invasion.
And it was so that the anti-Vietnamese Khmer Resistance was born, first as separate armed bands with similar goal and, later, as a loose coalition of Cambodians of the fallen Khmer Republic, Cambodians of the monarchy, and the leftovers of the Khmer Rouge, in spite of their differences, to pressure Vietnam to withdraw, and to seek Cambodians' self-determination.
Unfortunately, the Paris Peace Accords, concluded in 1991, weren't implemented according to the agreements' stipulations and spirit by participating parties, including Cambodians.
Cambodian nationalists asked, since 1979, if Vietnam's goal was to "save" and "liberate" the Cambodian people from Pol Pot, what prevented it from surrendering a freed Cambodia and her people to work with the world community to build a new government and social order? Wouldn't Vietnam have received gratitude so profound by ceding to the United Nations the role of assisting Cambodians' self-determination?
For many Cambodians, Jan. 7 was a day of infamy. Pol Pot was replaced by those referred to as Cambodians with Khmer bodies but Vietnamese heads, the Khmer Viet Minh. This cohort, created by the Vietnamese Communist Lao Dong, trained at the Son Tay Military Academy and at the Nguyen Ai Quoc political school, led by a disgruntled regional field commander, Hun Sen, who sought Hanoi's support to return to power. It was, they felt, like replacing cholera with the plague.
Cambodian opponents assert that Vietnam attacked Pol Pot in 1979 because he became too independent of Hanoi. The invasion was initiated to bring the insolent back into line.
As French critic Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr said, "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose," or, "The more things change, the more they remain the same."
Look at the history of relations between Cambodia and Vietnam for affirmation.
The Vietnamese southward expansion after Nam Viet freed itself in 939 from Chinese bondage was described by Vietnamese scholar Nguyen The Anh in "Le Nam Tien dans les textes Vietnamiens," as a centuries-long phenomenon called "Nam Tien" (progression southwards), "one of Vietnam's history's constants." Anh described the "sparsely populated and accessible land available for (Vietnamese) rice growers" to the south as "favorable for encroachment."
Vietnamese "Confucian persuasion" was abandoned in favor of "an action resolutely imperialistic" to grab land and impose Vietnamese "administrative and cultural practice ... to better integrate (the new area) into the Vietnamese space."
Very briefly, historical records reveal that until the French protectorate was established in 1863, Cambodia was a battlefield for Thai and Vietnamese armies that fought on Khmer soil. Khmer dynastic quarrels led each Khmer side to seek support from Bangkok and Hue. Cambodia was known as a "two-headed bird" -- a tributary state to both foreign capitals.
In 1833, after Annam defeated the Thais in Cambodia, the Annamization began: Annam installed teenager Ang Mey as queen, Cambodia's capital was renamed "Nam Viang," Cambodia's reorganization followed Vietnamese administrative lines, authorities adopted Vietnamese names, customs and dress. In 1840, the Cambodian government was seated in Saigon, and Cambodia's name was changed to "Tran Tay" -- or western commandery.
Opponents of Vietnam's 1978 invasion see Hun Sen and his ruling Cambodian People's Party as a force seeking integration of Cambodia into the late Ho Chin Minh's dream of a federation of former French Indochinese states of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
The recently revealed "classified" contingency plan by Thailand for military action against Cambodia, should the Thai-Khmer dispute escalate, is seen by Professor Naranhkiri Tith as "exactly what Hun Sen wanted."
Logically, the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation between Sen's Cambodia and Vietnam is an important instrument for Sen to invite Hanoi's troops -- the "liberators" against Pol Pot -- to help fight the Thais on Khmer soil, a repeat of history.
A. Gaffar Peang-Meth, Ph.D., is retired from the University of Guam, where he taught political science for 13 years. Write him at peangmeth@yahoo.com.
11 comments:
Indochina problem is not that difficult to comprehend when it comes to differentiate as to who is the guilty party. It is us, Cambodians or Khmers weak in protecting our own land, in addition, invited the hated neighbor whom we hated the most to invade Cambodia for the mistakes made by the very politicians whom we are bestowed upon the altar of the Gods. How stupid Khmer could be when it comes to understanding politics that is the key to find peace and harmony in Cambodia. I dislike to use such language to offer the description of Khmer attitude toward politics when this element is the only key for the prosperity of a nation that is too vulnerable for its neighbors to invade at any given time. Khmers all over the world must wake up and realized that reality is real for the taking by its neighbors, thus all Khmers from all over the world must learn about real politics that could actually help sustain Cambodia into the future.
Case and point: Vietnam has more than 75 millions in populations, thus Vietnam cannot expand Northward and we know what country is north of Vietnam...China which is much stronger and powerful than Cambodia, so the only way that Vietnam can expand her border is through Southward...which is Cambodia. Vietnam can NEVER invade China so those who control Vietnam realizes just that, thus the only way to sustain its economy for the security of her people Vietnam must look for the weak country to invade and that is Cambodia and Laos. This ambition has depicted in all of Vietnamese leaders for many centuries and no one else is dedicated than Ho Chi Minh, thus the idea of creating Indochina Federation comes easily for Ho Chi Minh. And this analysis can be better explained by Dr. Chang Pao Min whose book has written years earlier described just that. In addition, France said and I quote," Cambodian are a weak race and France encourages Vietnam to take control over Cambodia entirely." end quote. This statement made by France ought to scare every Cambodians who are alive today. Maybe that is a wake up call for every Cambodian to unite in a form of strength to save this small country before it is swallowed by Vietnam in the near future.
Food for thought.
ST.
On January 07, we will celebrated to thank our master Vietnam for creating genocide regime in Cambodia, include encroaching our territorries, invading us, without our master Vietnam our Cambodian government unexist until today.
(Signed) Hun Xen, Chea Xim, Heng Xamring
From the continuation of history can we see this thing this way:
Viet have crouched into South East Asia for centeries and never sease to stop (It swallow whole of CHAM) and big chunk of Cambodia! already)
Just in mordern history after the end of Frech era the vietnamese had kidnap Cambodia Kids for future traine to controled Cambodia (Exemple: Pen Sovan)
This show that the Vietnamese Communist has a long long time plane to take over Cambodia!
In 1975 the Vietnamese Communist create Pol Pot and help Pol Pot take over Cambodia ( Vietnamese motherfucker is the creator of the killer monster Pol Pot)
After helped and doctrinated Pol Pot to Kill millions of Cambodia, motherfucker Vietnamese creat and invasion so they can get credit as a good guy and save the live of its spies (Hor NamHong, Kiet Chorn, and the liked)
Can any body see the fucking evil of the Vietnamese motherfucker!
May lightning strike the traitors of the nations and religion!
And motherfuckers go to hell!!!!!!
5:22 AM
it is a controversial holiday in cambodia, depends on how you look at it. i still think an occupation by a foreign power never justify anything for cambodia whatsoever! for one, it was not without consequence or string attached; simply put, their so-called liberation was also a pillage or destruction to cambodia's natural and made-man resources as the viet/youn stripped cambodia almost of all its natural and other resource. it sure didn't come free. on top of that, let's never forget that viet/youn was always considered cambodia's and khmer people's historical enemies, so naturally, khmer people never can fully trust viet/youn, despite their claim to justify their invasion of a sovereigned state of cambodia as "liberation" and so on! you have to hear both sides of the arguments in order to understand why most khmer people feel this way, despite what it seemed like viet/youn liberation of cambodia from the stupid KR regime, etc! so, it is controversial, no matter which way one looks at it, really!
this one required a thorough compromise as it affected cambodia as a country. it could divide or unite khmer people, depends on this compromise. it may required an expert's mediation, or a third party to witness it all, really!
Totally agree with 3:00 AM. We are a weak race and it shows from the beginning of Khmer Empire to now. Like I always say we are our own disease. We would pretty much annihilate ourselves. Sad.
We were weaken because we never unify, we always argue each other and paint color to each other. most of our leaders in the past never support each other.
We have to close that chapter and support each other. we have to learn from the past and don't repeat it again and again
Can we ever extricate ourselves out of this nightmare? We cannot. We cause we have so few capable, and those capable are happy to analyze with the comfort of their own home.
Even if Khmer form a front, of all the intellectuals and the know-hows and the internationally respected persons like Peng or Narinthakit, who can these group of Khmer voice bring their grievance too to help solve the Cambodian crisis when today the world recognize Hun Xen as a legimate government? Cambodia cannot have a country of two face, legally on the govt. can bring grievances of national sovereignty before the U.N, as U.N is a club of nations.
Mian te pdach puch via tang ohs ban kat via chneas. Mian nay tha mech? Prohar nak kabod chiat tang ohs pi mentrei thom dol kru sa. Top dol Khmer os puch nak kbod chiat ban Khmer chenh pi songkip robos Youn ban.
Sopthngai young pishod mol tha krusar Khmer kbod chiat mian nak na khlas? Kru Sa Xen, Kru Sa Nam Hong, Kru Sa Sva Hong, Kru Sa Kanhariet, Kru Sa Chea Sim, Kru Heng Samrin, Kru Sa Sok An, Kru Sa Kmoch Hok Lundy, lak nung lak.
Yong chia Khmer toch tach mian aich proha puk ohs kbod chiat nus ban te. Kynom mian men chia nak kitakor doch puk kitakor kbod chiat nus te, bunte bo knyom chia tevada vian kyom chun puk kabod chia to thanarod doi ka tai hong os hoi.
January 7, 1979 is the victory day of Vietnamese government-Hanoi over invasion on Cambodian territory. It was the second step of victory after April 17, 1975 which over 70000 had been flooded to Cambodia and the around 65000 Vietnamese army stationed illegally since 1964. The evil purpose of swallowing Cambodia is always in the head of this country.
Don't try to fool peoples who are ignorant by faking the truth.
Step down peacefully for the sake of Khmer--give chance to those who are suitable the lead Cambodia. Drive off all immigrants-whatever they are from not only Vietnamese. Unity of Khmer is the main thing that we have to make it. To be a real leader, no time to file a case to the court against the other. That kind the leader is?
Dr. Peang is right.
"Logically, the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation between Sen's Cambodia and Vietnam is an important instrument for Sen to invite Hanoi's troops -- the "liberators" against Pol Pot -- to help fight the Thais on Khmer soil, a repeat of history."
Dr. Peang is the best writer about Politics, I get to admit. This man knows so much, but unfortunately he is not the leader of his poor country. The Vietnamese keep screwing Cambodia by installing the brutally idiots in power.
Man I realy hate Vietnamese.
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