Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Prince Sirik Matak's stupa

Prince Sisowath Sirik Matak

Stupa for Prince Sirik Matak
Today I stopped over at wat Sala Ko where the family of prince Sisowat Sirik Matak has built a stupa for the prince who died under the hand of the Khmer Rouge in April 1975 as he refused to leave the country even though he could if he wished to do so. The prince was killed together with many of his republic soldiers as a brave and honest man but his body was never been found. Hope people would find this picture interesting.

S.C.

45 comments:

Anonymous said...

Prince Sirimatak was Blinded by his pride, naive about world of politic. He want the American to bleed to dead in un-winnable war. The American were under great pressure from domestic and abroad to end the war and get out of there. They have no other choice. So for Sirimatak to blame the American for not helping him fight the communist, is naive or worst arrogant stupid.

He should get out of Cambodia to fight another day if he was smart.
Like the Chinese always say, if it take another 10 years to revenge, is it not too late. To die uselessly by the Khmer Rouge's hand is completely useless.

Anonymous said...

He loved his country and he regretted believing the Americans. The Americans just used Cambodia as a satellite regime of the South Vietnam regime. Historically, the US has not been a genuine friend of Cambodia.

Anonymous said...

Dear The Most STUPID and BRAIN DAMAGED 12:32AM ,
I am so amamzed with your impolite and immoral comments , souns like you were born without your parents and teachers.
Your comments on Prince SISOWAT SIRIK MATAK reveals yourself a blinded young man who completely does not even know the history and the legacy of Prince SIRIK MATAK .
I terribly got goose bumps from your young naive and arogant.
I wish , I could deal with your parents or grandparents or simply your History teacher.
A man of the 1970-1975

Anonymous said...

12:32 AM

Oknha Sonn Kuy volunteered to be beheaded by the Vietnamese for safety of our Khmer krom, so you say, both Prince Sirimatak and Oknha Sonn Kuy were blinded pride??

It is only with extra ordinary courage like these noble men that made us rememebr and fight on. How many can remeber like this, let say with Sihanouk?

live and learn.

Anonymous said...

it is now history. people should not forget and should set politics aside! there are more national issues like poverty, equal access to healthcare, the environment and education, etc... it is good to commemorate those who had served the country well and so forth, but we also must visual into the future of the country as well. yes, war, great civilizaton, etc come and go as history of the world had indicated. i think we should encourage expression, artistic, etc as everyone learned better in different ways. i believe there are the great potential among all of us out there to become the next great individuals such as great speaker, great artists, extraordinary leaders, scientists, etc, etc. we have to find a way to seek them out. be a seeker, look for the potential in others. wake up. yes, life goes on! do learn and know history, though! god bless all.

Anonymous said...

the lon nol era was full of patriotic people, however, it was also full of inevitable, unstoppable corruption, etc, as well. maybe it was rampant corruption of that period that played a part in its short life or failure. but KR that followed was something else, stupid, to say the least! you don't kill your own people and expect the country to be great in achievement, recognition, etc, you know! now, don't be so stupid like the ignorant KR period and administration, etc, ok! get a worldly education by all mean, cambodia needs and wanted educated, well trained people from now on. ignorant has no place in cambodia, ok!

it is too good to have a sense of culture for we live and thrive by it. however, it is also smart and conform with time, the world, etc, too, when we adapt, adopt and adjust with a changing world, changing time, etc, ok! do whatever that stimulate our brain to learn nonstop in this world!

Anonymous said...

let it be a historical lesson that we all one another; can't lead the country by yourself, you know!

Anonymous said...

Dear LOK P-AUN 1:38AM,
I strongly support your encouragements and most the time I could not forget the mistakes and success we had made in the past and we learn from that histircal events.
THANKS AGAIN My Brother and thanks you KI-Brothers.
Best Wishes
A Man of The 1970-1975

Anonymous said...

Thank you S.C. for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Khmer republic under Lon Nol were full of incompetent leaders, infighting, corruption, and delusional. No difference from the SRP today. In the real world require people who can think realistically, not idealist, pie in the sky day dreamers, they can't get anything done and eventually they are destroying themselves because they live by the lie, they lie to themselves all the time, then lie to other people. But sooner or later, when people wake up to the reality, they would know which is the lie and which the truth. So in political game, whoever can think and act realistically win in the long run.

Anonymous said...

Siri Matak and Son Kuy dead were both wasted. Siri Matak let the KR kill him accomplish nothing. He could have done more for Cambodia by leaving the country and then tell the world about the cruelty of the KR regime.

Son Kuy was losing the war with the Viet. Khmer king did not send troop to help Khmer Krom rebellion against the Viet. So nothing else he could do but to surrender to the Viet. The Viet did not honor any of their promised to Son Kuy, they still persecute Khmer Krom then and now. So his dead, put Khmer Krom under the mercy of the Viet, and hoping for the best, but it doesn't, so he too died in vain.

Anonymous said...


With high respect Privce Saramatak, we all remember you as hero prince for Khmer identity. Sihanouk is gulty for such crime with his complite (KR Viet and KR China).

Anonymous said...

Dear Our Young Brothers 3:27 am and 3:34 am,
Prince SIRK MATAK at least he fought in the first place to defend the agressions of our historical enemies, VIET CONG and VIETNAMESE who were publicly supported by SIHANOUK and then those VIET CONG and VIETNAMESE created your hero HUN SEN .
Prince SIRIK MATAK derserved a big credit for defending his country and he fought until the last defense of his life for us not to waste his life for nothing like your young and inexperienced life styles of KHMER heroes .
I fully accept our faults and corruptoin of KHMER REPUBLIC but we were just a new baby fighting with a well trained and fully equipped VIET CONG VIETNAMESE and no land was lost to our two enemies SIAM and YUON at the time .
Respect the UNCOMMON VALORS of your ancestors , will you ?
Am an of the 1970-1975

Anonymous said...

it goes to say perhaps these individuals are not really smart when it comes to life and death situation. i mean, material stuff, you can always get back, but not your life, you know, especially in the situation they were in then! yes, sarimatak could've chosen to seek asylum in the US and then for a later opportunity to help cambodia, instead, it seemed like these individuals mentioned had made a wrong, less-than-wise choice in their last breath of life on earth. sad, but let people learn from it, though, so not to repeat their mistakes again in the future, etc!

Anonymous said...

well, it was called the civil war then! what do you expect, really! now, it's a historical lesson for all, ok!

just like when the stupid KR tricked people to evacuate the cities all across cambodia then; nobody in the mind knew that it was a dirty, political trick they played on people that got them slaughtered almost instantly when the stupid, ignorant KR marched into phnom penh then, you know! of course, it was a historical lesson in life, really!

Anonymous said...

the bottom line is, the stupid, ignorant KR should not have killed people, period! how stupid could they be, really!

Anonymous said...

Siri Matak and Lon Nol were nationalism, cleaned up Youn migrants lived in Cambodia. Such a great sample that currnet Khmer leaders should listen and make a u turn for our great Khmer Angkor. We cannot live with such a bad Viets people have been destroyed and invaded Khmer nations. We must stand up in one as Khmer Angkor unity. God Bless Khmers and Bless Cambodia. Lets go Cambodia for your great nation.

Anonymous said...

for me, i only have sympathy for people who were unable to do anything about it, however, if they were ignorant, i have more sympathy for them, you know! i love smart, intelligent people, not the ignorant, backward type, ok!

Anonymous said...

4:07AM! what you try to suck your own?

Anonymous said...

To defit thr Youn Evil Vietnamese ask for laws, Justice, and Democracy!!!!!!

The Evils can only controle in corruption unjustice enveronment!

Anonymous said...

To defeat the Youn Evil Vietnamesem we shall ask for laws, Justice, and Democracy!!!!!!

The Evils can only live and controle in a corrupted unjustice enveronment!

4:11 AM

Anonymous said...

Serimatak may not help much for himsef and his own family BUT he did and will help Cambodian spirit in serving the country for 1000 1nd thousand years to come he the second Neata Llaing Meung!!!!!!

He is khmer Decid!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

He has shared some failure too for letting Republican to loose war against communist for his lucrative business of airline.
Indeed Republican soldiers can open all the roads from Phnom Penh to all Provinces. But for his self-interest, he bribed all military leaders not to open all national roads, so that his airline can make his full potential benefit. See! with all his moneys, he cannot uses them and have died by his own fault. If he put national interest before his own interest, then, Cambodian wouldn't suffer as such.

Areak Prey

Anonymous said...

Dear our compatriot AREAK PREY,
It was PRINCE SIRIK MATAK had a ball in hand or LON NOL and his betrayed brother LON NON running the military operations ?, Prince SIRIK MATAK was put under house of arrest by LON NON and You and I were there.
Best wishes to you
A Man of the 1970-1975

Anonymous said...

កម្រមានណាស់ អ្នកនយោបាយខ្មែរ ដែលស្រឡាញ់កិត្តិយស​ដូចជាទ្រង់សិរិមតៈនេះ។
ខ្ញុំសូមសរសើរទ្រង់អស៉ពីចិត្ត។
អ្នកនយោបាយខ្មែរ ភាគច្រើនលើសលប់ គឺ៖
ស្រឡាញ់អំណាច..................

Anonymous said...

i think stupid KR hated corruption, that's why they killed so much educated people because they all were corrupted. however, that still didn't make it right for ignorant KR to kill khmer people, you know! i told you, only ignorant people kill because they cannot go to get help as there were none to help them, really! cambodia should wake up and learn from that historical lesson, you know! that's more to the story than that, really!

Anonymous said...

Dear my younger brother 5:06am,
Would love to let you know that KHMER ROUGES on of the Most Corrupt people in KHMER History, they took everything from us thought that they would spare our lives bribing them with goods .
How many tons of golds and diamonds were being taken away by SON SEN , IENG SARY, NUON CHEA, SALOTH SAR and KHIEU SAMPHAN.
It is NOT what you think it was the fact.
Man of the 1970-1975.
to my 5:00am , I ma not able to read yours , may be the fontsps;
I am listening to BAN-DAM KLEANG MOEUNG , by LOK SOS MATH
KHMER PUOCH NEAK CHAMBAING !
KHMER TROV TER CHHNEAS !

Anonymous said...

OUR BRAVE HERO SIRIK MATAK,
A MAN OF A GREAT PRIDE, SEFT DISCIPLINE LEADER, A MAN OF A RESPECTFULL CHARACTER AND GOOD EXAMPLE LEADERSHIP, SACRIFY HIS LIFE WITH HIS FOLLOWERS AND HIS TROOPS INDEED HE SHALL GO TO U.S OR CHANCE TO GATHERING HIS SUPPORTERS TO FIGHT BACK KR BUT THE MISCALCULATION OF THE FAST LIBERATION OF KHMER ROUGE ONE YEAR AFTER U.S CUT AID, KR TO OCCUPY PHNOM PENH AND ALSO SOME OF HIS FOLLOWERS BELIEVED THAT SIHANOUK WILL BRING PEACE TO KHMER.
IN FACT SIHANOUK WANTED RETALIATION UNTIL NOW TO ONE NATIOLIST KHMERS WHO DARE AGAINST HIS POLICY TO SUPPORT COMMUNISM EXPANSION; EXCEPT YOUN OR RED CHINESE SINOUK BEND HEAD DOWN..
SIRIK MATAK LOVE DEARLY HIS COUNTRY. IN THE CONTRARY THE CORRUPTION, AND LAND ENCROACHEMENT IN CAMBODIA IN SIRIK MATAK REGIME WAS NOT A SINGLE INCH CLOSE TO SEN'S REGIME NOWSADAY.

OUR PRAYING TO SIRIK MATAK SOUL PLEASE REST IN PEACE IN HEAVEN.
PRAYING FOR CAMBODIA NOT TO BE VIETNAMIZATION.
PRAYING SEN TO CHANGE HIS MIND TO LOVE REALLY CAMBODIA AND HIS PEOPLE, THUS THE KHMER RED CROSS HELP IF NOT A LONG TERM SOLUTION TO POVERTY POOREST COUNTRY IN U.N LISTS AND SEN CAME FROM POOR PEASANT BACKGROUND IN KROCH CHMAR RURAL AREA IN KOMPONG CHAM PROVINCE TO RICH BILLIONAIRE DOLLARS PLEASE SEE THE CRYING OF NATIONALIST KHMERS WORRYING MUCH THE LOSS OF OUR MOTHERLAND TO YOUN.

Anonymous said...

even millionaire and billionare dies too, you know. i never see they can take their money to the grave with them, so, wake up, people. be kind and educated for a change, ok! have positive attitude and be open-minded, ok!

Anonymous said...

even millionaire and billionare dies too, you know. i never see they can take their money to the grave with them, so, wake up, people. be kind and educated for a change, ok! have positive attitude and be open-minded, ok!

Anonymous said...

listening skill is important because most people overlooked it! yes, do listen most of the time and think think think about people are saying, ok! it will take you a long way; ask if you don't understand, always, there's no such thing as a stupid question, especially in school, ok!

Anonymous said...

BIG THANKS TO 5:18AM
We completely trusted SIHANOUK and KHMER ROUGES as our ownKHMER BLOODS but we were being executed right after we laid dwon our weapons because of the wrong trust.

Anonymous said...

yes, in politics, never trust your opponent, especially when there is no rule of law, etc, really! always be cautious an approach humbly and differently, always! without the rule of law society, people can be so evil, you know!

Anonymous said...

To the stupid comment people. Don't you see a yourn ho chiminh die for a yourn people? All a pourk yourn pay the respect and lift a yourn ho chiminh as their heroes. We Khmer should at least learn how to get together and take care our Nation too.

Anonymous said...

6:00 AM ONE EAR THROUGH ANOTHER!

We hated each other DIE HARD. Now look at them KHMER scattered through 50 states NO LONGER Long Bich.

Anonymous said...

This pathetic prince deserve to die like that if he alive would he do it again?, what about three millions people died as his result this not included 500,000 died by American bomb and the Vietnamese invatsion that killed a lots of people and K5 as well, any leaders should learn history if you pro-foreigners your faith will be like that.

Anonymous said...

12:32 and 3:34, It is easy for you to say after the fact! or like the game of Apoang essentially you open the cover before the betting! come on, give Prince Sirik Matak, Lon NOl, Sak Suthsakhan, Oknha Sonn Kuy a credit for you are nothing but a coward unlike them. What have you done for Cambodia so far?

Anonymous said...

Son Kuy and Mr. Sisowath Sirik Matak,(Matak didn't like monarchy)were born different era and different situation.
The Viet did not keep her promise and the Khmer king did not help him and did not send troops to support him.
Mr.Sirik Matak should escape from Cambodia to USA,wait for good time to fight back Khmer Rouge or Hun Sen.
Sirik Matak stayed and got killed by Pol Pot because he decided not to run away from his lovely country.
Mr.Son Kuy and Mr. Sirik Matak were still Khmer heroes.
Then how about Mr. Sam Rainsy,Gods bless him.
He can stay as long as he can.
If Khmer oversea and in Cambodia support him,he can live abroad and continue to do politic.
Did you know about ah Ho Chiminh,
he lived abroad to do politic same as Sam Rainsy.
Please, blogger open your eyes to see politiciens around the world.

Anonymous said...

12:32 am US should not have come to indochina in the first place. US came to gather people of Cambodia, Lao, and South Vietnam to fight with them against the spread of Communism.
After US made a real mess/bombed these three countries into almost to a stone age then all sudden US woke up and told the people who supported them that USA was tired and decided to go back home. Who betrayed the friends who fought alongside with them.
now they are talking to return home from afghanistan leaving Talib come back to kill people who support US.

Anonymous said...

some bloggers here think that hindsight is the same as political wisdom. how foolish can that be??

Anonymous said...

The truth is Lon Nol and Sirik Matak was anti youn while the ignorant Khmer Rouge were indoctrinated to commit genocide and kill their own by communist China and undermined and infiltrated by the VietCong Youns.

Anonymous said...

General Sirimatak and Oknha Sonn Kuy both were born of different times but face the same challenges. Nguyen Ai Cuoc AKA HCM had COMINTERN. What did both Khmer Heros have??????

Anonymous said...

Please,read Mr.Son Kuy biography.
Also,read Mr.Sarik Matak biography.
Do self research,you will know they were.
The more you read,the more you know about them.

Anonymous said...

C'était un fin politicien, un meneur d'homme, un capitaine qui préfère sombrer avec son bateau et qui ne dirait jamais ''sauve qui peut''.
Ne trahissez pas sa mémoire.
Un républicain

Anonymous said...

Si Mr.Sirik Matak voulait quitter son pays,c'etait tres utile mais il ne voudrait pas.
Il voulait pour continuer sa vie dans sa patrie.
Mr. Sirik matak etait un Khmer hero.