10.01.2013
By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
WASHINGTON DC - Jan. 7 is typically a divisive day in Cambodia, splitting the country between those who support the Vietnamese ousting of the Khmer Rouge on that day in 1979, and those who see it as the beginning of a decade-long occupation of Cambodia. But a leading analyst says the bitter divide found among the older generation, including politicians, has lost some of its impact with Cambodian youths.
The Jan. 7 anniversary is also used in politics, and in an election year like this one even more so. But Ou Virak, head of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, told “Hello VOA” on Monday that these are “old school” tactics that may not work on the growing ranks of young voters.
As the ruling Cambodian People’s Party uses the day to remind voters that they are now free from the horrors of the Khmer Rouge, the opposition uses the day to remind them that the communist government of Vietnam installed today’s Cambodian leaders, and they claim that illegal Vietnamese immigration is a threat to Cambodians.
Ou Virak said this is unfair, however, and weakens the opposition in the eyes of the international community, who could view such tactics as racism.
To the younger voters, Jan. 7, 1979, is a day far gone in history, and it is not understood well. On that day, Vietnamese-led forces and Cambodian fighters entered the capital, ousting the Khmer Rouge, which had been in power since April 15, 1975.
“They will not remember, because they were not born,” Ou Virak said. “Even if they had been born, they would not remember. Mostly, they did not live directly under the Khmer Rouge regime.”
Thirty-four years later, the anniversary should no longer divide Cambodians, he said. “It causes Cambodians to be fragile, and to be unable to talk about pressing issues, and unable to develop our country,” he said.
Younger voters are more likely to be interested in the country’s future, and for change, he said. “They can change the destiny of the country, if they are involved in the election coming in July,” he said, adding that the lack of participation was another issue to be addressed.
Other concerns of the youth are the country’s dignity and reputation, and its development, more so that with the older generation, which survived the Khmer Rogue and the civil strife that followed its collapse.
However, Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said the older generation could still be passing on their views to their children. “If the parents support the Jan. 7 day, they will explain its necessity,” he said. “And for those who have opposite ideas about Vietnam, they will explain it to their children as an invasion, and so on.”
Ou Virak said the day should be remembered, but not as a day that brought peace to Cambodia. Civil war followed, as the Khmer Rouge continued its resistance to Vietnamese forces, along with other factions. And it was not the CPP alone that liberated the country, it was many Cambodians, he said
9 comments:
Dont forget the 3 men in this photo are former Khmer Rouge, they endorsed the regime and when they saw a new opportunities as Khmer Rouge Regime weakened they took advantage of opportunity else where like inviting/supporting Vietnam invasion. If Vietname true intension was to saved Cambodian people from Khmer Rouge they would have invaded it, push our Khmer Rouge and allow Cambodian to have a freely elected governement instead of installing a Pro-Vietnames government which is CPP today. So the 3 men stand to benefits by supporting regime that suite their needs and wants.
All of you (Too Valuable people) are so coward and opportunistic people around Sam Rainsy and they are thinking that they are “too valuable” to die in saving their motherland Cambodia. They just want opportunity to be rich only.
Lotus Revolution Leaders are even shit and coward and they think them too valuable to die saving their motherland Cambodia. Too valuable people = No country to call Home!
“Too many valuable” people around Sam Rainsy that is why they are shit and Angkor Watt temples belong to Uncle Ho's agent Sok Kong. How is your national icon Angkor Watt temple? We are Vietnamese so proud in making billions of American dollars by selling stone by stone of your “too valuable people” Angkor Watt temples. What are you going to do, huh? Screaming just like bitches but don’t dare to die saving your Angkor Watt and your Nation because you are “too valuable” to do any things good for your motherland Cambodia.
If you people are “too valuable” to die saving your nation that is ok, Uncle Ho will cook good curries with dogs meat for you people to eat, just come and joint Uncle Ho like your heroes Dr Lao Mong Hay, Norodom Ranaridth, Nhek Bun Chay...Just come because you are “too valuable” people. Just Come and joint uncle Ho.
To 3:18 PM
STUPID YUON,
YOUR Uncle Ho, kneeling before me, with my
shit in his mouth begged me for mercy.
I blew his brains out anyway !!!
And YOU'RE NEXT.
ម្នាក់ឆ្កួតនឹងថ្ងៃ៧មករា ដោយពោលពាក្យដដែលៗថា៖ បើគ្មានថ្ងៃ៧មករា នឹងវាគ្មានអ្វីៗដូចសព្វថ្ងៃនេះទេ។
ចំណែករូបខ្ញុំនឹងមហាជនអ្នកស្នេហាជាតិជាច្រើនទៀត ក៏បានពោលដែរថា៖ បើគ្មានថ្ងៃ២៣តុលា រដ្ឋកម្ពុជានៅតែក្ររហាម ក្រោមគំនាបសេដ្ឋកិច្ចពិភពលោកយ៉ាងនោះឯង។
3.18PM
Now you have admitted that you and your uncle Ho are the invader of Cambodia.
Please leave Cambodia alone and go back to Hanoi idiot!
Ignorant plays a role if you think Jan. 7 is a day of celebration... Vietnamese intention is not to help Cambodians....
These 3 monkey heroes will joint Tata Sihanouk soon.
ឱទេវតាលើកជើងសូមជួយពួកយើងផងព្រោះពួកយើងជិតតៃហោងហើយ៕
Those Cambodian youth living under AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave regime are the most illiterate about the real Cambodian history because AH HUN SEN ban all Cambodian history that speak the truth and volume about Vietnam! These Cambodian youth are studying fake Cambodian history which were rewritten by the Vietcong to paint a good picture of the Vietcong naked aggression on Cambodia!
These Cambodian youth received the wrong education and their certificate or diploma worth no more than a toilet paper! Even they are graduated nobody would hire them for a job anyway and after graduation from school and they go straight to become a farmer! ahh
House maid, garment worker, tour guide, workers in other part of the world?
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