Ho Chi Minh alias Nguyen Sinh Cung and also known as Nguyen Ai Quoc, mastermind of Cambodia genocide
18/01/2010 (Updated 19/01/2010)Written by Kok Sap
Originally posted at http://khamerlogue.wordpress.comThe Confucius era sage said, the nation flourish that the ruler listens to people; the nation perish that the ruler listens to spirits. Exactly, this was happening during DK struggle for power and stability of its regime.
Nowadays, Cambodia is ruled by the DK rebels and collaborators alike. Deeply, Cambodia conscience is torn. The current regime is not much different than its predecessor, a one man show. That man wants Cambodians to say he is the savior. But in reality, he was more of a lackey of Hanoi. He condemns the opposing view and dehumanized his dissenters as ingrate of animal like. Further he declared 7 January was his second birthday and all of Cambodia origins. As it seems those who know don’t say, those who say don’t know. In fact, not to all Cambodians agree with his claim. There are survivors who fled Cambodia to safety during Yuon invasion in December 1978 prior to the 7 January 1979 occupation day. They were not the privileged or affiliated with the toppled DK regime. They survived and lived tragic and catastrophic regime to the end, except, they did not wait around for Yuon bo doi to liberate them. They liberated families and themselves at their own conscience and responsibilities.
These people disagreed and would not kneel down to accept the stocked line,”7 January 1979 was the second birthday for Cambodia people and 17 April 1975 was a victory for Cambodia.” They are, in the sense, the truly freed. They saw 17 April and 7 January as Hanoi conspiracy plan and personal conveniences. Many still believe the only true liberation was 18 March 1970 when people would fight and die for Cambodia best interest.
During the internal power struggle and the course of Yuon’s invasion, there were independent minded individuals who were unafraid to make sacrifices and to risk getting killed by both DK’s elements and Yuon’s collaborators to seek freedom. Also they lost loved ones to Pol Pot-Sihanouk regime as well. Of course, they had to leave Cambodia to avoid last minute killing,some were alone and others brought families along. They were small in number but their actions were truly self-initiated and determined to survive and fight for their humanity. Same time, they were seen as enemies of, both Viet Minh and Viet Cong’s regime, DK and PRK.
Like it or not, the handful folks were the source of the initial resistance to fight both DK and PRK for freedom. Their families’ members were forced at gun point to go with either side of the warring factions. Some were involuntarily armed by the DK or Yuon’s lackeys and fled. Some had found the abandoned weapons and ammunitions on their ways to the west jungle border. Before major exodus in mid 1979, with whatever weapons in possession, they were set out to search for and rescue the rest of their families. They were the fighters for their families survival and own humanity.
In essence, they were invisible and not mentioned anywhere in history. They fell through the crack with unique experience of self sustenance and survival. Yet, they were not immune from either Siam’s or DK’s and Yuon’s persecution. They were the forgotten braves, the freed who sought out the liberty in according to a Mexican revolutionary verse, “I rather die on my own feet than live on my knees.” They were labeled and painted as enemies to both DK and Yuon’s regime and illegal entrants to Siam territory.
Unlike the thousands who bought or bribed their ways to be admitted in Siam controlled refugee camps, they were not the economic hardship or displaced persons. In UN definition, they were truly political refugees. They survived endless humiliation and contempt which were brought upon them by the assimilated Thais of Khmer origin living along borderline. They were true refugees with uncertain hope and country. Worst, folks were not permitted and granted asylum to stay in Thailand.
Being who they were, they refused to be enlisted and exploited by Siam Military Task Force dirty agendas. They were imprisoned by Siam border police and rescued by ICRC then placed in UNHCR protected camps apart from those in newly built refugee camps along Siam border.
All were poor and sickened from malaria and food deprivation. For them the refugee life, in a restricted camp, was not a thrill one: they were forbidden to speak to foreign delegates/visitors or press without prior authorization. They were classified political refugees with special UNHCR issued identity card for food ration.
Each morning they must line up in order to receive few Aspirin or other fever pills from Siam Red Cross then food ration afterward. The ration for an adult was 1 1/2 can of rice per day with small portion of salty rotten fishes and greens. And for a child received one can of rice per day.
Once in awhile, family would receive small ration of sugar and tiny bar of soap per person. No charcoal or firewood provided for cooking. Camp administrative did not distribute ICRC issued clothes and detergent except only poor quality blankets to them. Thrice weekly, in the afternoon, under strict supervision one family was allowed one person out to search for and transport back firewood from the nearby bushes along the Gulf of Siam.
Weekly, the camp security officers would search building and family allotted living area for excessive rice or whatever else. If they found some saved rice or salt in any family place, the head of family would be interrogated and punished. The allegation was the excessive or left over rice must be intended for not good purpose.
In mid 1979, these people were divided by criterion to resettle and live in Switzerland, Austria, Argentina, Brazil, France, and a handful went to Red China. The unselected ones remain in camp for long time until the US resolved legislation to accept and resettle them in early 80’s. The visa indicated as political asylum under specific refugee act codes.
In abroad, the small pocketed groups are neither the sympathizers nor the empathizers of post 18 March regimes. Then they were the aliens in own land and homes since Viet Cong attacked Cambodia back in 1970. They did not see Yuon as their liberators or 7 January 1979 as their second birthday. They saw either one was to make their Cambodia a living hell on earth. They saw tragic death of millions was a turning point in Cambodia tragic war and Yuon neo-colonial policy.
In spite of 1954 Geneva conference agreements, Viet Minh never left Cambodia. Subsequently 17 April 1975 brought in Viet Cong’s genocide and the enslavement for the entire Cambodia. Then it came 7 January 1979 day. It might have stopped Pol Pot-Sihanouk from killing more but Yuon’s subjugation and enslavement appeared no lesser evil to Cambodia.
In the early 80’s Yuon’s Kor-5 plan had killed hundred thousands. It was resulted countless orphaned children and widower of broken heart. Then the peace negotiation was arranged by Indonesia and France to end Yuon occupation and civil war. Presently Hun Sen boasts it's his ideas to realize it. To true historical view, Hun Sen was not the person that made it happened. It’s Sihanouk who was a principle in such agreement. The world may dislike Sihanouk in person but his acquired diplomatic skills and seasoned politics can put the world perspective into his favor.
Besides it was the Supreme National Council majority rule and agreement, with the blessing from sponsors Indonesia and France, to push UN peacekeeping and military cantonment process into Cambodia before its general election held in 1993.
For history, neither Yuon’s 17 April nor 7 January day would justify Hanoi sponsored crimes against Cambodia and its people since early 1800. During the occupation, Cambodians were raped, killed and robbed by bo doi or agents in day light. To say the least, Hanoi couldn’t careless if Cambodia extinct or fell off the earth.
The world humanity, in records, came to rescue and feed Cambodia after 1979. While Cambodians were starved to death, yet Yuon made sure Phnom Penh split up and sent the World Food Program supplies to Hanoi armies ( details in book, ’Quality of Mercy’ by William Shawcross) .
In his foreign policy records since 1984, Hun Sen has had personally spoken to and has begged many overseas Cambodians included some of the forgotten braves who visited families to help appealing to US or UN security council for reconsideration to recognize his regime then. It’s rather shameful for Hun Sen to live on his knees and continue to lie to his own people about Yuon's false liberation. Obviously,liar lives own lies and believes no one noticed the difference.
