My rejection of the last proposals by the Lonnolian-Saksutsakhanian “Khmer Republic” in April 1975

Translated from French by Luc Sâr

Cambodian Studies

My rejection of the last proposals by the Lonnolian-Saksutsakhanian “Khmer Republic” in April 1975

By N. Sihanouk

1- These proposals for Negotiations, Cease-fire, Peace, National Reconciliation, were dictated by the desire to survive, to get out unscathed, by the March 18, 1970 Putschists, while their “Khmer Republic” “Ship” will irremediably sink just like the “Titanic” did during the night of April 14 to 15, 1912.

The good Lord himself could not save the Titanic (“newest model” transatlantic British ship).

On the “Khmer Republic” side, the prayers from the most famous pro-Lon Nol Buddhist Monks could not save this “Republic.” The USA, the biggest and the richest Superpower in the world could not even save itself, in April 1975, in Cambodia and South Vietnam.

How could N. Sihanouk – who couldn’t save the Monarchy, his SRN and his own self, his revered Maman in 1970 – do to resolve this “problem” asked by M. Sak Sutsakhan and his “Supreme Council” in April 1975?

2- Since the very first weeks of the life of their anti-Sihanouk regime (whereas the large majority, to avoid saying almost all, of our men and women farmers were pro-N.Sihanouk), the March 18, 1970 Putschists only met major difficulties of all kind, and this, in spite of the multiform and colossal aids from the USA.

In the span of a few months, these Putschists lost half of Cambodia to the benefit of the FUNC-GRUNC-FAPLNC.

In 1973, at least 2/3 of the national territory of Cambodia was definitely, irreversibly liberated by FUNC-GRUNC-FAPLNC, to the detriment of the Putschists.

The latter, while knowing that the future of their “Republic” would be very dim, did absolutely not try to get into contact with N. Sihanouk or Samdech Penn Nouth in Beijing, or with Messrs. Khieu Samphan, Hou Yuon, Hu Nim in Cambodia, to propose “negotiations,” “peace,” “national reconciliation,” “cease-fire,” or “settlement.”

Waiting until the eve of its imminent, inevitable death, to propose “all that” is pure madness, an insane presumption (the belief that one can treat in equal footing a winning adversary).

3- Since March 23, 1970, the Khmer Rouge and the Sihanoukists fixed themselves a clear, clean, intangible, unchangeable line of conduct: Fight to the end the US Imperialism and their lackeys, without accepting compromise, until the complete liberation of the Homeland.

Neither myself, nor Samdech Penn Nouth, nor the Khmer Rouge (Pol Pot was still only Saloth Sar) could violate our oath, formulated above, by accepting the “proposals” [advanced] by the shipwrecked Lonnolians.

Furthermore, I announced since March 23, 1970, that I was fighting for the liberation of the Homeland, and not to return to State Power.

I proclaimed to the Nation and to the Khmer People, and to the entire world, that the Khmer People alone will exercise State Power, without me.

Under these conditions, the invitation by Mr. Sak Sutsakhan, c/o the International Red Cross – inviting N. Sihanouk to “immediately” return to Phnom Penh to exercise State Power and to assume state responsibilities – became a “misconception” and “nonsense.”

History must take note of all of this.

(Signed) Norodom Sihanouk

Beijing, January 18, 2007