Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Resolution would affirm Khmer soldiers

March 06, 2012
By Susan Hegarty
Session Weekly/Session Daily (Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota, USA)

The Khmer Freedom Fighters of Cambodia supported and defended U.S. military troops during the Vietnam War, yet the U.S. government has never officially recognized them as U.S. veterans, although many became naturalized citizens.

Rep. Bruce Anderson (R-Buffalo Township) sponsors HF2629, a resolution that would allow the state to officially recognize the Khmer Freedom Fighters and the Cambodian people for their support and defense of United States military forces. The resolution also urges the president, Congress and all other state legislatures to do the same.

The House Veterans Services Division approved the resolution and referred to the House floor. It has no Senate companion. Thirty-seven Khmer Freedom Fighter representatives were on hand to witness the division’s approval.

The soldiers fought alongside American soldiers to defend the rights of Cambodians and became American refugees after the war. Today, about 8,000 of these freedom fighters and their descendants live in Minnesota.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

If this issue is approve by us house,which it should had done long
a go,we the formers arm forces at lease we know something has change
before we die.
Because U.S the one who had started that southeast asia war
DON'T LET OUR BLOOD SPILL FOR NOTHING.
Give us a chance to be the HEROs while we are still a live.

Anonymous said...

this is a good, diplomatic move to reconcile with cambodia and america of past misunderstanding, etc. god bless america and cambodia.

cambodia and america should be partners or allies from now on. we can start a new chapter of our hsitory. we should work together toward this long-term goal to become good allies. it is about fostering friendship, exchange in education, diplomacy, etc...; of course, culturally, we are always different, but we can still agree to disagree and work together unconditionally, i think. who says america and cambodia can't be good allies? we are what we made each other to be, really.