King-Father's history lesson on territorial integrity for visiting F'pec delegation (Part 4)

Translated from French by Luc Sâr

History

“Monday 12 May 2008: What I said on that day to the Funcinpec Delegation …”
By N. Sihanouk

(Part 4)

1952-1953. The national Delegation of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the Franco-Khmer negotiations on the total Independence of Cambodia in Phnom Penh, was presided by our great Statesman, H.E. Penn Nouth.

The Delegation of the French Republic to these negotiations was presided by Mr. Risterrucci.

It must be recalled that in 1949, I was able to obtain from France the (de facto) total Independence for the provinces of Kampong Thom-Preah Vihear and Siem Reap-Oddar Meanchey, and, in 1952, the same (de facto) total Independence for the province of Battambang-Banteay Meanchey. The 3 provinces cited above constituted what was known as “autonomous zone.” What I call “the de facto total independence of Siem Reap-Oddar Meanchey, Kampong Thom-Preah Vihear, Battambang-Banteay Meanchey,” meant that the French gave me the power to assure the total direction of there 3 provinces: administrative, legal, military, police power etc… The French administrators, judges, police forces, (army) troops and command all left definitively.

Starting from 9 November 1953, it would be the same for Phnom Penh, as well as for the remaining provinces and cities of Cambodia.

Some were mocking of my “Chivapol” and “Neary Klahan” [militia] Kaun-Chau(s) who only had “wooden guns without bullets.” During that time, the French in Cambodia counted 5,000 (five thousands). “My” Chivapols and Neary Klahans counted more than one million. Even if they attack the French with their wooden guns without bullets, “the outcome” would be catastrophic for our French friends.

After the acquisition of our total Independence, we, Khmer, became very good friends of the French and of France.

The End

(Signed) N. Sihanouk
May 2004

King-Father's history lesson on territorial integrity for visiting F'pec delegation (Part 1)

Translated from French by Luc Sâr

Click here to read the original article in French

History

“Monday 12 May 2008: What I said on that day to the Funcinpec Delegation regarding our territorial Integrity in the 40s and our National Independence issues”
By N. Sihanouk

1941 – Before to the death of H.M. Preah Monivong, my maternal Grandfather. Within the framework of WWII, France was one the Superpower which was defeated and Japan was of one of the victorious Superpowers. Japan powerfully helped Thailand to obtain from France the cession to this Thailand (Siam) of a very important portion of our national Territory (land and maritime): the entire province of Battambang-Banteay Meanchey; a small portion of the Pursat province; a portion of the province of Siem Reap-Oddar Meanchey; a portion of the province of Kampong Thom-Preah Vihear; a portion of the province of Stung Treng-Rattanakiri. In 1945, at the end of WWII, France was one of the victorious Superpowers and Japan was one of the defeated Superpowers. The victorious (Gaullist) French returned back to Indochina and, consequently, to Cambodia. I let them know that (1) we, Khmer people, would never accept the return [to Cambodia] of the French Protectorate and that our Cambodia became, since April 1945, a country totally Independent. France accepted this non-return to the Protectorate, but, (because) of its strong “victorious” army, it called us “Autonomous State of Cambodia.” There was no French Superior Resident (Colonial Governor) in Cambodia anymore, but (there was) a High Commissioner of the French Republic. In 1949, I visited Paris to demand for a Franco-Cambodian Treaty formally abrogating [abolishing] the 1863 Protectorate Treaty and the 1884 Convention, which would include the legal recognition of the Independence of the Kingdom of Cambodia by the French Republic. Between 1949 and 1952, France gave back to Cambodia, “one drop at a time,” the attributes of our Independence which was formally recognized by the French Government through the 1949 Treaty.

In 1952, my “Royal Crusade for the total Independence of Cambodia” was initiated. However, before discussing about this very important Royal Crusade, I must tell you about this issue of vital importance for our Homeland: the return of our provinces, lands and sea, lost to Thailand in 1941, prior to my advent to the throne, because of Fascist Japan which forced the French to give these provinces, inalienable lands and sea, to Thailand (Siam). In 1946, I told the Gaullist French that a victorious France, within the framework of WWII, had the “sacred” duty to ask for the return of provinces, lands and sea, stolen from the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Gaullist France did so well that Thailand (Siam) accepted to return back to us these stolen provinces, lands and sea. In 1947, in Battambang city, Admiral Thierry d’Argenlieu, a hero of WWII, solemnly returned to me these provinces, recovered lands and sea, symbolized by the Battambang land which was presented to me, in front of our People, on a golden tray by Admiral d’Argenlieu.

(To be continued)

(Signed) Norodom Sihanouk
May 2008