Sam Rainsy's letter published inThe Cambodia Daily, January 1, 2009
JANUARY 7, 1979, IS FRANKENSTEIN OF APRIL 17, 1975
On
January 7, 1979, I was living in France and publishing a monthly
anti-Khmer Rouge bulletin named Sereika (meaning Liberation).
When the Vietnamese communist army invaded Cambodia to "free" us from the Khmer Rouge, we quickly realized that we were caught between Scylla and Charybdis.
We remembered what happened to most Eastern and Central European countries after Staline's Red Army had invaded them to "free" them from the Nazis.
According to the Vietnamese-installed regime's propaganda, without January 7, 1979 we would not have been able to achieve anything that we have achieved since. Or, in other words, nothing would have grown around us without our salvation by Vietnam and its (mainly symbolic) auxiliary forces led by the CPP's current leaders.
But it is worth realizing that without April 17, 1975 (the date of the Khmer Rouge takeover and the beginning of the Cambodian genocide), there would be no need for January 7, 1979. And without the Vietnamese and Chinese communist massive intervention in the early 1970s to help the Khmer Rouge, the latter would not have been able to seize power and there would be no April 17, 1975.
Therefore April 17 and January 7 are inextricably associated: both of them are communist Frankensteins. Celebrating January 7 without having in mind a broader historical perspective, is playing into the hands of the current Phnom Penh regime whose only raison d'être was to "free" the Cambodian people from the Khmer Rouge with communist Vietnam's decisive but not unselfish help.
It is sad to see most former leaders of the anti-Vietnamese Resistance in the 1980s, especially from Funcinpec, give up their ideal to fight for a free, democratic and independent Cambodia.
It is heartbreaking to see them sell out to the CPP, thus forgetting the memories of all those who have died for this ideal.
Sam Rainsy
When the Vietnamese communist army invaded Cambodia to "free" us from the Khmer Rouge, we quickly realized that we were caught between Scylla and Charybdis.
We remembered what happened to most Eastern and Central European countries after Staline's Red Army had invaded them to "free" them from the Nazis.
According to the Vietnamese-installed regime's propaganda, without January 7, 1979 we would not have been able to achieve anything that we have achieved since. Or, in other words, nothing would have grown around us without our salvation by Vietnam and its (mainly symbolic) auxiliary forces led by the CPP's current leaders.
But it is worth realizing that without April 17, 1975 (the date of the Khmer Rouge takeover and the beginning of the Cambodian genocide), there would be no need for January 7, 1979. And without the Vietnamese and Chinese communist massive intervention in the early 1970s to help the Khmer Rouge, the latter would not have been able to seize power and there would be no April 17, 1975.
Therefore April 17 and January 7 are inextricably associated: both of them are communist Frankensteins. Celebrating January 7 without having in mind a broader historical perspective, is playing into the hands of the current Phnom Penh regime whose only raison d'être was to "free" the Cambodian people from the Khmer Rouge with communist Vietnam's decisive but not unselfish help.
It is sad to see most former leaders of the anti-Vietnamese Resistance in the 1980s, especially from Funcinpec, give up their ideal to fight for a free, democratic and independent Cambodia.
It is heartbreaking to see them sell out to the CPP, thus forgetting the memories of all those who have died for this ideal.
Sam Rainsy
"It is sad to see most former leaders of the anti-Vietnamese Resistance in the 1980s, especially from Funcinpec, give up their ideal to fight for a free, democratic and independent Cambodia." - Do you mean the "heroic" leaders such as Pol Pot, Khieu Samphan, Ta Mok and Ieng Sary who were in a coalition with FUNCINPEC?
ReplyDeleteDid you read the article? Pot Pot, Khieu Samphan, Ta Mok, and Ieng Sary were part of the Frankensteins. The fact that they joined up with FUNCINPEC meant that many FUNCINPEC people sold out their ideal and values (I would put it all the way to Sihanouk). There is also an implication all the way to new FUNCINPEC people like Rannadhith, Nhek Bunchay, and all people who got in bed with Hun Sen for their personal greed and ambition.
Deletetake medicine and go to bed!
ReplyDeleteIt is also and foremost sad to see some former leaders of the KPNLF of Lok Ta SON Sann, give up their ideal to fight for a free, democratic and independent Cambodia. They also betray Lok Ta SON Sann ideal. I would remind President Sam Rainsy that Lok Ta Son Sann had offered King Sihanouk the leadership of the KPNLF for the sake of the country; but instead King Sihanouk preferred to create another movement, Funcinpec, a FUNny thing. Comment by a rebel prince forever faithful to Lok Ta Son Sann and Lok Oknha Son Kuy.
ReplyDeleteHere, I agree with you. Sihanouk was a pompous fool. But he did do something good to mildly redeem himself. Along with Lok Ta SON Sann and his real freedom fighters and the Khmer Rouge, Sihanouk was able to force Vietnam and its puppet to the Paris Treaty of 1991. This, is the foundation of modern Khmer democracy if Sam Rainsy, Kem Sokha, and CNRP were able to lead the country.
Delete