Vietnam Should Remember Cambodia’s Sacrifice

With forward by School of Vice


The Folly of Gratitude...

All well and good, but don't forget to mention all the roots of Cambodia's recent tragedies and turmoils in as much as it is worth reminding everyone of North Vietnam's [and Ho Chi Minh's] hand in creating communist movements throughout Indochina which subsequently led to the Vietnamese 'liberation' and invasion, to the creation of a repressive regime forever 'indebted' to this 'liberation', to unjust border treaties signed during the 1980s under pressure and duress of Vietnamese armed occupation, to on-going encroachments at various points along the common border despite Hanoi leaders' solemn pledges to Sihanouk to respect Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity in exchange for his complicity and co-operation during Vietnam's critical hours of need, ... 

Actually, the list goes on. A nationalistic, committed and independent leadership would have called for review of the status of all territories ceded to Vietnam since the end of the French colonial era, and the return of Kampuchea Krom to Cambodia, as is the latter's legitimate right and prerogative to do. Perhaps, these territorial issues were more of a raison d'etre behind that 'liberation'? And did I mention the mass deforestation, the ELCs, the forced evictions of Cambodians living along the border over the decades as well? 

Despite the Cambodians' sense of gratitude and recognition of those who had saved them from Pol Pot's clutches, it is not the primary or even a conscious goal of that 'liberation' to liberate them in the first instance. That some even fall for this systematic line of the Vietnamese Communist Party's propaganda machine [as exemplified by this 'Friendship Memorial' below] is something of a testament to the power of that machine to rewrite history to conform to its agendas and designs; one of mankind's greatest misfortunes; unmerited owing to the folly of the few who misguided the many, and unavoidable due to the latter's collective inertia and inability to lead themselves! 

Since when have we become convinced or converted to the notion that this band of self-preserved minority that is Vietnam's Communist Party are bona fide Samaritans whose highest, most sacrosanct calling and mission on earth, to which millions of innocents [many in the peak of life and vitality] - be they Cambodian or Vietnamese - would be subordinated or consumed in proxy sacrifice without a second thought, is to lead mankind to the Promised Land of milk and honey?  

I still hold on to the belief that nations can peacefully co-exist where and when their peoples have the power to make their governments genuine embodiments of their collective wills and desires. Why? Because the utmost desires and aspirations of [ordinary] peoples are no loftier than to live in peace and happiness with their own kind - in as much as they would want the same of their neighbours. 

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Vietnam Should Remember Cambodia’s Sacrifice

The memorial in Phnom Penh honoring Vietnam’s troops. WikiCommons

Khmer Times

 Dear Sir,

Recently, due to differences of position in regards to the South China Sea issues, there has been a growing trend of Vietnam accusing Cambodia of forgetting the past assistance Vietnam gave to Cambodia.

This trend was proved by the recent verbal attacks on Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Facebook page by Vietnamese people, some of which are believed by many to be communist cadres.

If such sentiment truly exists, Vietnam is wrong because Cambodia never forgets its history and how Vietnam saved Cambodian lives from the genocidal regime of the Khmer Rouge.

Although there are two different narratives, either “liberation” or “invasion,” all of the survivors still remember clearly how Vietnamese soldiers saved their lives.

But let us be fair. When Cambodia expresses its gratitude for Vietnam’s assistance, there seems to be endless manipulation of this gratitude used to serve unilateral interest for far too long and the history seems to become a one-sided story, while the other half of the story has been missing.

That other half is that Cambodia also helped the Vietnamese in their quest for liberation and unification during the Vietnam War. Vietnam should not forget this history and should be grateful for Cambodia’s assistance.

Vietnam should remember the so-called Sihanouk Trail on Cambodian territory that connected with the Ho Chi Minh Trail in southern Laos which together constituted secret passages from North Vietnam to South Vietnam.

The trail had an important function as a logistical supply system across Cambodian territory and was used by the People’s Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) during the Vietnam War, which lasted from 1960 to 1975.

Because of this trail, the United States carpet-bombed eastern Cambodia from the late 1960s until the 1970s, with an estimated more than two million tons of bombs, leaving a minimum of 100,000 Cambodian civilian casualties and two million of our people homeless.

Many believe the US carpet-bombing of Cambodia assisted in the rise of the Khmer Rouge, a genocidal regime that was later toppled with the assistance of Vietnam.

In light of the above history, if Ho Chi Minh’s spirit of independence and unification is firmly inherited, the new generation of Vietnamese leaders should educate their cadres as well as their general public more about how Cambodia helped Vietnam by making an example of how Cambodia teaches our people about Vietnam’s assistance.

Following Cambodia’s example, Vietnam should build a stupa in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to honor the lives of Cambodian civilians killed in the Vietnam War if Vietnam honestly values its independence, unification and friendship towards Cambodia.

Without Cambodia, the Ho Chi Minh Trail would not have been completed and these days Vietnam might face the same fate as Korea, a divided nation, north and south.

Instead of waiting for the Vietnamese to reciprocate their appreciation towards Cambodia in goodwill and honesty, the latter should also be more active in reminding their people about our contribution to their peace and unification.

For instance, Cambodia should revive the Sihanouk Trail as an eco-tourism and war memorial venue by erecting a clear signboard saying “In Remembrance of the Lives of Cambodian People Lost During the Vietnam War.”

On that trail, Cambodia can organize an “International Peace and Friendship Marathon,” turning this symbol of war into an international sporting event in northeastern Cambodia so as to remind everyone that the Vietnam War shall not be repeated.

Cambodia should also put the remnants of the bombs dropped from American B-52s at the Bavet international checkpoint to remind the almost one million Vietnamese visitors to Cambodia annually about Cambodia’s sacrifice for Vietnam’s liberation and unification.

The many B-52 bomb craters should be preserved like Vietnam does for the Cu Chi tunnels and Vietnamese cadres should be guided to see these testimonies of war when they are on missions to find the remains of their soldiers.

Let us be fair, treat each other with respect and be thankful for the existing peace and everyone’s contribution.

Soun Nimeth,

Phnom Penh