mardi, octobre 17, 2006

How To Liberate Cambodia ? (1)

News from Cambodia N° 0644-E

HOW TO LIBERATE CAMBODIA OF THE VIETNAMESE DOMINATION ?

Khemara Jati
Montreal, Quebec
October 16th, 2006

We thank Naranh Kiri Tith for his very interesting message which we reproduce in its entirety below. We made a meticulous inquiry with our fellow countrymen in Cambodia and abroad as well. In all, unanimous, the problem to be faced is : How to release Cambodia from the vietnamese domination ?

Message from Naranh Kiri Tith :

« September 28, 2006
Dear Prasit:
Thank you for sending the letter by Julio Jeldres to the PM of Australia on Hun Sen coming visit to that country. I sincerely believe that Julio Jeldres is defending Cambodia's interests. But, I think he does tell the whole truth, especially on who brought Hun Sen to power. Sihanouk is the one. Without Sihanouk Hun Sen would not have an easy time. Now it is clear that Sihanouk (and Monique) is with Hun Sen 100 percent (please, look at all the supporting documents in my web site:
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeof03b/).
Please, read also the documents pasted below to better get what I am trying to day. The major power have already decide to go stability than real reform in Cambodia, especially when they know that Sihanouk is behind Hun Sen 100 percent. One of the major problems with most Cambodians is the lack of knowledge of what other important countries leaders are doing regarding Cambodia's destiny. Best regards. N. Tith »


The exchanges in the democratic way of all subjects concerning the past, the current situation and the future of our dear homeland are indispensable to enlighten and to encourage the multiform struggles in order to release our country of the vietnamese domination. In your above message we raise a very interesting passage:

« One of the major problems with most Cambodians is the lack of knowledge of what other important countries leaders are doing regarding Cambodia's destiny. » We would like to clarify that « other important countries », are mainly our two neighbours Vietnam, Thailand and also major powers, in particular Japan, the United States, China and France. It is important to take into account also the conflicts of their geostrategic interests. It is necessary to always remind that our two neighbors and all the major powers think only of their selfish interests. They do make only our fundamental national interests as show numerous of our recent experiences : Sihanouk relied in France and in China, Lon Nol in the United States. Always let us have in the spirit the will letter of Sirik Matak refusing to flee in a cowardly manner his homeland with the ambassador of the United States in April 1975.[1]

About France, we reproduce below a passage of Mak Phoeun’s article, title: « The border of Cambodia and Vietnam of the XVIIth century during the establishing of the French protectorate through the Khmer Royal Columns (chronicles) » (La frontière du Cambodge et le Vietnam du XVIIè siècle à l’instauration du protectorat français présentée à travers les chroniques royales khmères), in the book « The Borders of Vietnam » (Les Frontières du Vietnam), directed by P. B. Lafont, Edited by L’Harmattan, Paris 1989, page 148 :

« In 1858, while the Frenchmen were operating in Vietnamese country, the Khmer governor of Peam, Ukana Rajasetthi named Kaep, went to take back Treang Troey Thbaung's province (viêt. Tinh-bien), on order of king Hariraks Rama (Ang Tuon), and also attack the provinces of Bassac, Preah Trâpeang, Kramuon Sâr and Moat Chrouk. After the power accession in 1860 of king Narottam - Norodom of the European papers - the Khmer royal columns note that this monarch made the same governor as his Minister of war and confided him again as commander operating the troops in the South of Prêk Chik's canal. In a note drafted by Doudart de Lagrée, this one mentions that following hostilities between Khmers and Vietnamese about Cam (Chams) and Malays, the governor Kaep pursued the Vietnamese, Cam and the Malay until Treang Troey Thbaung, remained there, and sent the taxes regularly to Oudong « without any objection from Annamites », until the arrival of the Frenchmen, which amount to saying that since 1858 events Cambodians had become again master of a part of their former territories located in the South of Prêk Chik's canal, in particular this Treang Troey Thbaung's province which, starting from the central part of Prêk Chik's canal over the region of Svay Tong (Tritôn), extended at least until Phnom Thom (Nui-sâp) where is the Krâmuon Sâr's canal. »

Let us mention that the linear border is an European idea. In Mak Phoeun's article mentioned above, on page 142, there is a map showing the setting-up of the Vietnamese settler in Cochinchina between the XVIIth century and the first half of the XIXth century. This map shows that the Vietnamese is far from pertaining to the majority before the Frenchmen's arrival.

Another map of Indochina in the book called : « A winter in Cambodia Souvenirs of an official completed mission in 1880-1881 » by Mr. Edgar Boulanger, engineer of the Departments of civil engineering, the second edition, revised and increased, Alfred Mame and Son Editors, Paris 1888, page 361, show that the borders of Cochinchina are very far in the Southeast of the current borders.

Confirmation by a french historian :

« With the occupation and the installation of the Frenchmen in Cochinchina - installation which sometimes leaned on the active complicity of the authorities and the local Cambodian population. » In note: « What has been took place in the province of Soc Trang, partially connected to the vietnamese empire since 1840 only, while to repress the vietnamese's hostility, the Frenchmen replace everywhere of the vietnamese cantons, the leaders and the vice-leaders by Cambodian civil servants. Once the peace returned, the province will be reorganized in the vietnamese and the local power returned to the Vietnamese.". »[2]

In sum, it is necessary to consider, as a constant datum of our problem, that Major powers defend first and above all, their geostrategic interests. In these conditions how trying to find solid bases to unify our fellow countrymen in their multiform struggles to release our country of the vietnamese domination? That is the main problem that all of us have to face.

On the other hand, we do not agree with your assertion : «The major power have already decide to go stability than real reform in Cambodia, especially when they know that Sihanouk is behind Hun Sen 100 percent.”

Sihanouk had started his descent to the hells from the moment when he agreed to meet Hun Sen, on December 2nd, 1987, at Fère-en-Tardenois (France), such Hun Sen, who is an unknown on the international level and he is completely subordinated to the Hanoi's orders. It was the French President François Mitterrand who was the go-between. Is it a hazard ?

Four months ahead, a Cambodian bimonthly, in french language, published in Brussels (Belgium) "Perspectives", in its first number dated : September-October 1987, published an article entitled : « The Negotiations and the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) » signed by « Sethik, in August 25th 1987 »[3].

This article warned Sihanouk against the trap tightened by the VCP by accepting to meet Hun Sen, in principle without any condition as declared, but in reality in the Hanoi's conditions.

Now, politically Sihanouk is death. But say that the position of major powers depends on its attitude towards Hun Sen, is it not a way of giving him too much honor and value ?

Now Ranariddh, in his turn, is also death, politically. But we have many things to learn from his activities which leaded to this end. During the elections of 1993, Ranariddh had gone out victorious. But he did not known how to place properly qualify and valuable people, as staffs capable of countering the schemes of Hun Sen's clan. The only man capable of making a good work was Rainsy, placing in one of the keys position of the true power: the Ministry of Economy and Finances. Unfortunately Rainsy was removed by Ranariddh later on, not only of his ministerial post, but also of his MP immunity and Representative's seat, against all the most elementary democratic principles. The said ministry is immediately occupied by a loyal VCP’s supporter. By acting so Ranariddh sowed the division within his own party in the only benefit of Hun Sen's clan. Then the VCP is going to use this division to weaken and reduce gradually the cohesion within Funcinpec and finally destroy his credibility.

But after the elections of July 2003, by creating with Rainsy, the Alliance of Democrats, Ranariddh restored hope to all Cambodian patriots. This Alliance stood on Cambodian’s dignity for one year. Finally Hun Sen was obliged to use a new stratagem, as we all know, always with promises ever held. In July 2004, Ranariddh agreed to give full powers to Hok Lundy-Hun Sen's clan, against promises which will quickly be betrayed. To overcome the hesitations within his party, Ranariddh made once again new infringements for the most elementary democratic principles, by imposing the package votes with freehand to the parliament, on subjects so fundamental as the amendments of the constitution and joint with the CPP in forming the new parliament then finally the new government. It is a new betrayal and treachery towards Rainsy. By doing it, did Ranariddh realize that he signed his political death? Now thing is done and Ranariddh is obliged to emigrate. Will Funcinpec survive ?

Now, the VCP is sowing the seed of division within the SRP. Will Rainsy know how to learn from activities of Sihanouk and from Ranariddh ? Does Rainsy has a political program, other than to fight for democracy and against the corruption ? Does Rainsy has a team, a strong headquarter composing by warrant officer solidly united around the well defined objectives ? Does Rainsy team has established relations and connections with high-level intellectuals Cambodian and international, in particular with historians ? Does Rainsy has close relations with managers of national and international businessmen, in particular with big oil companies ? Or is Rainsy the next one allowing to be fool by Hun Sen fallacious promises ?

What lessons, does Rainsy learn from recent vote of his members of parliament (MP) ?

a) MPs of the SRP have just voted for a law obliging the MP to self censure. This law is unique in this kind in a democratic parliament.

b) MPs of the SRP have just voted for a law on the adultery, regulating then Cambodian's private life.

c) During these votes, the MPs of the SRP were not united.

Hok Lundy-Hun Sen's clan is not going to exploit these mistakes stressing contradictions within the SRP, finally destroying it as it was the case of Funcinpec ?

(To be followed…)

Notes : Cet article est aussi disponible en français sur demande
[1] Sirik Matak’s Letter to the US ambassador :
Excellence and dear friend,
I thank you very sincerely for your letter and for your offer to leading us towards the freedom. Regrettably! I may not leave in a so cowardly way.
As for you and your big country, I would never believe a single moment that you would abandon people who chose freedom. You refused us your protection; we cannot do anything. You leave and I wish that you and your country find the happiness under the sky.
But, remind that, if I die here, in my country which I love, to bad, because we were all born and we have to die one day. I committed only one mistake, it was to believe you and to believe the Americans.
Please accept, Excellence, my dear friend, my loyal and friendly feelings.
Sirik Matak

[2] « Le Cambodge et la colonisation française », by Alain Forest, Edition L’Harmattan, Paris 1980, page 434.
[3] Readers interested in the subject matter of this document are invited to write to khemarajati@sympatico.ca