Extremely interesting document! A great explanation of how things worked out in 1907 and even before with these 1867 and 1893 treaties. I must say that Siam is THE historical ennemy of the Khmer people (and it still remains today with the Preah Vihear dispute and the use of cluster bombs).
France might have colonized Cambodia for a while taking away its sovereignty, it still did good things for the Kingdom such as pushing the Siamese back into their boundaries. Actually, without France, Laos and Cambodia could have become Thai territories, especially if noone had been there to counter the expansionist plans of King Chulalongkorn. Siam was surely superior, technically and economically, to the Vietnamese and would have easily taken power on Cambodia and Laos, that were already "protectorates" of Bangkok.
I must say I'd rather have the French than the Siamese setting a protectorate on Khmer land. The French granted independence to Cambodia and Laos in 1953 because Paris is so far away, they had no interest to stay around and risk costly wars and guerillas for years and years. However, if the Thais had conquered these territories, it is very sure they would have never let them go since Cambodia and Laos are both adjacent to Thailand's borders. Having these two territories would have enabled the Thais to become the largest power in Southeast Asia. Thailand would have been a huge country between Myanmar and Vietnam.
True, without the French Protectorate Cambodia east of the Mekong river would have been swallowed by Vietnam and the western part of the Mekong would have been completely annexed by Thailand.
Of course any Cambodian would have preferred France over Thailand as a colonizer, but I would say that the majority of Khmers would want to be under Thai colony than the Vietnamese colony for the simple fact that the Thai people have similar characteristics, similar culture, religion and language to the Khmers and they have treated Khmers far better than the Vietnamese treated Khmers, just ask Khmer Surin and they will tell you that. Vietnam, on the other hand, had totally different culture, language, religion (Cambodians are Theravada Buddhists while Vietnamese are Mahayanist Buddhists), but above all, they treated Khmers like animals, just ask the Khmer Krom and they will tell you that.
If we say that if it hadn't been the French as Cambodia's protectorate, Cambodia would have divided up amongst the two hyenas of Siem(Thailand) and Youn(Vietnam). If that is the case, then we can also say that if it hadn't been the fall of Khmer Empire, the nation of Thailand wouldn't had been borned and the Annam(Vietnam) would still be under the armpits of China. Annam wouldn't be able conquered Champa and Khmer Krom(Cochine-China).
Whatever the case, that is just a BIG IF. The way I see it, call it destiny or whatever, Khmer/Cambodia was not meant to die, unlike Champa. Khmer is the orginal people of the land. They will always going to be around regardless how hard the Siem and Viet tried to erase us. Just as Cambodia is slowly emerging, others will try to remind Khmer/Cambodia of our weakness. They know deep down in their hearts and soul, they fear our strength because of our proven past.
3 comments:
Extremely interesting document! A great explanation of how things worked out in 1907 and even before with these 1867 and 1893 treaties. I must say that Siam is THE historical ennemy of the Khmer people (and it still remains today with the Preah Vihear dispute and the use of cluster bombs).
France might have colonized Cambodia for a while taking away its sovereignty, it still did good things for the Kingdom such as pushing the Siamese back into their boundaries. Actually, without France, Laos and Cambodia could have become Thai territories, especially if noone had been there to counter the expansionist plans of King Chulalongkorn. Siam was surely superior, technically and economically, to the Vietnamese and would have easily taken power on Cambodia and Laos, that were already "protectorates" of Bangkok.
I must say I'd rather have the French than the Siamese setting a protectorate on Khmer land. The French granted independence to Cambodia and Laos in 1953 because Paris is so far away, they had no interest to stay around and risk costly wars and guerillas for years and years. However, if the Thais had conquered these territories, it is very sure they would have never let them go since Cambodia and Laos are both adjacent to Thailand's borders. Having these two territories would have enabled the Thais to become the largest power in Southeast Asia. Thailand would have been a huge country between Myanmar and Vietnam.
True, without the French Protectorate Cambodia east of the Mekong river would have been swallowed by Vietnam and the western part of the Mekong would have been completely annexed by Thailand.
Of course any Cambodian would have preferred France over Thailand as a colonizer, but I would say that the majority of Khmers would want to be under Thai colony than the Vietnamese colony for the simple fact that the Thai people have similar characteristics, similar culture, religion and language to the Khmers and they have treated Khmers far better than the Vietnamese treated Khmers, just ask Khmer Surin and they will tell you that. Vietnam, on the other hand, had totally different culture, language, religion (Cambodians are Theravada Buddhists while Vietnamese are Mahayanist Buddhists), but above all, they treated Khmers like animals, just ask the Khmer Krom and they will tell you that.
If we say that if it hadn't been the French as Cambodia's protectorate, Cambodia would have divided up amongst the two hyenas of Siem(Thailand) and Youn(Vietnam). If that is the case, then we can also say that if it hadn't been the fall of Khmer Empire, the nation of Thailand wouldn't had been borned and the Annam(Vietnam) would still be under the armpits of China. Annam wouldn't be able conquered Champa and Khmer Krom(Cochine-China).
Whatever the case, that is just a BIG IF. The way I see it, call it destiny or whatever, Khmer/Cambodia was not meant to die, unlike Champa. Khmer is the orginal people of the land. They will always going to be around regardless how hard the Siem and Viet tried to erase us. Just as Cambodia is slowly emerging, others will try to remind Khmer/Cambodia of our weakness. They know deep down in their hearts and soul, they fear our strength because of our proven past.
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