It is with great respect and interest that I read Trong (Prince) Sisowath Siri Matak’s letter. Indeed, I came across that letter a few years ago; and despite I have read it several times since then, the emotion still runs high in me every time I re-read it.
Over the past few days, I have closely followed the debate at Khmer-Avenir forum over the content of the letter and the related events in the 1970’s. Based on what have been said or written throughout the debate, it is clear that the division among our people over the event of March 18, 1970 still runs deep as it did forty years ago. The so-called republicans and royalists still regrettably blame each other for the personal and national tragedies resulted from the March 18, 1970 event.
At this point, I am not sure if it really matters who was right and who was wrong back then. What matters the most is that we all try to learn from it and hopefully we can do something to prevent similar tragedy in the future.
When the Mar 18, 1970 event took place, for many urban elites, it was the right thing to do to get the Viet-cong out of the country, and for that reason the republicans enjoyed tremendous support from the urban population. I still recalled many young people, including one of my uncles, lining up to volunteer for the military service to fight the Viet-cong. Sadly, the republicans quickly lost control over the country as the abuses of power and corruption became rampant from the highest to the lowest government offices.
The republicans’ experience showed that it took more than the “good will or intention” of a few leaders and citizens to put the country on the path to prosperity. The same can be said for the Khmer Rouge regime whose movement started with noble intention to liberate the country from foreign domination, and corruption among other things.
Our history is full of glory and tragedy, yet we refuse to accept that ultimately the fate of the Nation depends on every one of us, not just a few leaders or Samaritans. We all have an important role to play and contribution to make. As frustrating as it may sound, pointing the fingers does not morally absolve us from the suffering of our nation. Could we have done more to help the Nation? In that sense, we all share the blame.
Regardless what some may think or say, Trong Sisowath Siri Matak bravely fought and died for what he believed was right for the country. I could only wish that more of us have his courage and fortitude. Let’s be united and work together to honour his memory.
Truly yours,
Davan Long
================
Chers compatriotes,
C'est avec un grand respect et d'intérêt que j'ai lu la lettre de Trong Sisowath Siri Matak. En effet, j’ai obtenu une copie de cette lettre il y a quelques années, et malgré que je l'ai lu à plusieurs reprises depuis lors, j’ai toujours un sentiment triste chaque fois que je relis.
Au cours des derniers jours, j'ai suivi de près le débat au Forum Khmer-Avenir sur le contenu de cette lettre et les événements dans les années 1970. Basé sur ce qui a été dit ou écrit au cours du débat, il est clair que la division parmi notre peuple concernant l'événement du 18 mars 1970 demeure aussi profonde qu'elle ne l’était il y a quarante ans. Les soi-disant républicains et les royalistes continuent de blâmer les uns les autres pour les tragédies personnelles et nationales entraînées par l’événement du 18 mars.
En ce moment, je ne suis pas sûr si c'est vraiment important de juger qui avait raison et qui avait tort à l'époque. Ce qui importe le plus, c'est que nous essayons tous d'apprendre de cet événement et arrivons à faire quelque chose pour empêcher la tragédie semblable à l'avenir.
Pour beaucoup d'élites urbaines, l’événement du 18 mars 1970, était nécessaire pour faire sortir le Viet-congs du pays, et pour cette raison, les républicains obtenaient un soutien spontané de la population urbaine. J'ai encore rappelé de nombreux jeunes, dont un de mes oncles, se portaient volontaire pour le service militaire pour combattre les Viet-congs. Malheureusement, les républicains ont rapidement perdu le contrôle du pays parce que l'abus du pouvoir et la corruption est devenue endémique dans les bureaux du gouvernement.du plus haut au plus bas
L'expérience des républicains nous a clairement montré qu’il a fallu plus que « la bonne volonté et intention », de quelques dirigeants et citoyens pour pouvoir mener le pays sur la voie de la prospérité. La même chose peut être dite pour le régime des Khmers rouges dont le mouvement a commencé avec une noble intention de libérer le pays de la domination étrangère, et de la corruption entre autres.
Notre histoire est pleine de gloire et de tragédie, mais nous refusons d'accepter que finalement le destin du pays repose sur chacun de nous tous, pas seulement une poignée de dirigeants ou de Samaritains. Nous avons tous un rôle important à jouer et une contribution à apporter. Aussi frustrant que cela puisse paraître, pointant les doigts ne nous rendent pas innocent moralement vis-à-vis a la souffrance de notre nation. Aurions-nous pu faire plus pour aider la patrie? En ce sens, nous partageons tous les blâmes..
Peu importe ce que certains pensent ou disent, Trong Sisowath Siri Matak a bravement combattu et sacrifie sa vie pour ce qu'il croyait être bon pour le pays. Je ne peux que souhaite qu’il y a plus de gens parmi nous qui ont son courage et sa détermination. Soyons unis et travaillons ensemble pour honorer sa mémoire.
Fraternellement vôtre,
Long Davan
12 comments:
Not me for sure to honor Siri Matak memory.His letter can not fool me of his real bad intention. Remember, Siri Matak forced Lon Nol to sign the coup document with a gun so the national assembly could proceed the debate of removing Sihanouk from power the next day.He knew so well that America was going to leave SE Asia,but his ambition blinded him.May be Long Boreth folks(?) only that can tolerate his crime.
According to the letter, I picked up corruption and oppression were the issues behind the destruction. Although, corruption and oppression happened long before PM Hun Sen but if we are not careful, the history will repeat itself. Corruption and oppression were the main forces that destroyed our country again and again which caused many movements to find equality, justice, erase the unfairness and provided opportunities for other to rise up. Unfortunately, each regime that came to power became the oppressor and corruptor instead of caring for the nation. Although, KR has good philosophy to find equality for all but became extremist while the top leaders well feed and the rest starv to death. If they were hungry and stole a corn, they were executed for petty crime. As Buddha said, you have live in the middle, not too tight, too loose, just right.
after all, sirikmatak, got poor-weak politics, he sucked, betrayed our leader, betrayed his own family..
in history, no 1 do that in the world,
betrayed his own family, because to loves POWER. it was SUCKED n STUPID
HE is a traitor, he was the real, real traitor, loved POWERS so much
at the end, not even USA cared,
This letter should have said Cambodia needs a Miss.Cambodia to represent our country and culture in Miss.Universe so Khmer girls won't feel insecure!!
The first commentator was correct, Lon Nol did want to remove the King. However, the King proclamation blaming Lon Nol is wrong. The King himself knew that he needs help and nothing that he can do to remove the VC so what he used Lon Nol as his escape goat...my father was a commander during that time and he knew about this as well...This is the fact.
Cambodia could have greeted and meet many people from different countries if she competed in Miss.Universe. But sadly she chose not to and remained unknown to many countries and the world probably forever!!
These ASEAN countries,culture and beauty are known to the whole world and all competed in Miss.Universe and are all developed.
Known countries,culture and beauties to the world and competes in Miss.Universe!!
1.Indonesia
2.Philippines
3.Singapore
4.Thailand
5.Vietnam
6.Malaysia
Unknown countries, culture and beauty to the world probably forever and least developed countries who don't compete in Miss.Universe.
1.Cambodia- We Khmer's are so lame that we are on this list of unknowns!!
2.Myanmar
3.Laos
4.Brunei
Sihanouk had warned Khmer communists that if they push hard (with theirs agenda)he will let the military take over the situation. Chau Seng in turn warned Sihanouk that Lon Nol may become the next Suharto.Lon Nol himself however never want to take over Sihanouk,but he would play along if the head of state insists him to do so. Inn Tam was not sure whether the whole event was genuine or Sihanouk and Lon Nol have schemed the situation just to get rid of the communists (Khmer and Viet).
Siri Matak on the other hand had definitely wanted Sihanouk out or even dead. He thought he was supposed to be the king after the death of the king Munivong and again after the death of king Suramrit. That is why he staged the coup against Sihanouk regardless of the Viets or the KR,but he used the pretext of chasing out the Viets for his own benefit(popularity).
Sirimatak had a long ambition to the power and throne of Cambodia, being quite upset that the throne had been given to the Norodom line by the French instead of his line, the Sisowath after the death of King Sisowath Monivong.
The French was smart enough to exploit the animosity and rivalry between the 2 royal lines of Cambodian monarchy for their interests and so in the end both of them served France's interests willingly and eagerly in order to get favors from the French.
Stupidity, greed and ambition of her leaders are the real causes of Cambodia's downfall!
Sirimatak's letter to Sihanouk is only one side of the story to make him look good and patriotic and also because he realized that his doomed time is coming.
Instead of toppling Sihanouk, he should have worked with the Prince, even though the prince's policy of neutrality was not perfect, in the fight against the Vietcongs and the North Vietnamese army who came to Cambodia illegally.
It does not matter what, in time of resistance to the invaders, you work together and settle your differences through peaceful means later and not through a coup or a lotus revolution or whatever you want to call it, which can only brings destruction to Cambodia.
Anet Khmer
TO: Anet khmer,,,
very good articles, it was made sense
that what I though,
Sirimatak, he was the real traitor, betrayed his own families.. betrayed the nation
made me & u , to stay in KR regimes for 3years + 20days, F..worsa
8:44 PM and 7:46 AM, For people who quickly jumped to idolize and worship Sirik Matak as a hero, they did not know Sirik Matak very well. Sirik Matak had longed wish to take throne, but felt very bad when the throne was passed over to Sihanouk in 1941. Since then he had always harbor ambition to retake the throne. He had plotted many things behind Sihanouk's back, including, along with Lon Nol, conniving with Dap Chhuon in 1959 to topple Sihanouk from power. Sihanouk entrusted him with many important positions within the government because he his cousin and was married to the sister of Sihanouk's wife Monique, but at the end betrayed Sihanouk. And again in 1970, Sirik Matak had pointed a gun into Lon Nol's head to force him to stage a coup against Sihanouk. It was said that at that time Lon Nol did not want to stage a coup against Sihanouk. 30 years later, Sirik Matak's son, Sisowath Sirirath, had betrayed Sihanouk's son Ranariddh when he joined with Nhiek Bunchhay to depose Ranariddh in a party coup d'etat in 2006. About 10 years earlier, Sihanouk had jokingly told Sirirath publicly "not to betray Sihanouk like what your father did to me". Eventually, Sirirath did follow his father's path and betrayed the Norodoms who had given him many important positions, like Minister of Defense and ambassador to the UN in the 1990s and early 2000s.
There are views that the reasons Sirik Matak decided to stay back in Cambodia was not because he really loved the country, but because he had hoped that, with Nol Lon and other important leaders had already left the country, that he would be lucky enough to be the top leader of Cambodia and become the president of the Khmer Republic. Now, because of his stupidity, he had paid for with his life.
Many people, including me, may not know Sirik Matak enough to properly judge him. Most of the bad comments about Sirik Matak are nothing more than mere speculation.
As for Sihanuk, no one needs to speak about him - his records and legacy undeniably speak for themselves.
By the way, does anyone wonder why Sihanuk claims everyone - including his relatives, the republicans, the KR, the Vietcongs ...etc betray him? To this day, I don't think Sihanuk realizes it has always been he who betrays himself. Only his flip-flop self-serving policy that will follow him to his grave yard.
Post a Comment