Vietnam was not the invader, but the saviour of Cambodians

Re: Look at the way Hun Sen behaves towards his Vietnamese masters -so submissive, but his behaviour towards Khmers are so arrogant! 

In response to: A Reader's New Year Challenge: You should brush up your history lessons, Mr. School Of Vice  

Anonymous said...

To Khmerization...

As I have said before, the issue of the island is not debatable, it belongs to Vietnam, and Vietnam reserves the right to station whatever it wants on the island, it does not have to ask anyone’s consent. I am certain Vietnam is not alone in this action. As for the disputed territories, Vietnam is working with friends and partners to resolve the complex issues to the satisfactory of all parties involved.

In regard to the history of Champa and Khmer Krom, it is what it is- history. Constantly ranting about it is silly. It is not wise to dig up past historical grievances in order to justify one’s hostility against other people, it is unacceptable among the community of civilized nations. Even Cambodia’s history has shown that the Khmers were not the innocent victims of foreign conquests and subjugation as they would like to portray themselves to be. They were party to the act of military conquests, they vied for power, land, and resources, and at one time, they were the subjugators. Cambodians are very proud of their so-called Khmer Empire. How else was that empire carved but from the pointed end of the swords. In fact, Angkor Wat and many of its ancient temples were built by slaves from lands that it had subjugated. Champa was among the victims of Khmer military adventurism. Had the Khmer won, they would not be the one crying foul, they would be the victor and subjugator. Cambodia is simply the end result of failed military recklessness against its neighbors. No respectable international scholars and historians will give you the time of day to listen to your highly subjective, distorted, and falsify history.  

It is not hard to understand the current political situation of Cambodia or any other country, if you look at it from a realistic and pragmatic viewpoint, something, it seems to me, many Cambodians lack. It is that lack of pragmatism that has caused Cambodia dearly. The truth is Vietnam is not encroaching upon Cambodia, it is not trying to subjugate Cambodia, and it is not plotting to turn Cambodia into Vietnam or Cambodians in Vietnamese. Those are false and groundless accusations leveled by overseas Cambodians and a few insignificant opposition members in order to advance their agenda because they play very little to no relevancy in Cambodia’s political affair. Like all country, Vietnam is pursuing its interests, and it is in Vietnam’s interests to maintain a pro-Vietnam government in Cambodia, a government that is friendly to Vietnam, the same goes with Laos. There is historical reason for it. While the world watched and did absolutely nothing as the Khmer Rouge was destroying Cambodia, and launched unprovoked brutal attacks into Vietnam, in respsonse to the incursions, Vietnam along with the current leaders of Cambodia toppled the genocidal Khmer rouge, liberated the country, saved millions of people, and brought about the revival of Cambodia as we see it today. It is the most profound and true humanitarian act that the people of one country could do for the people of another. From that historical context, it is not hard to understand why the CPP is the current ruling government of Cambodia.

Every militarily capable country maintains and defends the strategic space adjacent to it. The US does not allow any foreign power to use Mexico to threaten it security, likewise, Vietnam would never allow any foreign power to use Cambodia to threaten its security. Both Cambodia and Laos are sovereign states, and could pursue independent foreign policies, so long as their policies do not threaten their neighbors. The oppositions and overseas Cambodians harbored hostile and malicious intentions towards Vietnam, and given the chance, they will commit acts of violence against innocent Vietnamese and their own countrymen they deemed working with Vietnam. Those are the same people who recently called for a Libya-style destruction of Cambodia because they harbored the delusion that it would help propel them to power in Cambodia. However, Cambodia will never again walk the path of self-destruction. As Hun Sen made it clear, he would continue to rule Cambodia into his 90s, after him, members of the CPP will rule Cambodia. Vietnam will make certain that is as true as the rising and setting of the sun.