A Change of Guard

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Monday 30 July 2012

Who is Responsible for Cambodia’s Killing Fields?

By Nick Gier,
New West Unfiltered
23rd April, 2010

With the 35th anniversary of the fall of Saigon coming up on April 30, most of us forget that the Cambodian capital fell to the Communists the same year on April 17. Led by Pol Pot and his henchmen, the Khmer Rouge launched an insane campaign of retribution that led to the death of about 2 million people.

In 1968 the Khmer Rouge numbered only a few hundred comrades, so what made it possible for the most extreme element of the Cambodia left to come to power?

Norodom Sihanouk, now the beloved “King-Father of Cambodia,” right-wing leader Lon Nol, the North Vietnamese, Communist China, and Richard Nixon must all share in the blame.

In March 1945 Sihanouk declared Cambodia’s independence, but the French, with U.S. support, reclaimed its colonial possessions in Indochina. While Ho Chi Minh went to war with the French, Sihanouk remained staunchly anti-Communist and the French allowed him retain his throne.

Cambodia’s independence was granted in late 1953, and the French were forced to leave Indochina after their defeat at Dien Bien Phu in May of 1954.

While remaining officially anti-Communist and neutral during the Second Indochina War (our conflict), Sihanouk allowed the Vietnamese Communists to move supplies along on his side of the border and to use the port of Sihanoukville.

In March of 1970 Lon Nol, a right-wing army general deposed Sihanouk and condemned him to death in abstentia, but the Cambodian people rallied to their prince’s side. Lon Nol insisted the North Vietnamese leave their Cambodian bases, but their response was to support Pol Pot and send 40,000 troops to the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

Sihanouk allied himself with Pol Pot and, mainly as a result Sihanouk’s prestige, Khmer Rouge forces grew from 6,000 to 50,000. Just like the corrupt South Vietnamese generals on whom we lavished support, Lon Nol did not have a chance against disciplined Communist soldiers.

In 1969 President Richard Nixon ordered secret bombing attacks in Cambodia and Laos, and then launched an invasion of Cambodia on May 1, 1970. The first killing fields were Cambodian villages where, from 1969-1973, hundreds of thousands of people died by B-52 bombing raids.

Yale historian Ben Kiernan has done the most extensive surveys of the actions of the Pol Pot regime. Over 60 percent of those interviewed said that they turned to the Khmer Rouge because B-52s destroyed their villages.

After Pol Pot ordered several major cross border attacks, the Vietnamese finally lost their patience with the Khmer Rouge. Early in 1979 they launched an invasion of Cambodia and the Pol Pot regime crumbled within months. The Khmer Rouge were able to hold out for years in the jungles, primarily because of Chinese and North Korean aid.

Because President Ronald Reagan did not want to give any credit to the Vietnamese Communists, he opposed giving the Khmer Rouge’s UN seat to the new government. At the same time the U.S. gave aid to rebel forces who were opposed to the Vietnamese imposed government.

The indirect effect U.S. aid was to support the Khmer Rouge, who were in a coalition with the other rebels, and whose troops levels went back up to 35,000. The Vietnamese had to expend considerable effort to defeat Pol Pot’s forces, and he was finally forced over the border where the pro-American Thai government protected him.

In 1989 the Vietnamese withdrew all of its forces, and under UN auspices elections were held in 1993. Thirty years too late, the first Khmer Rouge official, simply known as “Duch,” is now being tried for crimes against humanity.

For the first time since the French Protectorate of 1863, the Cambodian people can pursue their own affairs without adverse external interference. They no longer have to fear a madmen such as Pol Pot or dread quarter-ton bombs dropping from 30,000 feet.

Nick Gier was co-president of the Student-Faculty Committee to End the War in Vietnam in 1965-66 at Oregon State University. He taught philosophy at the University of Idaho for 31 years. Read or listen to all of his columns at www.NickGier.com

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

The yuon did not thank Khmer but steal more land and sea from us. And the USA and french retaliate us Khmer by ignoring yuon and Siam encroaching our borders. And even the UN are doing nothing on the things after 1993 like 2005 treaty by hun sen

Anonymous said...

Sihanouk is the real KILLER. PERIOD.
The King Killing it own peoples for siding with Lonol after Lonol lost the war to KR Sihanouk is the head of the KR he punish his people by killing them. Thanks for Vietnam for saving us from the killing field. Vietnam now OWN Cambodia. It's all started with the KING now we lost everything. Not even Country.

Anonymous said...

In Sihanouk's life, he has 3 important mistakes:
1. He supports North Vietnamese to wipe out the South Vietnamese, causing the US to bomb Cambodia.

2. He called for Cambodians to go to jungles to fight against the Lon Nol's government and later on, we got killing field.

3. He brought communism back to Cambodia by allowing the communist party leaded by Hun Sen to a live. The UN spent millions of dollars for nothing.

Anonymous said...

Sdach Sinorook+usa +Yiekcong+China+Russia...Nixon +Henry kissinger plus polpot etc...etc.All these people were responsibled for killingfield directs and indirects.Sdach Sinorook was 1000% responsibled for the killingfield,because of his revenged of General Lon Not ousted his ass from flamebboyete life style and power as a king,that wise,Sdach Sinorook called all his royal servants to rebuked against Lon Not gov't.The k.R was borned to full blood,polpot was created,the beginning of the killingfield had started....

Kmenhwatt

Anonymous said...

Stop blaming Khmer to Khmer. If you still do then might as well give more land and sea to them. And shut up. Or create more soldiers to kill more Khmer cus they disagree with you instead of fighting your real enemy. I believe as long we are not fight each other, any leader can lead to good things if our priority are to save our land from shrinking.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 11:16 AM. For the 4:09PM don't dream. There is no land for Cambodia. Cambodia own by Vietnam it is only the name that don't change. And YES The King is the Killer.

Would you go to war to a country that attacking you and winning the war and come back to your country only dead soldiers and a body bag? NO I DON'T THINK SO. WINNER TAKE ALL. Look at Israel in modern day.

Anonymous said...

To 4:09pm
We are discussion to the question that asked "who's responsible for killingfield"There were fighting here,either you are agree or not agree.we know that land lost,lives lost,because of illbreed K.R.that started after King Sinorook called from Beiijng to
fight American or Lon Nol.

Instead of joint Americans troops to fight off Yiekcong Sinorook open three door for Yiekcong to hide themselves in our jungle using Cambodia as battle's ground,therefore,Sinorook (King)was responsible for all and his counterpart Yiekcong played major's role in the killingfield.

Anonymous said...

I blamed US president Nixon and stupid bastard Henry Kissenger evil advisor of Nixon for creating killing field in cambodia......

Anonymous said...

This is why Prince Surimatak Sisowath refuse to come to US, because he got so mad with USA that time...He let khmer rouge kill him and his whole family instead.....

Anonymous said...

You can not win anything if you keep blaming Khmer to Khmer. Especailly fighting each others. I think we only kill each other only when our leader lose more land and sea.

Anonymous said...

I don't see anyone kill any body in here.I seen some people answered the question of who is responsible for killingfield? People in here answered with pro&conn.The only people killed khmer's innocent were Cpp thugs.Cpp putting khmers patriots in jail or kicked out them out of the country just because those compatriots disagree or opposed what was illegal that Cpp had done to out country or our people.

Discussions are not fighting,we talked about the past to remind younger generations to know the truth about our past that led to killingfield,and should be blamed.Sdach Sinorook should get the blamed.Why don't tribunal's court prosecute Sdach Sinorook? Can anyone answer me please!...?

Anonymous said...

The person who keeps seeing this discussion as Khmer kills Khmer is blind to the fact that Sihanouk and the current criminals in the CPP are the collaborators of the KR and the Vietnamese in killing Khmers. If one keeps avoiding the responsibility for one's mistakes, one will learn nothing and stupid mistakes will continue to be made unpunished - and Khmer people blood will continue to be spilled.Wake up and please do not continue to hide your head in the sand - realise those facts, accept them and punish those deemed responsible so that we can move forward so that Khmer will no longer kill Khmer in the future.

Anonymous said...

Yes might as well. Instead of Khmer only. Blame Khmer less then any other countries. I am sure that our leaders try to save our lands but most Khmer just can not unite. Why?????
.

Anonymous said...

4 things.
-Who provided the weapons: US B52 bombs + Chinese weapons to KR.
- Who pulled the triggers: KR + US bombs (kiling fiels)
- Who supports the killings: Chinese, North Koreans, US, Thailand.
- WHo benefit from the killings: Chinese, US creating a SOFT zone for their countries interests (just from the killings)