Historical View of the Vietnamese atrocities against the subjugated Khmer people

It is a general understanding that to understand the present, one must try to understand the past conditions. Thus, it is for this purpose that this article is written up. From the various written sources of recorded realities, I’d like to present to the readers with this topic: Vietnamese Atrocities Against The Khmer People. I EXPECT all willing visiting readers to be mature in all aspects regarding this historical issue so that meaningful closure and perspectives can be fostered to promote humanistic peaceful meaningful interactions. After all, has it not been already obvious that all human beings regardless of the so-called ethnic divisions and other aspects have similar needs?

According to an internet book called “Vietnam—A Country Study” by Louis R. Mortimer (1987), the present-day Vietnamese still think that they are culturally and politically superior than the Khmer people because Cambodia has not been able to escape the Vietnamese orbit. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/vntoc.html

Similarly, another internet book called “CAMBODIA - A Country Study” edited by
Russell R. Ross (1987), tells about Cambodia’s past “vassal relationships” with the Vietnamese invaders. The book goes on to say that the Vietnamese invaders subjectively and brutally treated the Khmer population and the Khmer suffering and the dislocation caused by war were alike in many respects to Cambodian experiences in the 1970s. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/khtoc.html

In the 1970’s, Cambodia was the setting for the worst man-made catastrophe in the 20th century. The Cambodian people suffered the repeated South Vietnamese raids, the American carpet bombings, the civil wars, the forced labors, the mass killings, foreign invasion, and famine.

For the remainder of this article, I will now present the recorded pieces of evidence regarding the Vietnamese atrocities against the Khmer people.

From the early 17th century through the 19th century, the Vietnamese colonists had been exerting their pressure and control over Khmer large territories. Nineteenth-century Vietnamese officials in Cambodia ruled the middle part of the country and tried to compel Cambodians to adopt Vietnamese customs and culture. This clearly shows that the Vietnamese were ethnocentric as they did not respect the Khmer people’s values and way of life. (“CAMBODIA - A Country Study”)

The subjugated Khmer were evidently the victims of the Vietnamese superiority complex and ethnocentricity, when “the Vietnamese soldiers buried the Khmer laborers alive and used their heads as stands for a stove to boil water for the Vietnamese masters” during the 1813 forced labor of digging the Vinh Te canal. (Thach, 1996). (KHMER KROM: the plight of a people
Bunroeun Thach, Ph.D. (1996))

In 1841, the Vietnamese court of Hue beheaded a Khmer governor named Chavay Kuy in return for their recognition for the Khmer Krom people’s “right and freedom of worship, of following their traditional costumes, and practice their education in Khmer language”. (Thach, 1996).

In 1945, the Communist Vietnamese rounded up the Khmer Krom leaders and intellectuals and locked them all up in the rice granaries. Then the Vietnamese pour gasoline on them and last set fire on them alive. (Thach, 1996).

In 1956, the Ngo Dinh Diem government of South Vietnam stopped recognizing the Khmer nationality of the Khmer Krom people, but instead they were labeled as “Nguoi Viet goc Mien" or (Vietnamese of Khmer origin). (Thach, 1996).

In June 14, 1963, "Prince Sihanouk, Cambodia Chief of State, sent telegram to U.S. President John Kennedy, appealing for his intervention to stop the South Vietnamese's brutal suppression of the Cambodian Buddhist in Vietnam nonviolent protests". (Keo, 2003) http://www.geocities.com/khmerchronology/1960.htm

Consequently, in Aug. 27, 1963, "Cambodia broke off diplomatic ties with South Vietnam citing the Diem's regime border violation, persecution of Buddhists, and discrimination against Cambodian minorities in the Mekong Delta". (Keo, 2003).
http://www.geocities.com/khmerchronology/1960.htm

After 1976, the communist Vietnamese authorities persecuted many Khmer Krom Buddhist monks. They also imprisoned other Khmer Krom people who still experience atrocious sufferings until today. (Thach, 1996).

In 1979, the Vietnamese troops of “100,000” (per Byron) and “18,000” Khmer troops clashed with Pol Pot’s “73,000” Khmer Rouge troops. (Sharp, 2003) Eventually 225,000 Vietnamese troops controlled Cambodia. The Vietnamese and their ally were the victors.

Once in Cambodia, the Vietnamese soldiers wasted no time in seizing much of the existing Cambodian harvest. The tormented, malnourish, starving, weary skeletal Khmer people would soon experienced a new agony called famine. As a result, hundreds of them died in the first weeks of the Vietnamese invasion. (Sharp, 2003)

Unable to get an international recognition for their so-called “liberation” of Cambodia, the Vietnamese officials caluculating barred the United Nations, the Red Cross, and other smaller organizations to provide food and medical assistance to the Cambodian people. Those few international relief officials who were allowed to help the Cambodians were accused of being spies. (Sharp, 2003)

The Vietnamese artillery fire intended for the guerilla troops based along Thai-Cambodia border most often killed the innocent women, men, and children caught in between. (The Banyan Tree: Untangling Cambodian History
by Bruce Sharp (2003)) http://www.mekong.net/cambodia/banyan1.htm

In addition, the occupying Vietnamese in Cambodia implemented “the genocidal K5 plan” from 1984 to 1989. The Vietnamese authorities decided to close the Thai border. So Hanoi ordered a set up of defense line of bamboo wall that is 800 kilometers long. As a result, the Vietnamese officials forced and gathered together the hundreds of thousands of Khmer people from different provinces to “clear a strip of land three to four kilometers wide along the border, through forests and mountains; then to excavate trenches, to set up dams, to build bamboo fences lined with barbed wires and mine fields; and finally to open a strategic road running along the "wall", to convey troops and ammunition and monitor the frontier.” The Khmer laborers were not properly fed and sheltered. They were overworked and as a result, many “were decimated by malaria, starvation and landmines”. The Bamboo Wall: Cambodia After Pol Pot (Esmeralda Luciolli, 1988).

Back in Vietnam, many ethnic minority Khmer children do not speak Vietnamese and as a result these non-Vietnamese speakers struggle terribly during their first years of school. They can’t understand the concepts being taught and consequently the Vietnamese-only curriculum takes away from them the opportunity to truly take part in their education. The inability to keep up with schoolwork will eventually lead to the high dropout rates and in so doing increases the Khmer children’s chances of living a life of poverty. http://www.unicef.org.vn/kinder.htm

Based from the various mentioned above, it seems that the Khmer people are still the victims of the arrogant, ethnocentric Veitnamese.

FKR

cambodia's main focus should be on getting hun sen out of power and getting rid of the vietnamese influence on the govt. if any incident occurs between khmer and vietnamese or khmer and thai, khmer people need to settle it in a peaceful manner and don't be so quick to react to rumors when it could just be another political game played by hun sen. cambodia needs to move forward and develop good relations with her neighbors so cambodia can be rebuild.

Great post FKR, this post sums up pretty much the atrocities the Vietnamese committed against the Khmer people, I heard there were more. For example, they are still encroaching our borders today and demolish 200-400 year old Khmer temples to build roads and Vietnamese settlements. They set up a Pro-Vietnamese government(People don't like their government being a puppet to other people's government) etc.

Thank you for stopping by Menikani. Just like I said to Malay Ako that all Khmer ever want is peace, but their arrogant neighbor(s) just love to interfere and disprect the Khmer wish.

You know, Menikani, after I read that UNICEF's report and learned that the specific educational needs of little Khmer Krom childen in Vietnam are not being provided by the Vietnamese speaking only teachers and policy, I just feel sad for their future. Without proper educational skills, the Khmer Krom children would never escape life of poverty. The Vietnamese government must support the bilingual education that respects the Khmer language as a foundation to enable the Khmer Krom children to learn the necessary educational concepts in order to increase their chances to participate in their continuing educationa experience.

It is no wonder that the ethnic minority Khmer Krom people want out of Vietnam's control. It is obviously that the Vietnamese government and teachers are not concerning with the future of the Khmer Krom students.

cambodia's main focus should be on getting hun sen out of power and getting rid of the vietnamese influence on the govt.

Agreed. I just hope that the people are bold enough to VOTE him out next time.

if any incident occurs between khmer and vietnamese or khmer and thai, khmer people need to settle it in a peaceful manner and don't be so quick to react to rumors when it could just be another political game played by hun sen.

Yes, agreed. Your allusion to the anti-thai riot incident is well noted. It is both a shameful act and costly to the Khmer people.

cambodia needs to move forward and develop good relations with her neighbors so cambodia can be rebuild.

I do not think that the Khmer government has problem with that issue. After peace and security is the foundation for growth and developement, not to mention prosperity.

The problem is that Thailand and Vietnam still do not respect the legal territories of Cambodia. With that disrespect from the foreigners, it is hard for Cambodia to have any good relations with them.

I deeply apologize for the history between our two nations. I am sorry for what my ancestors did to your ancestors. I am sure we can work this problem out, but the time has not come. But it will come, I can guarantee you that.

Greeting Dai Viet,

I for one greatly appreciate your humble moral gesture. As we speak, do you know that the government of Vietnam still controls some of the Khmer legal territories? That is the reality for the Khmer people. Thailand also is quick to copy Vietnam's act by advancing its encroachment on the Cambodian border.

I hope that now you have a clearer view of why the victimized Khmer behave the way they do.

Thank you for the visit, Dai Viet.

Humbly yours,
FKR

To tell you the truth, I do not know that the Vietnamese government is controlling the Cambodian government, I have never heard of it. Moreover, I do hope that the people of Vietnam stop encroaching toward the borders of Cambodia.

I've read lots of ancient history between our two nations, and Vietnam did do some atrocities against the people of Cambodia. However, I don't hear or read anything from Cambodians about the Thai army killing innocent civilians of Cambodia, but all I hear is that the killing was done by Vietnamese.

Your neighbor,

The Great Country of Dai Viet

To tell you the truth, I do not know that the Vietnamese government is controlling the Cambodian government, I have never heard of it.

Dai Viet, the term puppet government of Hun Sen IMPLIES his subordination to Hanoi already. When Hun Sen led a coup against the first prime minister Prince Rannaridth, he was supported by Vietnamese special forces.

Moreover, I do hope that the people of Vietnam stop encroaching toward the borders of Cambodia.

Agreed. It has to stop.

I've read lots of ancient history between our two nations, and Vietnam did do some atrocities against the people of Cambodia. However, I don't hear or read anything from Cambodians about the Thai army killing innocent civilians of Cambodia, but all I hear is that the killing was done by Vietnamese.

Your acknowledgement is very moral. Even though the Thais were deeply influenced by the Khmer culture and customs, they also committed atrocities against the Khmer people. Khmer refugees expereienced many atrocious acts committed by the Thais on the Khmer people. I guarantee you that the Thais are not off the hook regarding their crimes against the Khmer people. I will soon write up a new article on the Thai atrocities against the Khmer people.


Your neighbor,

Likewise.

The Great Country Of Dai Viet

I am afraid that I can't boast about the status of Cambodia, but its land provides many opportunities to immigrants from Vietnam and other countries, for which my ancestors were one of them.

There is more to me than my Khmerness.
FKR

wtf? fkr, wake the fu-k up man. its 2004 not 1904. damn, I apologize on behalf of my viet brothaz that had committed these $hit on your peeps. azn pride all the way.

Greeting "azn_pyde_viet",

I expect you to respond to me in a polite appropriate manner. I'd like to refer you to the "forum guideline 1.04" as frequently pointed out by that administrator guy called "BEN".

"wtf? fkr, wake the fu-k up man. its 2004 not 1904."

Well, if you don't even care to read purpose of my article, then who am I to object to your present view? Keep your own view to yourself!

damn, I apologize on behalf of my viet brothaz that had committed these $hit on your peeps. azn pride all the way.

It seems sincere, but it is not quite. Rather it looks like your acknowledgement is coming out of your annoyance not your heart. So just keep it to yourself and be yourself.

Don't Get Banned By that Guy called "BEN".

Peace,
FKR

I knew it. FKR, my deepest apology.

What are you saying? You tell FKR to wake up but you also apologize. I'm a bit confused.

I've seen a documentary on Vietnamese atrocities in Cambodia. Reminds me alot about the Nanjing Massacre. Forgive but never Forget, that is what we should be doing.

Don't mind that poster, Vince.

Thank you for the visit. I really like your phrase: "We can forgive, but we can't forget." I feel sad about what the Japanese did to the Chinese in Nanjing. I guess my feeling reflects my ethnic tie to the Chinese and the humanity itself.

FKR

In order to promote good Vietnam-Cambodia relations I forgive all atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge on Vietnamese.

TRUE

FKR,

I would like to have your opinions on:

1. What do you have in mind with regard to removing both Thai and Viet political influence in Cambodia?

2. As far as I know, Hun Sen was forced to work with opposition groups due to the outcome of the last election. Isn't this a good beginning? If not, what would it take to improve the current working relationship?

It's nice to see an articulate Khmer advocating for a better Cambodia.

^^a good beginning will be when hun sen is out of power and no more vietnamese influence on the govt. cambodia can definitely do better without a vietnamese puppet govts. and they wouldn't be in the state they're in today.

That's ideal but how are you going to kick him out? He has the Cambodian army, police and Vietnamese soldiers behind his back. Furthermore, he has legitimacy because he was elected again in a UN-supervised election last year.

after the killing of union leader chea vichea, the khmer people are more united and determined. they protested against the killing and said it was a political assassination. khmer people will grow tired of this dictator and pretty soon hun sen will no longer have power or he'll be dead. i rather have him dead than be out of power though. khmer people living abroad are taking part in organizations and letters have been sent to the U.S. Congress about the political killings in cambodia.

FKR,
if you're interested, here's a link of an organization helping to make a difference in cambodia.

http://www.wccpd.org/

this is interesting..

Chea Vichea’s killers were murdered last month at Hun Sen’s house (4)
The killers of Chea Vichea, the union leader who was gunned down on 22 January 2004, could have been eliminated at a February 7 incident at Hun Sen’s house in Phnom Penh, when two of the prime minister’s bodyguards were mysteriously killed, their bodies immediately cremated, and the police “not allowed to make a report” (The Cambodia Daily, February 10: “Police To Ignore Deaths of 2 Hun Sen Guards”).
To assassinate opponents, the regime resorts to death squads, whose members are in turn killed after fulfilling their mission, so as to eliminate evidence and prevent any possible investigation in the future

also, here's the link with information obtained by the Khmer Intelligence.

http://www.khmerintelligence.org/1Q2004.html

Cambodians reunited with KhmerKrom to depose the Hun Sen and his slaughters in the short future...I hope the time is coming true!! I dislike Hun Sen Regime, too.
Because, his democrat doesn't making any constructive to the Cambodia country and doesn't making any progressive for the Cambodians's future. The only i can see is the Cambodians lives are deeper an deepest suffering, misery...The best way, we must to execute the Hun Sen first, then the CPP and kill them all after...
The VN Communist are the Big liar, and and too much cheating. Don't believe whatever the VN Communist say, But we have to watchout whatever they do! Now their lives almost the end of edge...They even unconform the UNPO'S Law...How do you all exspect this VN Communist???

BachMaSon,

RockHeart.
:genius:

I do apologize for the other post about Khmer empire but with all those rage and anger turn adult into children.....

Why do the Khmer Krom people hate the Vietnamese people? The taking of a people and enslave them is always the reason. But why do we hate? The pain we suffer from the ill treatment by the Vietnamese fuel our hatred. But why does the Vietnamese people hate Cambodian? If the fact that they hate cambodian people because of what pol pot did to their people then it is not the Cambodian people who they should hate by Pol Pot. Cambodian is in no way to be blame for what Pol Pot did as he who murder his people himself. But for the fact that the Khmer Krom people hate the Vietnamese because of the murdering by not someone like Pol Pot but by a human themself.

Some Khmer Krom people do forgive the Vietnamese people but they do want to be recognize as the race of Khmer Krom. They want to have the same power share by Vietnamese people. They want their children to able to study and learn their langauge. Khmer Krom people are bilingual, they can speak both vietnamese and cambodian. They can write vietnamese but not cambodian. Why? Vietnamese government forbid the Khmer Krom people to study the Khmer language. There are not school to study the Khmer language except the temple. So before the Khmer Krom to complete forgive and forget what they Vietnamese have done to their ancestor, the Vietnamese people need to open their apology by allow the Khmer Krom people to achieve these goal.

We do want Kampuchea Krom back but that is an impossible goal. We know how it feel to be force out of our own land and to be control by the Vietnamese government. Therefore, we do not seek the land but rather seek for power. If the Vietnam is truly a country of many nationality then Vietnam should allow those nationality to share power.

.......tired...cut.

To put in short, what the Vietnamese and Cambodian people should know that we do have a common enemy. For the Vietnamese, the Vietcong is the name and as for Cambodian, Hun Sen. Hun Sen is the murder hidden behind his mask. He pretend to be innocent while he murder many people (many female singer was murder or attempted to murder either by him or his government).

Let put the children aside and think like adult...before the Cambodian peopel achieve freedom, they need to unite with the Khmer Krom people. Khmer Krom people do want to help Cambodia to defeat Hun Sen after all, Khmer Krom is Khmer. We need to somehow organize ourself and create a government where it should be rule by a tyrant but rather by the power of the people. That could be achieved when Hun Sen is defeated.

ok..i shut off for now..tired.

Khmer Krom For Life
Thay_
Click the link below to see photos of the Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival.
http://www.geocities.com/nast_tea