"Ninety seven per cent of the population of O Lam, which has been recognised as a Heroic commune in the mountainous district of Tri Ton, southern An Giang province, belongs to Khmer ethnic minority group. During the past years, under the State’s Programme 135, the leadership of the local authorities and dedicated efforts of the local people themselves, their life is changing for the better.

Since 1999, under the State’s Programme 135 which aims to promote socio-economic development in mountainous and remote areas with special difficulties, over VND 4.4 billion has been invested to build 17 infrastructure works in the commune. The local people have also contributed hundreds of millions of dong to build roads in every hamlet. Tai Loi Company Limited has donated nearly VND 1 billion to upgrade roads and build two much needed bridges.

According to Chau Sa Im, chairman of the commune’s People’s Committee, all works built under the Programme 135 have been put into effective use. The commune now has a thriving market. As many as 60% of the population has access to electricity and 80% have access to safe water which is supplied by two water supply stations and over 100 drilled wells. The irrigation system has also been upgraded to ensure enough water supply for production.

One hundred and thirty three poor households have been given loans worth VND 700 million without interest for five years to develop economy. Two silk weaving groups, seven cow raising groups, four palm sugar making groups and other handicraft groups have helped create stable jobs for hundreds of people.

An Giang province has allocated over 465 hectares of land for 800 households and compensated labour fruits on an area of 443 hectares to 386 households with a total capital of over VND 10 billion. The government has also applied price and fee subsidy policies in providing 36 tonnes of rice seed, 13 tonnes of fertiliser, 3,000 litres of kerosene and 86 radios to poor households. Each Khmer pagoda has been presented with one television set. The commune has also carried out a project to help the people upgrade their accommodation. Of the 571 households poor households living in dilapidated houses, 206 have been helped to build new houses. Twenty three priority policy beneficiaries have been presented with houses of charity.

The local authorities have also allocated forest-land for the locals to take care of and encouraged them to plant 80 hectares of forest-land and 20,000 scattered trees.

Agricultural production extension training courses have been opened to provide farming knowledge to over 1,000 farmers. The commune’s agricultural extension club often meets to exchange experiences and new skills.

So far, the commune’s total cultivated area has been increased to 3,271 hectares with a total output of 13,000 tonnes (equivalent to 1.3 tonnes per capita). The commune now has around 4,400 cows and nearly 4,000 pigs. On average, each person in the commune earns an income of VND 3-4 million per year.

Not only has the material life of the people in O Lam been changed, so has their spiritual life.

O Lam has been recognised as having reached the national standards of primary education universalisation. Vietnamese and Khmer languages are being taught at schools. Schools have been upgraded and provided with more teaching resources.

According to Teacher Dang Nguyen Tien Chau, head of O Lam Secondary School, it was a good sign that the number of pupils increases on average by 100 each year. Currently, the school has 466 pupils. Khmer pupils are helped in buying text books. Sixth and 7th graders have been free provided text books. Also, local agencies and organisations have contributed to buying notebooks for poor pupils.

As many as 66% families in the commune have been recognised as cultural families. The commune has one cultural hamlet and one cultural centre.

Public healthcare programmes have been well carried out in O Lam. All Khmer households receive exemption from hospital fees.

The material and spiritual life of the Khmer people in O Lam is improving. The local people are pooling efforts to promote production and together building a prosperous commune for themselves."

Be logic.. reasonable and cilvilized....

hey dood whered u get da info

Holy $hit, why the fu-k are we wasting so much money on Khmer places in Vietnam?

Look at all the racism overseas Vietnamese have to deal with. Like in Hong Kong I hear Vietnamese are looked down and are exploited a lot. In Cambodia, fanatical Khmer villagers are killing Vietnamese civilians there. In New Zealand, Vietnamese are getting punched and $hit by the whites.

I'm tired of Vietnam being so friendly to it's minorities when the main country where they are from hate and look down on Vietnamese? Why can't we learn to be racist and stop wasting money on our minorities?

Why you ask? Well thats very simple, because we'll end up being like those who discriminate against Viets.

Who cares. I'm sick and tired of Vietnamese being treated like $hit in other countries, when people from those countries who go to ours are treated with respect and crap. It's time we even the playing field.

i think dai_viet said we filipinos treat the vietnamese boat people who sought refugee in our island of palawan good.

DELETE

The Thai government left the pirates alone because they hoped that the pirates would be able to curve the amount of refugees fleeing to Thailand. You speak too highly of the Vietnamese military, while Vietnam does possess a better army, air force and navy than several of her neighbors, invading a foreign nation is well beyond her current capabilities.

Not really. Vietnam did take over Cambodia rather quickly with their "shock and awe campaign".

Vietnam could have attacked Thailand from Cambodia and that was actually a possiblity until the U.S warned Vietnam that if Vietnam did then they would intervene.

Vietnam actually entered Thailand on many occasions killed lots of Thai troops which hurt Vientamese-Thai relations.

I have no doubt that the Vietnam military can take over Thailand if they had no interference.

Lol...you need help. You seriously have problem with other races.

Update: Damn I wish I could get the quote from his deleted post. It sounds even worst than the two quotes above.

Cambodia wasn't in any condition to defend itself when Vietnam attacked. I don't know much about the battles between the Viets and Thais during the invasion of Cambodia, but from what I understand, the battles that were fought between the Viets and Thais were merely border skirmishes, you can't say that Vietnam would've been able to invade Thailand from the results of a few skirmishes.

Why did Thailand called for U.S. and China's help than?

Well Thailand was scared enough to plead to the U.S and China for help if Vietnam did attack though.

Lol....take advice from blank_book. He/she is a very wise person. I was there when VN invaded Cambodia. Many Cambodian citizens even helped the VN soldiers catched the Khmer Rouges. Now how can an army fight a war without the support of its population. Even if the Khmer population did supported the Khmer Rouge, the people were in no physical condition to battle the healthy VN soldiers.

You are seriously living in a bubble. I wished you were there to witness the whole thing b/c you keep bringing up VN invaded Cambodia in 15 days in almost every conversation. It sounds like a broken old record. And, b/c of this victory over Cambodia, you think VN can take over Thailand. What a joke.

Like I said, my knowledge of the conflicts between the Viets and the Thais during this period are quite limited. However, the fact that the Thais had possible allies on their side would only serve to strengthen my argument that Vietnam would not have been able to invade Thailand.

How old are you?

Old enough

Why can't you just answer a simple question?

Vietnam's military during the 80's was much much more powerful than that of Thailand.

Also it helps Vietnam has defeated Thailand in every single war with one of them when Thailand attacked with 80,000 troops and Vietnam defeated them.

Not to mention the fact that Vietnamese have much more experience in warfare.

I have confidence in Vietnam's ability to take over Thailand if there was no interference with outside countries.

It doesn't matter if Khmers are healthy or not. Vietnam has won every single war with Cambodia in the past whether swords, cannons, guns whatever. Vietnam's military history has had many impressive victories.

Can you post some links to info about Vietnam's pass conflicts with Thailand? I can't seem to find any through google, all I get are pages with history on both countries but nothing about their conflicts.

Am I the only one who thinks this is a good idea? Perhaps too much money is being spent on the Khmers at the expense of the native Viets, but this is nonetheless a good start. For a country that boasts 55 minority groups, we should be proud of them. They live in Viet Nam, they are Vietnamese and they are our people. Perhaps I don't know enough about what they did that makes some of you so angry towards them, but no one can deny that they are oppressed. If the government gives a helping hand and just get the hell off their backs, maybe they'll learn to love their country.

Huh, the khmers didn't cross the border. The border crossed the khmers......!

(At Nguyen Anh Request)- 20,000 Thais Entered VN and defeated ( not so many made it back to Thailand) in 1784 at Rach ram, My Tho, xoai mut.


[Also known as the Siamese-Vietnamese War of 1831-34]

"After Ang Chan II (1791-1835) regained the Cambodian throne [1812], Siamese forces moved into Cambodia's northern areas and then southward, defeating the Cambodians at the Battle of Kompong Chang and forcing Ang Chan to flee to Vietnam (1832). The Siamese advanced to Chau-doc and Vinh-long in southern Vietnam before being confronted by Vietnamese troops and forced to pull back. A general uprising broke out in Cambodia and eastern Laos (under Siamese control) while a 15,000-man Vietnamese army marched against the Siamese (1833) and assisted Ang Chan in returning to Udong, the Cambodian capital (north of Phnom Penh). With the withdrawal of the Siamese, almost total Vietnamese control was exercised over Cambodia."

In 1840 Vietnamese overlords committed atrocities/ oppressed that cause bad resentment from the Khmers, thus they raised up in arms overthrowing the Vietnamese( King Ming Mang died this year). The Khmer again could not bear as the Thais oppression and atrocities ..( IN this conflict I think Siam wins)

In 1845 (Under King Thieu TRi) General Nguyen Tri Phuong engaged the Siam again in Cambodia ... He Took back phnom penh... Some of the Thai Surrendered (23,000). Nguyen Tri Phuong pursuited the Siam to Udong then a stand off. In September of this year The Thai General (who became Thai King) asked for treaty. Vn accepted so both retreated.

In the Thai-Viet conflicts ... Only this Thai General (King RamaI) is the only one who gained the uper-hand Briefly against the Vietnamese in 1840...

Not to bring up the and offend the Thais, but I don't think the Thais won any war against Viets in the past.

When was the most recent Viet-Thai conflict?

When Vietnam went too far and crossed into Thailand's borders around the late 1970s or something like that. But that was in persuit of Khmer Rouge.

If you know enough about Khmer history, then you'd understand why Vietnam and Thailand fought in the past. Both countries want to extend their influence over Cambodia, but mostly, it's Vietnam that won.

The only real war against the Thai was in 1784 when Nguyen Anh invited 20,000 Thai soldiers into Vietnam and got defeated by emperor Nguyen Hue in one naval battle at Rach Gam-Xoai Mut.

After that, it's just scirmishes in Khmer territory.

Thanks for the Info, TD.

Yes, The Thai is actually never win against the Vietnamese but a briefly period in 1840.. Because We committed atrocities .. The Khmer raise up against us.. King Ming Mang died in that year..

What I mean is King RamaI is the only one who can cause the Vietnamese difficulty

ic. Thanks for the info.

Khmer Rouge was killing Cambodians by the million, what makes u think the Cambodians will help them to fight against the Viet army ?? Even if the Cambodians helped them , the war might be longer but the Viets will win . Viet's army was powerful back then compare to Cambodians (remember its only my opinion , not a racist comment so share ur opinions and dont hate)

OK here's why Thailand became rich.

http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/interactive/...w/thailand.html

"Thailand sided with the United States during the Vietnam War, fearing a Communist victory would mean incursions into Thai territory from Laos. The presence of the U.S. military helped boost Thailand's economic growth."

Thailand is only rich because of the Vietnam War, where soldiers would stop in Thailand before going to Vietnam and it was more closer to get goods. If it wasn't for Vietnam and the Vietnam War, Thailand wouldn't be as rich as they are now.

http://www.onwar.com/aced/nation/tap/thail...vietnam1979.htm

"In 1979-80, Vietnamese occupation forces in Kampuchea made incursions into Thai territory, often seeking rebel guerrillas supposedly hidden in refugee camps (where many Laotians and Vietnamese refugees had also settled). Sporadic skirmishes continued along the border... From 1985 to 1988, Vietnamese troops in Kampuchea periodically made raids to wipe out Khmer Rouge border camps in Thailand, which remained, along with China, major supporters of Khmer Rouge resistance."

Vietnam's incursions into Cambodia caused lots of Thai troops and civilian casualities which strained Vietnamese-Thai relationships and the Thais appealed to the U.S and China for help if Vietnam launched a full scale invasion against Thailand.

Vietnam's military is still the most powerful one in ASEAN today despite Vietnam downsizing it's miltary in the last decade due to not the "peace" time.

Who cares about war, all this $hit is in the past.

The question is how do we make Vietnam AND SEAsia a more better place.

It irritates me to read all this past $hit, Its been 30 years already.

It's Time to heal already.

yeah right...under big brother America's supervision...Viets and Flips are mortal enemies in S. Kali...gang battles n all

Some Viets & Flips fall in love with each other

I live in S California ... And the Vietnamese community (300,000 +) hardly has any contact with the Filipino community... Even so, a few Gangs have rivalry do not reflect whole communities.. This also applied for Back, Latino, Asians of all ethenics... so be logic ..and stay on topic

Well Vietnam is a rival in the Spratly Islands with the Phillipines. Of course lately, it seems China and the Phillipines are harrassing each other by arresting each other's fishermen.

Also yes overseas Vietnamese are probably grateful to the Phillipines who harboured some Vietnaemse refugees, but I'm sure it would probably piss the government of Vietnam off, since they didn't want those refugees to escape and have safe harbour.

But traditionally both Vietnamese and Filipinos hardly ever make contact with each other.

Actually no, oversea Vietnamese are outraged how the philipine goverments treat vietnamese refugees. They're not legal to work, and often been very discriminated by the native filipinos.

I don't know I'm just following what Dai Viet posted which Filipinos are treating Vietnamese with respect. Seriously why don't they just go back to Vietnam instead? I'm sure it's probably better than staying where they are not wanted. Espically with the Vietnam economy improving.

Most refugees that left Vietnam are the educated ones with high professions, I'm sure they can be of use in making Vietnam become a modern country.

I saw the BIG Philipin Guy hanging out with the Hot VN Gurl walked across my hometown every night!!! WOW!!! The HotVNGurl had a long hairs touch into her bud, and she wore a short mini skirt and Ti-shirt onpen her chest...It looked KOOL to my eyes watching



RockHeart,

Maybe because they don't like the idea of communism, maybe they think they will not survive in Vietnam again.. All I know is that They rather stay in Philippine with all discrimination, then be transported to Australia and US, rather than return back to Vietnam.

I agree with you some ... But overall, Philippine was the only country who allowed Vietnamese to stay .. While others forced Viet refugees back... For this reason we
should thank them .. Well, remember Philippine is not rich and has many problem of it owns... If we were the filipino .. What do you think? may be the same

Refugee camps aren't exactly comfortable to stay in. I think it'll take years to get into the U.S or Austrailia if they get accepted at all.[

Seriously going back to Vietnam is much more better. It has improved a lot and actually are trying to appeal to overseas Vietnamese to come back.

Remember, At the time.. Vietnam back then is not "open" as much as now ... There was a great risk to return to VN. (even now?)

Well aren't there still Vietnamese in refugee camps? I'm saying they should go back now if they are. It's much better than staying in a refugee camp.

I'm actually surprised that Germany is one of the few countries that accepted lots of Vietnamese refugees when Vietnam's other Asian neighbours refused making Vietnamese the largest Asian population there.

It says a lot when a former Nazi Country takes in more refugees than other Asian countries.

Of course out of 100,000 refugees 40,000 are supposed to get deported while 60,000 are allowed to stay there. But those 40,000 I think are mostly East Vietnamese Germans who were not boat people but were temporary workers from North Vietnam who the Soviets sent there to work but then illegaly stayed after the Berlin Wall was broken down.

But still I can't stand the fact that there are about 100,000 Vietnamese in Germany who probably get racist attacks by those neo Nazis. Well racisim happens everywhere but given Germany's history, I don't know what might happen in the future, even though West Vietnamese Germans have high jobs right now.

For now .. there is no camp..but about 1,800 Viet Refugees in the Philippines .. they Live scatter thru out the country.. and conditions of living is not so bright due to some reasons ... However The oversea Vietnamese tried to bring them to Amrica... and the last time I heard that soon these people will settle in the third country mostly America .. That news is confirmed

There wouldn't be a slim chance that Viet/ Thailand will take over each others. Cambodia is the shield to prevent the two from battling each others. Unfortunately the shield is suffering the most from both Vietnam and Thailand. I hope one day she will be strong enough to defense herself.

I wish not to see anymore war in the future. I ran enough under bullets flying over my head.I witnessed people exploded infront of me,GRUESOMES and fears. I would like to see peace.

I wish Vietnam/Thailand would leave Cambodia what she had left from both of you. She is not stupid. She is just being old and frail. After centeies of battling with both of you. So give a chance of peace and to recover herself.

She had came to so much destruction and despair was part of the American president. If it wasn't the Vietnam war and Richard Nixon,Hnery Kissinger had drgged her into it. She would have been way better than she is today.

Before it felt with the Vietnam war. She hardly allow her children to beg. Now her children are begging everywhere.

Nixon,Kissinger,Pol Pot are responsible for the mass destruction of Cambodia. Their B52 illegally bombing tons and tons of bombs over Cambodia and killing nearly one millions civilians along the country side. They stirred up the very neutral peace of Cambodia. Without the two American mad man there were probably not any war or khmer rouge existed in Cambodia. We would not be so poor like today.

Give pe ace and love a chance. No more war.Ans stop talking about who is better and who is not. Especially the Vietnamese. Looking Thailand they are way better than Vietnam. And you hardly find them bracked. "oh I'm better than you".

Okay.

I agree with you some... But however.. I do not think Cambodia is a shield or buffer Zone between Thai and Vietnam .. Why? well, as you already know that Cambodia became weak and barely to defend herself in later centuries after the fall of golden age Angkor ... Thus Cambodia became its neighbors 'target'. These countries Thai and Vietnam, all wanted to conquer/ annex or dominate Cambodia... Let put it this way, If there is NO VN .. what do you think of the fate of the Cambodia today? well, Can Cambodia defend herself against the Thais?. And Vice versa if there is NO Thai... So Cambodia survived today mainly because Thai won't allow Vietnam to dominate Cambodia and vice Versa.

Thai is better than VN yes ... In terms of Economy .. Political ...no.. Remember, Thai opened the country since 17 th century and the country did not suffer from wars and communisms, economy sanctioned like VN. Go figure

Finally ... This is the time for Cambodia to recover herself mentality, emotionally from destruction of wars .. and other things, slowly but soon she can hold on her own in terms of economy and political. Yes she will be great again and I wish her well

[quote=Byron,Jun 6 2004, 02:58 PM] [QUOTE=TDscorpion,Jun 6 2004, 02:53 PM] [QUOTE]Seriously going back to Vietnam is much more better. It has improved a lot and actually are trying to appeal to overseas Vietnamese to come back.[/QUOTE] [/quote]
You just don't understand. They HATE, ABHOR, DETEST communism. Just ask yourself why are there so many people who are willing to live a hard life just to get away from it. The answer is because a life under communism is even worse. Vietnamese want to be FREE, that's why we defeated the Chinese and the French. But communism is just oppression by our own people. You live in Canada and enjoy a lot of rights so you can sit there and take them for granted while speaking so highly of communism.

I think you should blame Vietnam's government for the unfortunate things like war and communism. Look at Thailand, when the European powers came, the Thai goverment was smart enough to negotiate with them and gave up territory to avoid wars. What I'm saying is the Thai political strategy was better than Vietnam.