This day April 12 in history, 1975 - 36 years ago, the US clsoed its Embassy in Phnom Penh and the Ambassador Dean jumping to the helicopter, leaving to Republic to its own fate. For 5 days before it collapsed to the Khmer Rouge fighters on April 17.
Since the March 18 1970 the US was involved near or far in the internal problems in Cambodia. But in retrospect her involvement was originally for the purpose of protecting the life of the US soldiers fighting in Vietnam and to speed up their disengagement. Many foreign journalists speculated that President Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger were much to blame for the destruction of Cambodia. The book "Side Show" by William Shawcross, is a book to read to feel the whole implication of the US intervention as stated by the Nixon Address on April 30, 1970.
Many people fear that Cambodia now is in danger again from foreign interference, how the US could have this time? - for the better. Or Cambodia should alone to her own destiny...
According to Justin Corfield: "In Washington Um Sim, Cambodia's Ambassador there lambasted the American Government in a speech at the Washington Press Club: 'We are the patient and the United States is the doctor. You have found our case hopeless but we have to cling to life until we die. Now it would be better if the US left Southeast Asia and never returned."
The Cambodian people should learn the lesson of the period of 1970 to 1975. I think it was a mistake to depend on foreigners, near or far, as an old khmer saying goes: Kom tuk jet borates... or Never to trust on foreigners...
No comments:
Post a Comment