In defense of then-Prince Sihanouk

kang

Dear Readers,

KI-Media encourages civilized exchange of opinions on political issues related to Cambodia. The following are rebuttals from anonymous readers to Dr. Peang-Meth's article:

Dr. Peang-Meth, beside trying to idolize and promote his good friend Dr. Tith Naranhkiri, is trying to attack the king with yet another of his lop-sided writings. His article here will surely influence the young generations who have not experienced and learned about the real cause of the real tragedy. Many historians have put the blame squarely on the 1970 coup that toppled Sihanouk. Without the coup, the Khmer Rouge will be a footnote to history. The coup and Lon Nol's incompetence and corruption led many peasants to join the KR, even without Sihanouk's cooperation, the KR will grow in strength because of Lon Nol's corruption and abuses against peasants. About letting the Vietcong stay in Cambodia, who was the defense minister and armed forces commander? It was Lon Nol who was the one selling and transporting military equipments to the Vietcong from Kampong Som, even after he ruled the country the business with Vietcong still take place right through to 1973.

It was hardcore republicans like Dr. Peang-Meth should be the ones to be blamed for ruining Cambodia and caused the death of 2 million lives. Without their stupidity, Cambodia would be on par with Thailand because during the Sangkum Reastr Niyum, Cambodian teachers earned more than Thai teachers, Cambodian movies are as good as Thai movies and people live in abundance and peace. Dr. Peang-Meth and Dr. Tith should be thankful that their fathers, a senior civil servant and a minister, thrived under Sihanouk and that both of them had a chance to get an education overseas because of Sihanouk's excellence education system.
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As much as I respect the Khmer scholars or other scholars like Dr. Peang, I have to say this:

-Dr. Peang and some of these Cambodians who lack of understanding about politics and a very long conflicts between Vietnam and Cambodia since the past centuries until today are playing Hanoi's games to tear Khmer society apart.

Dr. Peang writing seemed to shift blame on the King but not the Yue Nam (Yuon) who have been presence in Cambodia for about 500 years.

Gen Lon Nol and the King were working together to free Cambodia from the Yuon, but the Gen's strategy was destroyed due to too many Yuon espionage were among his army, so the King had to carry on.

Dr. Peang didn't write at least two big reasons: 1) Cold war and Stalin instructed China to supervise Ho Chi Minh to take Cambodia and Laos at all cost; 2) Yuon's expansionism marching toward South now toward west must not stop (copied from Genghis Khan, Marching until the end of the earth), and without China to stop these aggressive Yue Nam (Yuon), no one could.

It seems that Dr. Peang, as a Khmer son, is after all playing Yuon's card. Look at his PhD's friend named Naranhkiri Tith. He too also serves the interest of Yuon because in all his writings are nothing more but to split Khmers apart.

What the answers? Do Dr. Peang and his friend Dr. Naranhkiri Tith know how?