The results of 46 years ago are considered by many experts on international affairs to be a mark of the pure and noble spirit of international solidarity.
Just action, key role
Comments on the genocide of Pol Pot with the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia from 1975 – 1979, magazine TIME described it as the regime that “committed the worst massacre of the 20th century, the legacy of genocide still haunts Cambodia”.
And how did the Cambodian people escape this genocide? Research documents from the University of Minnesota (USA) point out: “During their four years of brutal rule, the Khmer Rouge caused the deaths of nearly a quarter of Cambodian people… This regime finally collapsed when Vietnamese troops advanced into Cambodia.”
At noon on January 7, 1979, the Cambodian revolutionary armed forces and the Vietnamese Volunteer Army entered Phnom Penh.
On-page analytics Modern DiplomacyProfessor Pankaj Jha (specializing in international affairs, OP Jindal Global University, India) pointed out: “Vietnam’s sending troops to Cambodia at the end of 1978 was first and foremost to protect millions of Cambodians who were fleeing from the communist regimes. urban centers to rural areas because millions of people died and were executed by the Khmer Rouge regime, despite many material limitations, tried to protect the Cambodian people. .
“In fact, Vietnam is the only country that has rescued Cambodia from the difficulties of the Pol Pot regime,” Professor Pankaj Jha emphasized and affirmed: “Vietnam has played an important role in reviewing the process.” safe transfer and exchange of power within Cambodia between different factions”.
This means that Vietnam not only helped to overthrow the Pol Pot regime but also made a key contribution to bringing political stability to Cambodia.
Cambodian people brought palmyra water to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers during the days of helping Cambodians harvest rice
Sharing difficulties in the post-war period
Analysis on sheet Times of Indiaexpert SD Pradhan, former Deputy Advisor to Indian National Security – former visiting professor at the University of Illinois (USA), once emphasized: “Almost all Cambodians, despite being influenced by political rhetoric, different, always welcome the Vietnamese people as liberators of the Cambodian people from the brutal and terrible period caused by Pol Pot. The People’s Republic of Cambodia was proclaimed on January 10, 1979, by Mr. Heng Samrin is the general However, the problem of survival and reconstruction of this country is a major challenge that the new government must face. The Vietnamese have helped restore the transportation system and administrative infrastructure, providing further support received international aid. Private property was restored; Buddhist practice was restored; the cities were resettled Internal trade developed strongly in June 1980, in Although the situation is still facing many difficulties, Vietnam has provided about 180,000 tons of food and rice seeds to Cambodia. As the world became more aware of the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge, donations also began to come from Western countries but the main support came from the Soviet bloc.”
Vietnamese and Cambodian soldiers jointly protect Angkor Wat (July 1982)
“Vietnam has supported Cambodia in the reconstruction and governance of the country. It was not an easy task because Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge continued to operate from the jungle on the Thai border,” the expert said. evaluated and further pointed out that: “Vietnam suffered damage in its efforts to help Cambodia, when it became the target of attack.”
Rejecting some false criticisms about Vietnam, Mr. Pradhan also emphasized: “At that time, Vietnam participated in eliminating the Khmer Rouge for humanitarian reasons and also to protect its borders from increasing attacks by the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge regime, if it continues to exist, could cause irreparable consequences for Cambodia and possible Khmer Rouge border raids. escalated into a full-blown war with Vietnam. Vietnam’s actions are of a “timely counterattack” nature, not an invasion”.
