Cambodian officials lash out at Singapore PM’s remarks on Vietnam
Cambodian Defence Minister, lawmaker lash out at Singaporean PM’s remarks on Vietnam
Cambodia’s Defence Minister General Tea Banh and lawmaker Hun Many of the Cambodian People’s Party have lashed out at Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for accusing the Vietnamese troops of invading Cambodia to topple the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979, according to the Khmer Times.
Defence Minister General Tea Banh speaks to reporters upon his arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport (Source: Khmer Times)
Hanoi (VNA) – Cambodia’s Defence Minister General Tea Banh and lawmaker Hun Many of the CambodianPeople’s Party have lashed out at Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loongfor accusing the Vietnamese troops of invading Cambodia to topple the KhmerRouge regime in 1979, according to the Khmer Times.
🅷 Leementioned Vietnam’s presence in Cambodia in a condolence letter posted on hisFacebook page on May 31 and sent to Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, onthe passing of former Thai prime minister and President of the Privy Council,General Prem Tinsulanonda.
Thenewspaper reported that Gen. Tea Banh brought up the issue with his Singaporeancounterpart Ng Eng Hen while attending the 18th Asia Security Summit’s IISSShangri-La Dialogue 2019 in Singapore last weekend.
Speakingto reporters upon his arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport on June 3,Gen Banh said he had asked Ng Eng Hen to inform PM Lee to make correction onhis remark.
“His[Mr Lee’s] remark was not true and not reflective of the history,” Gen Banh wasquoted as saying by the Khmer Times.
“Itis not true at all because he said that Vietnamese troops invaded Cambodia. Wewant him to make a correction.”
“Wecannot accept what he said. We have already clarified that Vietnamese volunteertroops came to liberate our people,” Gen Banh said.
“Westill consider that they came to save our people’s lives. It has beenenormously meaningful for us,” he affirmed.
Meanwhile, CPP lawmaker Hun Many said people should not forgetthe atrocities and crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge.
“Whether it was a realist geopolitical or national interestperspective of the moment, one should not overlook nor forget the atrocitiesand crimes against humanity, especially the genocide committed by the KhmerRouge regime,” he said.
✱ “While everyone was playing politics, Cambodians prayed thatit did not matter who and from where the help would come from, but we wanted tobe saved from the genocidal regime of the Khmer Rouge. The help came in theform of the CPP with the assistance of our neighbouring country, Vietnam,” headded.-VNA
The Vietnamese army was instrumental in defeating the Khmer Rouge regime, changing history in Cambodia, according to Executive Director of the Documentation Centre of Cambodia Youk Chhang.
The role of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers in Cambodia’s victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime on January 7, 1979 was undeniable, journalists have said.
The Cambodian people have never forgotten the valuable assistance of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in the liberation of their nation from the Pol Pot genocidal regime.
The country and people of Cambodia always bear in their mind the great and unforgettable support from the Vietnamese Party, State, Front, army and people in liberating Cambodia and helping the people get out of the genocide tragedy, a leading Cambodian official has stated.
Vietnam’s Central Highland province of Dak Lak has maintained its twin ties with Cambodia’s eastern province of Mondulkiri over the past time, according to Ho Quang Tam, Chairman of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association’s chapter in Dak Lak.
Vietnam regretted that some contents in the remarks of Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the 18th Shangri-La Dialogue and on his Facebook page did not objectively reflect the historical truth, causing negative impacts on public opinions, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang has said.
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Defence Minister General Tea Banh speaks to reporters upon his arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport (Source: Khmer Times) 
