Dr. Chhang Youk, Executive Director of the Documentation Centre of Cambodia (DC-Cam) (Photo: VNA) Sharing his memories of the victory, Dr. Chhang Youk recalled that one day, suddenly Pol Pot's troops fled from Cambodian villages, and atfirst, the people did not understand the reason. They just thought that PolPot's army had all left, so they told each other to take rice, chickens andducks, and set out on the way home along the highway.
"They wanted to return home, to look for their brothers, theirhusbands, wives and children, and then on the way, they saw troops of the Cambodian UnitedFront for National Salvation and Vietnamese soldiers," Dr. Chhang Youk said.
"At that time we no longer had any history. The time from 1979 to 1999 was the preface of our history, and we are writing the first chapter on peacefuldays starting from December 29, 1998 when peace completely resumed in thecountry," he said.
From the perspective of a researcher, Chhang Youk said no negotiations can help end genocide, and a military solution is a must, and a quick reaction is needed to save lives.
He asserted that the friendship between Vietnam, Cambodiaand Laos in the past struggle for independence in each country prompted Vietnamto take actions when the country found that Cambodia was falling into genocide underthe Pol Pot regime.
The Vietnamese army responded to the friendship and the demand of regional security, the scholar said, emphasising that Vietnam had well performed the country’s responsibility to the regional and international securityas well as to a long-time friend.
Dr. Chhang Youk underlined that all the stakeholder atthat time, including the Vietnamese army, the Cambodian United Front forNational Salvation force and Cambodian people, were all great people.
Despite difference in understanding of the January 7Victory, a fact that cannot be denied is that 5 million people were rescued and they are the alive witnesses, they write history and reconstruct Cambodia, said the scholar who has conducted research onthe genocidal disaster, founded and operated the DC-Cam over the past 30 years.Their existence is evidence of a true story that cannot be forgotten, modified, or changed,he stressed.
“We must not forget the people who participated in buildingthe country from the starting point in 1979, because the contemporary historyof Cambodia began with the historical event of January 7, 1979,” stated thescholar.
DC-Cam is a non-governmental organisation tasked withcollecting, researching, recording, and archiving images, documents, andrecords related to the Pol Pot genocidal regime for the purpose ofcommemorating and claiming justice for the victims. In recent years, DC-Cam hasmade many efforts to contribute to national reconciliation and heal the mentalwounds of survivors of the genocide in Cambodia, including veterans who servedthe genocidal regime./.
He asserted that the friendship between Vietnam, Cambodiaand Laos in the past struggle for independence in each country prompted Vietnamto take actions when the country found that Cambodia was falling into genocide underthe Pol Pot regime.
The Vietnamese army responded to the friendship and the demand of regional security, the scholar said, emphasising that Vietnam had well performed the country’s responsibility to the regional and international securityas well as to a long-time friend.
Dr. Chhang Youk underlined that all the stakeholder atthat time, including the Vietnamese army, the Cambodian United Front forNational Salvation force and Cambodian people, were all great people.
Despite difference in understanding of the January 7Victory, a fact that cannot be denied is that 5 million people were rescued and they are the alive witnesses, they write history and reconstruct Cambodia, said the scholar who has conducted research onthe genocidal disaster, founded and operated the DC-Cam over the past 30 years.Their existence is evidence of a true story that cannot be forgotten, modified, or changed,he stressed.
“We must not forget the people who participated in buildingthe country from the starting point in 1979, because the contemporary historyof Cambodia began with the historical event of January 7, 1979,” stated thescholar.
DC-Cam is a non-governmental organisation tasked withcollecting, researching, recording, and archiving images, documents, andrecords related to the Pol Pot genocidal regime for the purpose ofcommemorating and claiming justice for the victims. In recent years, DC-Cam hasmade many efforts to contribute to national reconciliation and heal the mentalwounds of survivors of the genocide in Cambodia, including veterans who servedthe genocidal regime./.
VNA
