Cambodian Defense Minister Criticizes Singapore Prime Minister's Statement on Vietnam
General Tea Banh said he had asked his Singaporean counterpart Ng Eng Hen to inform Mr. Lee Hsien Loong to correct his statement which was untrue and did not accurately reflect his history.
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| Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue. Photo: AFP/VNA |
Responding to Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's comments at the Shangri La Dialogue and on his personal page on May 31, which stated that Vietnam had "invaded" and "occupied" Cambodia, on June 3, speaking to the press at Phnom Penh International Airport, Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh voiced his criticism.
General Tea Banh said he had asked his Singaporean counterpart Ng Eng Hen to inform Mr Lee Hsien Loong to correct his statement.
According to General Banh, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong's comments are untrue and do not reflect history.
"This is not true and we want him to correct it. We cannot accept what he said. We have clearly stated that the Vietnamese volunteer army liberated our people. We still consider the Vietnamese volunteer army to have come to save our people and that is very meaningful to us," said the Cambodian Defense Minister.
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| Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Photo: The Star. |
Meanwhile, Mr. Hun Many, a member of the National Assembly of Kampong Speu province (Cambodia), said he was very surprised by such statements.
Mr. Hun Many, the fifth son of Prime Minister Hun Sen, stressed that people should not forget the crimes and brutalities of the Khmer Rouge.
On June 4, responding to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's statement, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang stated: Vietnam regrets that some statements did not objectively reflect historical facts, causing negative impacts on public opinion. The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry has discussed this issue with the Singaporean Foreign Ministry.
Vietnam's contributions and sacrifices in working with the Cambodian people to end the Khmer Rouge genocide are widely recognized facts.
On November 16, 2018, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) issued a verdict on the Khmer Rouge's crimes of genocide against humanity.
The verdict objectively reflected historical truth, enforced justice, and restored fairness to the victims, and was welcomed by the United Nations and the international community.
The achievements ASEAN has achieved today are the result of the joint efforts of all members throughout the history of the Association.
Each member deeply understands the importance of continuously strengthening solidarity across the bloc, on the basis of mutual respect and common ASEAN principles.
As an active and responsible member of ASEAN, Vietnam has and will continue to work with other members to do its utmost to build a strong, unified, united ASEAN Community with a central role in the region.
