Veteran in Cambodia: 'Singapore Prime Minister's statement is out of touch with history'

In response to Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's absurd statement about the presence of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in Cambodia more than 40 years ago, many Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and military generals who helped Cambodia escape the Pol Pot genocidal regime said: They were not only surprised but also felt hurt because the historical truth was viewed in a distorted way.

Veteran Lai Viet Khue.

After 10 years in Cambodia at the call for help from the land of pagodas, veteran Lai Viet Khue (Hamlet 8, Nam Van Commune, Nam Dinh City) said: Until now, he cannot describe all the great sacrifices and losses of his comrades to help the Cambodian people during the extremely difficult and arduous years. Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and officers shed their blood and bones to bring about the revival of the people and neighboring country of Cambodia.

Introducing us to the First Class Military Exploit Medal awarded by the Cambodian government, he said that Cambodia was in crisis at that time, and the Cambodian people were heartbroken by the Pol Pot genocide. When Vietnamese volunteer soldiers came to help, the Cambodian people felt that the Vietnamese soldiers were “lifesavers”.

Mr. Hoang Van Quyet, former Security Assistant, Political Agency of the Vietnamese Volunteer Army in Cambodia.

Also returning after completing his duty to Cambodia, Mr. Hoang Van Quyet, former Assistant for Security Protection, Political Agency of the Vietnamese Volunteer Army in Cambodia, said that the statement of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was out of step with history.

Previously, due to the influence of many parties, many countries did not understand the significance and role of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in Cambodia, so they criticized Vietnam. However, recently, especially the trial of Pol Pot and his accomplices in 2018, showed that the world has clearly recognized the righteousness and very important role of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in Cambodia.

“Many world political observers also say that the whole world now owes Vietnam an “apology” for its past mistakes in helping Cambodia fight Pol Pot. That is clear, especially during and after the trial of Pol Pot for life imprisonment. Now that Mr. Lee Hsien Loong has made such a statement, in my opinion, we must also have a clear attitude towards Singapore, especially from the Government and diplomacy,” said Mr. Hoang Van Quyet.

Mr. Vu Mao - former Head of the National Assembly Office, President of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association affirmed: Vietnam played a decisive role in saving the people and country of Cambodia from the genocide of the Khmer Rouge regime. That is a historical truth. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen himself affirmed: "We can ask, in this world, which country has helped the Cambodian people, especially liberating them from the Pol Pot genocide regime and preventing their return? The answer is the people and the People's Army of Vietnam".

Mr. Vu Mao also said that when the Pol Pot regime was overthrown on January 7, 1979 after more than 3 years in power, Vietnam sent expert delegations to help Cambodia organize forces, including youth, teenagers and children.

“Comrade Hun Sen (now Prime Minister of Cambodia) was not yet 30 years old at that time and was the President of the Cambodian Youth for National Salvation to build the Cambodian youth force. Until now, every time we meet, Prime Minister Hun Sen still reminds me and thanks me: “At that time, the Communist Youth Union of Vietnam sent people to help Cambodia, to exchange and train to do a good job of gathering youth. Choosing people to build a revolutionary force for Cambodia is like that,” Mr. Vu Mao added.

Mr. Vu Mao - former Head of the National Assembly Office, Chairman of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association.

Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and officers shed their blood to liberate the Cambodian people from genocide. Thousands of Vietnamese experts were present in Cambodia to help the country recover from the ruins and devastation. No one can deny this objective truth.

Therefore, during the official visit of General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong to Cambodia at the end of February 2019 and recently the official visit to Vietnam by President of the Cambodian National Assembly Samdech Heng Samrin at the end of May, Cambodian leaders expressed their deep gratitude for the great, valuable, timely and effective support that Vietnam has given to Cambodia in the cause of national liberation, saving the Cambodian people from the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime as well as in the cause of building and defending the country today./.