Cambodia:
Peace at last?

Almost 30 years the death and destruction imposed on Cambodia by 
imperialism and the outside interference of some other countries may be 
coming to an end.

In the last few weeks the remnants of the Khmer Rouge have finally turned 
in their weapons and accepted the rule of the present government of 
Cambodia.

A compromise government has been formed with Hun Sen as Prime Minister and 
Prince Ranariddh as speaker of the parliament. The rightful place of 
Cambodia as a member of the United Nations has been restored and it is 
expected that Cambodia will be admitted to membership of ASEAN.

Cambodian territory was bombed by the US during the Vietnam War in flagrant 
violation of international law. This bombing was kept secret from the 
American people and the outside world.

When the Vietnam War ended and a new beginning seemed in reach, the Pol Pot 
regime came to power and dragged Cambodia back to the stone age. Millions 
of Cambodians were killed by this most hideous of regimes.

The rule of Pol Pot came to an end when Cambodians opposed to his genocidal 
policies together with Vietnamese forces overthrew the regime. But 
considerable remnants of the Pol Pot forces found refuge on the Cambodian 
border with Thailand where they received support from Western governments 
who wanted to take revenge for their defeat in the Vietnam War.

When the Cambodian Government led by Hun Sen at the head of the People's 
Revolutionary Party of Kampuchea (PRPK) began the restoration of normal 
life in Cambodia and extensive co-operation between Vietnam, Laos and 
Cambodia began to blossom, a new interference was concocted in the form of 
United Nations intervention.

The purpose, it was claimed, was to hold "free and fair" elections, an aim 
that was never advanced during the rule of Pol Pot.

The UN intervention was concocted by the US with the active involvement of 
Gareth Evans, Australia's Foreign Minister.

Military forces were sent in together with political "advisers" and carpet-
baggers with foreign capital in their pockets.

The world-wide exposure of the Pol Pot regime made it more and more 
difficult for any government to continue supporting the Pol Pot regime 
although some Cambodian allies of Pol Pot in the persons of King Sihanouk 
and his son Prince Ranariddh were supported and promoted against the 
leadership of Hun Sen.

However, the Cambodian People's Party (formerly PRPK) led by Hun Sen was 
able to survive the long years of intervention and disruption.

Above all, the Cambodians need peace and stability but, if they are to at 
last enjoy the opportunity to rehabilitate their economy, their culture and 
their freedom they must have the right to run their country without outside 
interference.

At this point of time, the Hun Sen leadership has won an outstanding 
victory against all the forces of internal and external disruption, but it 
is certain that those who would like to turn Cambodia into a colony again 
have not given up their aims.