Vietnamese Studies | YUU Organization

Vietnam used to invade Cambodia is commonly known among modern Vietnamese people in the South. In our team, even those from the North and Central of Vietnam have rarely heard about the genocide of Pol Pot regime. In this project, we wish to reevaluate the intervention of Vietnam into the genocide of the Red Khmer Rouge regime back in Vietnam-Cambodia War 1979 in order to understand the postulated causes leading to two opposite viewpoints of both the Vietnamese and Cambodian government and citizens.

Indochinese Communist Party Establishment

1930

During World War II, Cambodia and Vietnam were against the French colonization and burst out of the national revolution. The communist movement in Cambodia was strongly developed

Geneva Conference

1954

Vietnamese communists withdrew from Cambodia

Cambodian Coup

March 1970

Sihanouk was expelled by the pro-American ally - Lon Nol. Lon Nol's government attacked Khmer Rouge and the National Liberation Front at Cambodia's southeast border

The Conquer for ancient land

1973-1978

The Khmer Rouge attacked the territory in the southeast Vietnam to take back the ancient land. However, Vietnam did not have immediate actions toward invasion

Cold War

1947

The conflict between capitalism (led by the U.S) and communism (led by the Soviet Union) "affected on international isolation and economic hardship"

Vietnam War

1955

North Vietnam forces and the National Liberation Front were fighting against the American and the Republic of Vietnam. Because of this event, DRV could not fully control the political situation of Cambodia

The Khmer Republic Establishment

October 1970

Lon Nol established the pro-American government to fight against the Communist

Clashes broke out between Cambodia and Vietnam

December 1977

The end of political and diplomatic relations between Khmer Rouge and Democratic Republic of Vietnam

Khmer People’s Revolutionary Party Establishment

1951

KPRP was established by the guided of Vietnam Communist Party. Prince Norodom Sihanouk was supported to be the representative of the Party

KPRP under the lead of Pol Pot

1963

Pol Pot became the new leader and general secretary of KPRP, overthown the existing the regime which did not follow the direction of Democrative Republic of Vietnam. KPRP was changed into Communist Party of Kampuchea

Khmer Rouge counter-attack

1973

The Khmer Rouge took back the major territory and authoriity. In 1975, Lon Nol's goverment was completely defeated

Cambodian–Vietnamese War

1978

Khmer Rouge attacked Ba Chuc. Vietnamese troops fought their way into Cambodia.

The Engagement of Pol Pot

1953

Pol Pot and his Cambodian radical intellectuals studying abroad in Paris engaged in the Party and were influenced by the Chauvinism and Maoism

Operation Menu of the U.S

1969

The U.S and the Republic of Vietnam boomed Khmer Rouge and Democratic Republic of Vietnam's territories

Democratic Kampuchea

1976

Pol Pot reformed the country with new policies including the collectivization of all private property, the genocide and the allies with China and the U.S

Vietnamese troops captured Phnom Penh

1979

Pol Pot Regime became the exilled government in Thailand's border. The new government called the People of Kampuchea Party was established under the intervention of Vietnam

Governments' Reactions in 2019

His statement (Lee Hsien Loong's speech) reflects Singapore's position then in support of the genocidal regime and the wish for its return to Cambodia, and is an insult to the sacrifice of the Vietnamese military volunteers who helped to liberate Cambodia. Singapore "had indeed contributed to the massacre of the Cambodian people."

On November 16, 2018, the ECCC issued a judgment on genocide against humanity of the Khmer Rouge. The judgement objectively reflected historical facts, enforced justice, and returned justice to the victims, and was welcomed by the United Nations and the international community. As an active and responsible member of ASEAN, Vietnam has been and will be continuing to work with all other members to do its best for the purpose of building a strong, united ASEAN Community, solidarity and a central role in the region.

His (former Thai premier and Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda) time as PM coincided with the ASEAN members (then five of us) coming together to oppose Vietnam's Invasion of Cambodia and the Cambodian government that replaced the Khmer Rouge

The repetition of these prejudices deeply hurt Vietnam and Cambodia, especially the relatives of hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who sacrificed their blood and bones to bring peace and help liberate the Cambodian people from brutal Khmer Rouge regime and the process of building the country difficult and arduous later.

“He said this in the context of 1979. Cambodian views like mine, Mr. Hun Many’s, or the Cambodian government’s are also tied to the context of 1979. At the time, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong was not facing a genocidal experience like us. So his version of that moment is his own matter.”