Re: http://groups.google.com/group/camdisc/browse_thread/thread/9afa3dff7902d113/8ebc473a9b8359f0#8ebc473a9b8359f0
Dear Loork Krakmo Kaing, Every Cambodian who lives or used to live in Cambodia knows that my name isn't a pure Khmer name, that it's a mixed-raced Khmer+Chinese name, that it's not a Vietnamese name. If I were a Vietnamese, then why should I want to be a Cambodian?? It's absolutely counter- productive to suggest that anyone who has a different opinion or view from you is a Vietnamese. You've not responded to my inquiry about your name or screen ID, but that's ok, I don't insist. Please give some examples of the violation of the Cambodian sovereignty by Vietnam. You shouldn't cite the destruction of the Khmer Rouge regime by Vietnam. When 2 countries are at war, each has the right to invade the other. And Vietnam completely withdrew its troops from Cambodia as long ago as in 1989. Also don't cite the Vietnamese immigrants in Cambodia. They aren't sent there by the Vietnamese government, but by economic conditions. If there are too many Vietnamese immigrants in Cambodia, then it's the fault of the Cambodian government, because it has the power to limit Vietnamese immigration or to ban it outright, and it also has the power to repatriate those who came illegally. Also you shouldn't consider the Vietnamese radio station in Phnom Penh as a violation of the Cambodian sovereignty by Vietnam, at least not yet. If Cambodia doesn't yet have a radio station in Saigon or somewhere in Vietnam, it'll have one sooner or later. If Cambodia requests Vietnam to permit her to establish a Cambodian radio station in Vietnam and if Vietnam refuses, then you'll have all the reason in the world to complain that Vietnam doesn't play it fair and to accuse that it tries to violate Cambodian sovereignty, and I'll also do the complaint and the accusation. In my previous post, I asked you to open your eyes to a couple things, including the reality that Cambodia can't afford to have 2 much-bigger much-militarily-stronger enemies at her borders at the same time. I don't believe that this fact is too hard to understand. Now that Cambodia is in territorial conflict with Thailand, it's natural and even plausible that she seeks to strengthen her relationship with the other big neighbor, namely Vietnam. Allowing a Vietnam's radio station in Phnom Penh poses no risk to Cambodian sovereignty, as the Cambodian government has the power to close it down for good at any time. The Cambodian government believes this act of neighborly friendliness will strengthen the Cambodia-Vietnam neighborly relationship. This strong relationship may deter Thailand from dreaming of militarily attacking Cambodia. The Americans are treating unfairly the Khmers, or at least the Khmers who committed crimes, who live in America legally. The number of criminal Khmers deported back to Cambodia by the Americans is disproportionate, meaning that the percentage of criminal Khmers deported is higher than that of criminals of other ethnic groups. During the French colony/protectorate of Indochina, the French treated the Vietnamese more favorably than they did the Khmers. Even inside Cambodia herself, the French hired the ethnic Vietnamese, not the Khmers, to work in various areas such as construction projects. And ultimately as a blow to Cambodia, they took Kampuchea Krom from Cambodia and handed it to Vietnam. These sad treatments of the Khmers by past and present world superpowers should serve as a food for thought for the Khmers. I can't believe that the Khmers Kroms in Vietnam aren't allowed to watch TV broadcasts from Phnom Penh or to listen to radio broadcasts from Cambodia. So I just called several of my Khmer Krom friends here in Toronto who've recently visited Vietnam and asked them about your accusation. All of them affirmed that it's not true. It's much better and much more advantageous to be smart or intelligent or even tricky than to be hateful. A Khmer saying goes like this: "Ah Siams Min Chau-l Khbuon Ah Yuons Min Chau-l Poott". The Khmers should be "min chau-l khbuon" or "min chau-l sni-at" (I prefer "sni-at" to "poott") or both. Especially as Cambodia is squeezed between 2 bigger militarily-stronger neighbors. Sincerely, Pheng Kim Ving -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Cambodia Discussion (CAMDISC) - www.cambodia.org" group. This is an unmoderated forum. Please refrain from using foul language. Thank you for your understanding. Peace among us and in Cambodia. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/camdisc Learn more - http://www.cambodia.org
