Khmer Rouge Wants to Fight Again

The former Khmer Rouge military commander, Ta Mok, died in 2006 after spending seven years in jail awaiting trial for genocide. Waiting in the wings, and pending trial, are other senior officials of the Khmer Rouge, which waged a campaign of terror from 1975 to 1979, and whose actions gave the world the phrase The Killing Fields. Hundreds of foot soldiers in the once-dominant Khmer Rouge swear they have embraced democracy but they are currently up in arms over the supposed insult to their country caused by the border dispute with Thailand.

They have given statements to the world’s press that they are not afraid of war. Their Cambodian territory has been violated by Thai troops they insist, with the incursion into nearby Preah Vihear, the Hindu temple that is at the centre of controversy as to which country it belongs. The mountainous area around the temple is populated mainly by former Khmer Rouge and one ex-general has offered military advice and said he knows former troops who live in Preah Vihear and who served under him would be willing to serve again!

They talk about coming out of retirement to serve the government if talks over the disputed temple fail, but most people think it can only be paper sword waving, as these ex-fighters are beyond the age of armed conflict.

They say they would be ready for war if Prime Minister Hun Sen would give the word but he and the ruling Cambodian’s People’s Party have urged restraint. Cambodia went to the polls yesterday, Sunday 27th July, to cast their votes in the five-yearly national elections and Hun Sen and party expect to be returned to office and to hang on to their three-decade rule of Cambodia. (Hun Sen is a former Khmer Rouge fighter who defected before returning to overthrow the regime).

The young people of Cambodia are too young to remember the terrible atrocities of the Khmer Rouge, the killing fields and the re-education process which cost the country its educated and clever leaders, but they are intensely patriotic.

The two countries, Cambodia and Thailand, are due to hold talks again over the temple listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site earlier this month. It is hoped that a resolution can be found sometime this week, as the build up of troops on the border is causing unrest in both countries.

Thailand already has a problem with its southern provinces where daily skirmishes with the Muslim insurgents are causing headaches for a government already under pressure.

Khmer Inscriptions, Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat Restoration

Angkor Wat View

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