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On Christmas of 1978, Vietnam finally invades Cambodia
and in only thirteen days the Vietnamese had taken over Phnom Penh and control of
Cambodia. Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge flee to the jungle and remained there for
many years to come. Vietnam set up a government for the Cambodian people, but civil
unrest continued up unto 1991 a peace treaty was signed in Paris (Including a couple
of changes in governments). Prince Sihanouk returned to Phnom Penh a short time
later. Just a tad over 21 years after his government was overthrown. |
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| The irony of this genocide is the fact that Pol Pots only
punishment after his capture was house arrest. Which he only served for a short while,
because Pol Pot soon died of natural causes. Another big mystery is why it
took so long to overthrow Pol Pot? Should we blame the United States for turning a
blind eye on Cambodia after its withdrawal of forces in Vietnam? Or shall we blame
Cambodia for not being rich in Petroleum? Whatever the reason, the genocide in
Cambodia was one of the biggest tragedies of the twentieth century and one that could have
probably been easily avoided. |
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"...the people of Cambodia who, like
Tibetans, suffered one of the most brutal genocide under a repressive Communist
regime. We Tibetans understand the human tragedy that Cambodia endures.
Tragedies like this re-confirm my belief that the suffering of this world can only end
when each one of us generates a sense of universal responsibility to our fellow
beings" (The Dalai Lama August 13th, 1991).
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