Lyric of "The Long and Winding Road", The Beatles

The long and winding road
That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I've seen that road before
It always leads me here
Lead me to your door.

The wild and windy night
That the rain washed away
Has left a pool of tears
Crying for the day.
Why leave me standing here?
Let me know the way.


Many times I've been alone
And many times I've cried,
Anyway you'll never know
The many ways I've tried.


And still they lead me back
To the long, winding road
You left me standing here
A long, long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here
Lead me to your door.

But still they lead me back
To the long winding road
You left me standing here
A long, long time ago (ohhh)
Don't keep me waiting here (don't keep me waiting)
Lead me to your door. (yeah yeah yeah yeah)

(The End)

Lyric of "Waiting for That Day"

Artist: George Michael

So every day I see you in some other face
They crack a smile, talk a while
Try to take your place
My memory serves me far too well

I just sit here on this mountain thinking to myself
You're a fool boy
Why don't you go down
Find somebody
Find somebody else
My memory serves me far too well

It's not as though we just broke up
It's not as though it was yesterday
But something I just can't explain
Something in me needs this pain
I know I'll never see your face again

C'mon now
I've got to be strong now

Now everybody's talking about this new decade
Like you say the magic numbers
Then just say goodbye to
The stupid mistakes you made
Oh my memory serves me far too well

Don't you know that
The years will come and go
Some of us will change our lives
Some of us still have nothing to show
Nothing baby
But memories

And if these wounds
They are self-inflicted
I don't really know
How my poor heart could have protected me
But if I have to carry this pain
If you will not share the blame
I deserve to see your face again

C'mon now
You don't have to be so strong now
Come back

Come back to me darling
I will make it worth your while
Come back to your baby
I miss your kiss
I miss your smile
Seems to me the peace I search to find
Ain't going to be mine until you say you will
Don't you keep me waiting for that day
I know, I know, I know
You hear these words that I say

You can't always get what you want
(return to top)

(The End)

Lyric of "Season in the Sun"

Goodbye to you my trusted friend
We ve known each other since we
Were nine or ten
Together we ve climbed hills and trees
Learned of love and abc s
Skinned our hearts and
Skinned our knees

Goodbye my friend it s hard to die
When all the birds are singing
In the sky
Now that spring is in the air
Pretty girls are everywhere
Think of me and I ll be there

We had joy we had fun we had
Seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climbed were
Just seasons out of time

Goodbye papa please pray for me
I was the black sheep of the family
You tried to teach me right from wrong
Too much wine and too much song
Wonder how I got along

Goodbye papa it s hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
Little children everywhere
When you see them I ll be there

We had joy we had fun we had
Seasons in the sun
But the wine and the songs like the
Seasons have all gone
We had joy we had fun we had
Seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song like
The seasons have all gone

Goodbye michelle my little one
You gave me love and helped
Me find the sun
And every time that I was down
You would always come around
And get my feet back on
The ground

Goodbye michelle it s hard to die
When all the birds are singing in
The sky
Now that the spring is in the air
With the flowers everywhere
I wish that we could both be there

We had joy we had fun we had
Seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climbed were
Just seasons out of time

We had joy we had fun we had
Seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song like the
Seasons have all gone

We had joy we had fun we had
Seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song like the
Seasons have all gone

We had joy we had fun we had
Seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song like the
Seasons have all gone

(The End)

Lyric of "Color of the Wind"

You think you own whatever land you land on
The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name

You think the only people who are people
Are the people all who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You'll learn things you never knew, you never knew

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind? Yeah

Come, run the hidden pine trails of the forest
And come, taste the sun, sweet berries of the earth
Come, roll in all the riches all around you
And for once, never wonder what they're worth, no

The rainstorm and the river are my brothers
The heron and the otter are my friends
And we are all connected to each other
In a circle, in a hoop that never ends

How high does the sycamore grow?
If you cut it down then you'll never know

And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
For whether we are white or copper skinned
We need to sing with all the voices of the mountains
We need to paint with all the colors of the wind

You can own the earth and still
All you'll own is earth until
You can paint with all the colors
All the colors of the wind, oh yeah

(The End)

Lyric of "Rhythm Of The Falling Rain", THE CASCADES Song

Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain
Telling me just what a fool I've been
I wish that it would go and let me cry in vain
And let me be alone again

The only girl I care about has gone away
Looking for a brand new start
But little does she know
That when she left that day
Along with her she took my heart

Rain please tell me now does that seem fair
For her to steal my heart away when she don't care
I can't love another when my hearts somewhere far away

The only girl I care about has gone away

Looking for a brand new start
But little does she know that when she left that day
Along with her she took my heart

Rain won't you tell her that I love her so
Please ask the sun to set her heart aglow
Rain in her heart and let the love we knew start to grow

Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain
Telling me just what a fool I've been
I wish that it would go and let me cry in vain
And let me be alone again

Oh, listen to the falling rain
Pitter pater, pitter patter

Oh, oh, oh, listen to the falling rain
Pitter pater, pitter patter, oh.....

(The End)

Lyric of "My Heart Will Go on", Best Song from Titanic Movie

Artist: Celine Dion

Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you
That is how I know you go on

Far across the distance
And spaces between us
You have come to show you go on

Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

Love can touch us one time
And last for a lifetime
And never let go till we're gone

One true time I hold to
In my life we'll always go on

Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

You're here, there's nothing I fear
And I know that my heart will go on
We'll stay forever this way
You are safe in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

(The End)

Lyric of “Yesterday Once More” (Best Blue English Song)

Artist: Karen Carpenter

When I was young
I'd listened to the radio
Waiting for my favorite songs
Waiting they played I'd sing along
It made me smile
Those were such happy times
And not so long ago
How I wondered where they'd gone
But they're back again
Just like a long lost friend
All the songs I loved so well

Every Sha-la-la-la
Every Wo-wo-wo
Still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they're starting to sing's
So fine

When they get to the part
Where he's breaking' her heart
It can really make me cry
Just like before
It's yesterday once more

Looking back on how it was
In years gone by
And the good times that I had
Makes today seem rather sad
So much has changed

It was songs of love that
I would sing to then
And I'd memorize each word
Those old melodies
Still sound so good to me
As they melt the years away

Every Sha-la-la-la
Every Wo-wo-wo
Still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they're starting to sing's
So fine

All my best memories
Come back clearly to me
Some can even make me cry
Just like before
It's yesterday once more

Every Sha-la-la-la
Every Wo-wo-wo
Still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they're starting to sing's
So fine

(The End)

Brief Understanding of ASEAN and Cambodia

Cambodia’s political system is Constitutional Monarchy in the form of democracy. She locates on the Indochina Peninsular in the South East Asian region. She covers the territory of 181,035 sq km bordering with Thailand in the north and west, Laos in the north, Vietnam in the east and southeast, and the Gulf of Thailand in the south and southwest. Her population is around 15 million people; her capital is Phnom Penh City with the population of over 1.5 million people. Her formal religion is Buddhism following by Islam, Christian, animism, etc. Her most famous temple is Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap. Her economy is based on agriculture, tourism, and SMEs (Small & Medium Enterprises). Her important natural site embraces Tonle Sap Lake (The Great Lake), Kravanh Mountain Range (Cardamom Mountain), Dangrek Mountain Range, Coastal Area, etc.

ASEAN stands for Association of South East Asian Nations. It was established on August 08^th, 1967 in Bangkok City, Thailand with five members such as Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippine, and Malaysia. Until now there are ten members in which other five members are new such as the following:

v  Brunei got into ASEAN in 1984.

v  Vietnam got ASEAN membership in 1995.

v  Myanmar and Laos got ASEAN membership in 1997.

v  Cambodia got into ASEAN on April 30^th, 1999.

With the establishment since 1967, the Association of South East Asian Nations has the aims and purposes are:

v  To accelerate the economic, social, cultural, technical, educational and other fields.

v  To promote of regional peace and stability.

v  To promote Southeast Asian studies

v  To provide assistance to each other in form of training and research facilities

v  To maintain close and beneficial cooperation with existing international and regional organization with similar aims and purposes.

From year to year, ASEAN has been doing the best performance to achieve the above aims and purposes. The achievement by ASEAN since the day of establishment till today is being considered towards the future like:

v  The agreement on Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutralization (ZOPFAN) in 1971, Kuala Lumpur.

v  Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), The Declaration of ASEAN Concord I, and the agreement for the establishment of the ASEAN Secretariat in 1976, Bali.

v  ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) in 1992.

v  ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1994.

v  The establishment of ASEAN Maritime Forum in 2003, Bali.

v  The establishment of ASEAN Charter in 2005, Kuala Lumpur.

v  ASEAN Summit every year.

v  The establishment of ASEAN Development Fund (ADF), etc.

By: POK Panhavuth

Merry Christmas for 2012 Coming

Every year December 25th is the best day to enjoy Christmas ceremony in western culture. The day of party celebration welcomes new year and the falling of snow in western country. Right now, Christmas is becoming more popular among youth around the world to enjoy their life. Every western language school in all countries on earth celebrates the Christmas Day. On that day, family members gather together at their hometown to celebrate Christmas Day eating variety of food. Some families travel to the best place on earth to celebrate this ceremony. "Enjoy your life, Merry Christmas!!!:)"

By: POK Panhavuth

Images for Christmas Day

Videos and Songs for Christmas Day

End of The World 2012

Earth's Disaster on December 21, 2012

On December 21, 2012, all scientists is believing to be the end of the world if all scientists could not do anything to stop this disaster.  National Geographic channel recently reveals that the earth is going to face the mother disaster. Some scientists predict in 2012 the sun will produce large fire that affects the earth. The earth will face the serious disaster both the damage from the sun and falling of the large stone from the universe. The electromagnetic system will be destroyed by the sun. Then mother earthquake and other large natural disasters will occur soon. Another serious problem is the falling stone from the universe. When this large stone falls on the surface of the earth, it became the large fire while touching the earth atmospheric zone. It goes down to the earth on the sky until crashing the earth. Crashing causes large explosion from that area spreading to other part of the earth. All life on earth will be killed. Additionally, not only scientist today finds this warning, but the scientists in the ancient time also predict that on December 21, 2012 there will be the mother earthquake and other natural disasters on the earth. Maya is the ancient kingdom in the middle area of American continent. They wrote and painted on the wall about the large disaster on earth in 2012. They seemed to know about the affection from the large fire of the sun coming to the earth on December 21. Besides, Buddhism and other ancient people also predicted the warning for all people about the seven sun day which means the day of fire on the earth will occur in this period. However, we will wait to see what will happen on the earth on December 21, 2012 and whether what the scientists and ancient kingdom of Maya predicting is right. "May the disaster be away from the earth! May the life on earth exist to million years more!"

By: POK Panhavuth

End of the World 2012

2012 Mayan Doomsday Prediction

Perspective on Khmer Rouge Regime "Killing Field in Cambodia" (1975-1979)

Khmer People in the Field During Pol Pot Regime (April 17, 1975 - January 7, 1979)

Everyone around the world used to hear about Pol Pot Regime or Khmer Rouge Regime of Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. In fact, the formal name of this regime was Kampuchea Brochea Thebatei. Main leader of this group was Pol Pot (Birth name: Salot Sar). The force of Khmer Rouge occurring after the establishment of Khmer Republic in early 1970. At the start, there was only small group of this army force, but it became bigger and bigger with support from Vietnam (Yiek Kong or Viet Kong Troops) and the fame of King NORODOM Shihanouk. However, later Pol Pot seemed to split from Vietnamese support since their mother and father (China and Soviet) getting into conflicts. Since then, Khmer Rouge strongly succeeded the Khmer Republic since 1973 in which more and more territory of Cambodia was controlled. At the end of 1974, Khmer Rouge surrounded the all main municipalities of Khmer Republic, especially Phnom Penh. They cut all the ways of transporting food and weapons for Khmer Republic off in both water and land way. Khmer Republic survived only through the transport of food and weapons on the air way. On April 17, 1975, Khmer Rouge troops completely controlled Phnom Penh. They forced people in the city to leave for three days to another areas in rural areas. People confused to leave was killed immediately. Phnom Penh became "Ghost City". According to Raoul Jennar, in May 1975 Khmer Rouge set 8 principles to rule the regime  (posted in khmer.rfi.fr):

• Push people out of all cities in Cambodia. People were divided into two main groups: old people (people living in rural areas before April 17, 1975) and new people or 17 Mesa people (people living in cities before April 17, 1975).
• Eliminate market system.
• Stop using money.
• All monks must be changed to simple citizens to work in the field.
• Kill all civil servants of Khmer Republic.
• Create community (សហករណ៍) throughout Cambodia.
• Force out all Vietnamese in Cambodia.
• Increase the number of soldiers along Cambodia-Vietnam borders.

Then Khmer Rouge spread his soldier to all areas (Northwest Region, South Region, Southwest Region, Central Region, Kratie or 505 Region, West Region, North Region, Northeast Region, and East Region) and targeted all main leaders of Khmer Republic to death. For example, LONG Boreth, Prime Minister of Khmer Republic, was killed with his family immediately in Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975. People started to be aware of current situation that they would get no chance to return to their home. New people were divided again base on their age. Young children were kept with old people in the village and did small duties like feeding the cow and so on. Adult was put to work in group (កងចល័ត) moving from a place to another place depend on the need of force to build the dam or cut the wood or work in the field. Medium age people were put to work in the field. Most of them got only porridge with less rice (only a few can of rice in the large pot of porridge for hundred of people). All of them were force to work from dawn to dusk. Most of Khmer Rouge officials were very rude and cruel to new people. Sometimes, they said bad words to new people, blamed old regime, and admired only their regime to be the best under Khmer Rouge Group (អង្គការភ្នែកម្នាស់). More and more citizens died of starvation and diseases, but the death of killing also increased from time to time, especially Khmer Krom people who were targeted to death since Khmer Rouge thought they used to live in Vietnam, but in fact they were still Khmer. Most famous people were killed gradually like SIN Samut (1975), PEN Rorn (1976), HUY Meas (1977), ROS Sereysothea (1978?)..... Most of educated people like teachers, students, civil servants,..... were also killed gradually, especially in 1977 and 1978. Not only people in the country were facing the death, more and more foreign scholarship Cambodian students were cheated to return and most of them were cruelly killed. Besides that, more and more officials of Khmer Rouge were also accused of wrong conduct violating the Khmer Rouge Principles and were put to prison and cruelly killed as the officials of Khmer Republic and other people accused of foreign spy like SEATO or something else in Sar 21 Tuol Sleng Genocide center in Phnom Penh.

Foreign relation of Khmer Rouge was seen in two ways. First, Khmer Rouge tried to promote their regime as a formal seat in the United Nations and had good ties with foreign country, especially in Europe by hiding all information of current situation within the country, especially killing field. However, Khmer people overseas tried their best to spread information on killing field in Cambodia since the mid 1975, but the world ignored since the main world superpower ignored. Second, Khmer Rouge had conflicts with Vietnam on Kampuchea Krom Territory and Koh Tral Island since it was belonged to Cambodia before 1949. Khmer Rouge fought many times on Koh Tral and along border of Cambodia-Vietnam. One day, Khmer Rouge fought into middle area of Kampuchea Krom, but were surrounded unconsciously by Vietnamese Troops and put to death all. The conflict became bigger and bigger since 1977. In 1978, Vietnam used their army force fighting into Cambodia, but was warned by the United Nations (UN) since there was only Vietnamese troops in that force. Later, at the end of 1978, Vietnamese troops came with some Khmer troops who gradually escaped to Vietnam during Pol Pot Regime. From December 2, 1978 until January 7, 1979, large Vietnamese troops with some Khmer troops fought Khmer Rouge army and got successful quickly. On January 7, 1979, Phnom Penh was controlled by Vietnam. Other provinces in the west were released a few day later, except Pailin and Otdarmeanchey. "Too much nationalism causes nation to death!" "Political ideology is the danger for people who do not know it clearly!"

By: POK Panhavuth

Region of Khmer Rouge Regime




Horror of Cambodia's Genocide

Territory of Cambodia in the 16th Century in Today South East Region of Thailand

Western and Northern Map of Cambodia in 16th Century "Long Vek Era"

In the 16th century, Cambodia bordered with Siam (Thailand) along the Moul River (Mun River) where the south east territory of Thailand today still belonged to Cambodia and all citizens living there was Khmer, called Khmer Surin. This territory covers nearly 70,000 square kilometre. During that era, Khmer King and Siam King signed a treaty to demarcate the border for both Kingdoms where they put ancient magic column "Shei Ma" on the site of border. Today, this stone could be seen in Nokor Reach Shei Ma Province (Today Korat or Nakhon Ratcha Sima), Nokor Neayuok Province (Today Nakhon Nayok), Steung Chrov Province (Today Cha Cheong Sao), and other provinces in Korat Plateau. Even though Siam controlled this regions today, but there are Khmer People living in those provinces and others provinces which belonged to Khmer Empire in Angkor Era. According to Thailand's reports,  Khmer speaking community is widespread in these provinces and other nearer province with the population of over 1,300,000 people. However, this population did not include Khmer People speaking Thai instead of Khmer Language. In contrast, population of Khmer people in this area is estimated to be over 5,000,000 people based on Khmer Surin's report, but some Khmer people gave up their identity to be Khmer and only speak Thai Language. Most Khmer Surin can speak Khmer, but hardly for writing since there is limitation on Khmer Language education program. Khmer speaking community could be found in Surin, Trat, Chanthaburi, Prachinburi, Bangkok, Lopburi, Rayong, Chonburi, Sakaew, Buriram, Obunratchathani, Sisaket, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnatcharoen, Mahasarakham, Chayaphum, Mukdahan, Sakon Nakhon, Udonthani, Kalasin, Nakhon Phanom, Khon Kaen, and Saraburi.   

During the Long Vek Era in the 16th century, all Khmer provinces in north-west area of Cambodia are: 

• Royong Province (Rayong Province)
• Chan Borey Province (Chanthaburi Province) 
• Trach Province (Trat Province) 
• Chul Borey Province (Chonburi Province) 
• Steung Chrov Province (Chacheong Sao Province) 
• Paschem Borey Province (combination of Prachinburi Province and Sakaew Province) 
• Nokor Reach Sheima Province (Nakhon Ratchasima Province) 
• Neang Rong Province (part of Buriram Province)
• Borey Rom Province (part of Buriram Province) 
• Sang Keak Province (part of Surin Province)
• Srindr or Surin Province (Surin Province)
• Kok Khan Province (combination of Sisaket Province and Obun Ratchathani Province).  

By: POK Panhavuth

Khmer Speaking Community Along Border of Cambodia and Other  Not Shown Small Khmer Speaking Community in Other Nearer Provinces 

Today Map of Eastern Thailand

Territory of Kampuchea Krom in South Vietnam

Current Territory of Kampuchea Krom (South Vietnam)

Kampuchea Krom refers to the previous territory of Cambodia until early 20th century while it was formally transferred to Vietnam by France on June 4th, 1949. This territory is include the color province in the map and most part of Kontom and Dalac Plateau in Vietnam. There was two main rivers and small rivers. The main rivers are Bassac and Mekong River while small rivers are East Vai Ko River, West Vaiko River, Don Nai River, etc. However, the history of this territory started thousand years ago B.C. and until the 1st century A.D. the Kingdom of Phnom  (first Khmer Kingdom), in Chinese it was called "Funan" means the happiness and wealth in the south of China while the sound is similar to Phnom in Khmer,  was created. Khmer people have been living in this region until today, called  Khmer Krom. There were 21 provinces - city and two large islands while plateau area of this territory was cut off from the territory of northeastern province today (Rattanakiri and Mondulkiri Province) by France to include in Vietnam. Today the administrative system was changed by Vietnam and all name of these provinces were changed to Vietnamese. These provinces-city are:

• Prey Nokor City (Ho Chi Minh City)
• Peam Banteay Meas or Peam Province (Ha Tien, part of Kien Giang Province) include Koh Trol (Phu Quoc Island).
• Kromuon Sar Province (Rach Gia, part of Kien Giang Province) known as the ancient port of Funan "Or Keo!".
• Teuk Khmao Province (Camau Province) known as Cape of Cambodia during Frenh Colonial.
• Po Leu or Pol Leav Province (Bac Lieu Province)
• Moat Chrouk Province (Chau Doc, part of An Giang Province; and part of Dong Thap Province)
• Peam Bareach Province (Long Xuyen, part of AnGiang Province; and part of Dong Thap Province)
• Prek Reussei Province (Can Tho Province and part of Vinh Long Province and Dong Thap Province) known as industrialize province.
• Phsa Dek Province (Sa Dec, part of Dong Thap Province)
• Bassac or Srok Kleang Province (Soc Trang Province)
• Lung Hor Province (Vinh Long Province)
• Preah Trapeang Province (Tra Vinh Province)
• Phsam Ombel or Kompong Reussei Province (Bien Tre Province)
• Me Sar Province (My Tho, part of Tien Giang Province)
• Kuoh Koung Province (Go Cong, part of Tien Giang Province)
• Kompong Ko or Chmuoh Thmei Province (Long An Province)
• Rong Damrei Province (Tay Ninh Province)
• Tuol Tamok Province (Thu Dau Mot, Binh Duong Province and Binh Phuoc province)
• Kompong Sroka Trey or Changva Trapeang Province (Dong Nai Province, part of Binh Phuoc Province, part of Dak Nong Province, and part of Lam Dong Province)
• Preah Suor Kea Province (Baria, Baria - Vung Tau Province which include Koh Tra Lach (Con  Son Island)) 
• Or Kab Province (Vung Tau, Baria - Vung Tau Province).
• Other territory lies on the plateau of Kotum and Dalac along Cambodia border.

By: POK Panhavuth

Today Maps

Eastern Map of Cambodia in 16th Century

“Sangkum Reastr Niyum Regime”, The Best Achievement of King NORODOM Shihanouk in the Early Era of Independence (1953-1970)

Central Market in Phnom Penh

Chaktomuk Halll

Olympic Village Housing, completed in 1964 by Architect VANN Moly Vann

After the campaign for full independence in the early 1950s was done successfully, King NORODOM Shihanouk became the hero for Khmer Nation’s independence and development. Since countrymen needed him to develop the country, King NORODOM Shihanouk gave up his throne to his king parents, King NORODOM Suramarith and Queen SISOWATH Kosomak Nearyrath Serey Wathana in 1955. Then he got involves in the development progress in Cambodia after that. He inaugurated the new era, “Sangkum Reastr Niyum Regime”, for his people to enjoy their life and to believe strongly within her nation.

Khmer people during that time were so happy to live and work together with the same vision towards the development of Cambodia. All citizens were respectful with each other and followed their traditional and cultural value very well; they loved Khmer movies, ancient Khmer dancing, Khmer songs, Khmer music, Khmer silk, Khmer style cloth, Khmer poem, Ayai, Yike, Lakhorn Sbek Thom & Toch, Lakhorn Sromorl, Lakhorn Bassac, Lakhorn Niyeay, and so on. They also practiced the rule for good life by learning Khmer Literature & ancient Khmer rule from previous era, obeying the law of the country, respecting the value of person, celebrating the traditional ceremony, and warmly welcoming the guest from foreign country. According to some Japanese who used to live in Cambodia in Sangkum Reastr Niyum era said that Khmer people were very polite and so friendly to them and had very good standard in living. Certainly, under the rule of King Shihanouk, people were encouraged to keep practicing their tradition and culture; not only Khmer people but other ethnic groups living in Cambodia. This kind of leadership should be learned and used by some leaders in other countries that are so bad to ethnic groups’ tradition & culture and only care about their own culture & influence on those ethnic groups. The special event of Khmer solidarity in that era was the success in International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962 under the leadership King Shihanouk protecting the ownership of Cambodia over ancient Khmer Temple on Dangrek Mountain Range, Prasat Preah Vihear (Preah Vihear Temple).

King Shihanouk created the economic policy and strategy to push the development throughout the country. One strategy was to build the strong human resource and good environment for learning. Good educational system was seen in this period with the effort of Cambodian student’s self-learning. Also, overseas scholarship was available for best students to further their education, especially scholarship to study in France. Since then, many Khmer scholars in that era were so strong and skillful with their specialty. For example, doctors and architects were so talent to bring the best service for her people and country. Patients were cured very effectively by doctors since they got profound knowledge related to medical and health issue, especially with good morality. Architects were similar to the doctors and built giant modern architecture and building followed the good standard with air system and tidiness. Most of those architecture and building are still in used till today like flat in Phnom Penh & Battambang, Olympic stadium, building along Preah Monivong Boulevards (called Business road in Phnom Penh), etc. Plan of Phnom Penh capital today was developed by these Khmer architects in that era and became well-known as Pearl City in South East Asia in 1950s & 1960s. They designed very good plan for this city tidily and beautifully. Besides this, Khmer Architect also used his strong capacity in overseas construction like Singapore airport.

King Shihanouk also developed the light and heavy industry everywhere in the kingdom. Many factories and business centers could be found in Phnom Penh, Battambang, Kompot, Shihanoukville, Kandal, Kompong Cham, Pursat, Kompong Thom, Kratie, Kompong Speu, Siem Reap, Kompong Chhnang, and so on. Most factories were owned by state, but the government allowed the foreign company to invest like searching for oil in the sea of Cambodia around 90,000 square kilometers, running the garment factory and other industrial activities… Foreign companies could also invest in other private sector like airline, bank, restaurant, hotel, etc. Sometimes, government and private companies joined to run the factory and other services. It should be noticed that Cambodia at this stage could build vehicles and produce more industrial food to use within the country and export to neighbor countries.

Furthermore, the rich natural resources of the country under the leadership King Shihanouk brought the kingdom to be the famous and good destination for both foreign investment and tourism. Fish production in Boeung Tonle Sap (Great Lake) was 10 tons per square kilometers, the most famous non-salty fisheries in the world. Forest covered the country over 73% of total land size. Khmer people served in the airline service dressing the good professional cloth to welcome all guest locally and internationally. Ports of Shihanoukville and Phnom Penh were very busy with the import & export activities. The well-known partner for economic cooperation was France. Specifically, King Shihanouk considered the water irrigation system as the most effective way to better the agricultural activities with high production capacity. Another point for the best achievement of Sangkum Reastr Niyum regime was the strong cooperation with foreign country for both political and economic purposes. However, this achievement got an ending gradually since the end of 1969 until the early 1970 because of involvement and support of Cambodia for Viet Cong Troops (North Vietnam) in Vietnam War with the United States. “Good economic policy! Good leadership! Bring your country to the better world!” “Do not take other issues to yourself easily without considering the effects on you and your community!” “Let's learn the best techniques in achieving great economic growth along with the solidarity of our nation in 1950s & 1960s!”

By: POK Panhavuth