“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

Perspective on Khmer Republic (1970-1975)

Flag of Khmer Republic Regime

After getting independence fully from France on November 9^th, 1953, Cambodia was on the right track towards the modern economic development as the first fast growing economy in South East Asia region in 1950s and 1960s along with her capital known as Pearl City in South East Asia. However, on March 18^th, 1970 new regime known as Khmer Republic started under the rule of General LON Nol. There are several reasons for the very famous era of Sangkum Reastr Niyum to be finished. First, the existence of millions Viet Cong troops in the country caused General LON Nol to do the coup d’état. Since the ties between Cambodia and China had been strengthened in 1956, Cambodia seemed to be under China’s political influence rather than the United States since there had been no support from the United States for early 1950s independence campaign of Cambodia. Then from year to year Cambodia tended to be influenced by Communism rather than democracy while Cambodia claimed for neutrality. Simultaneously, China and Vietnam were so close together during that time for China would get control on Paracel Island if he gave support to North Vietnam, so China persuaded Cambodia to allow the flow of North Vietnamese troops and workers into Cambodia through Ho Chi Minh trail to liberate the South Vietnam from the influence of the United States. More and more North Vietnamese troops known as Viet Cong or Yiek Cong got into Cambodia from the end 1950s till the early 1970s that millions of Viet Cong people and army staying through out Cambodia. That’s why the United States decided to drop millions of bombs along Cambodia-Vietnam border from the early 1960s until early 1970s to keep the South Vietnam government alive caused to injure and kill nearly one million Khmer people and most villages were damaged completely in some provinces such as Rattanakiri, Mondulkiri, Kratie, Kampong Cham, Phnom Penh, Kandal, Svay Rieng (the most serious one), Prey Veng, Takeo, and Kampot. General LON Nol saw the bad situation to go on if the existence of Viet Cong was still in Cambodia, so General LON Nol tried to find the way to push Viet Cong out of the country without King NORODOM Shihanouk who denied returning to Cambodia quickly as the proposal from him to solve the problem of Viet Cong’s existence. Second, the rumor on King NORODOM Shihanouk’s black list of powerful government officials related to corruption to be killed was spread, so most powerful government officials were so concerned and went to discuss with General LON Nol to do something else, but they met LON Non, younger brother of LON Nol. LON Non seemed to be the most mistaken person related to 1970 coup d’état since he was the one to convey wrong information to General LON Nol and Prince SISOWATH Sirimatak. His brother asked him about Prince Sirimatak’s decision related to coup d’etat and he answered “agree” instead of prince while he had not decided yet. Also, he answered “agree” instead of his brother to Prince Sirimatak. This happened a day before March 18^th, 1970 coup. An eyewitness for this event is Prof. ROS Chantrabotr who survived until today. Finally, another reason is the serious economic downturn in the late 1960s caused by most rice and other products were used to support Viet Cong instead of export and no money was received back on total price since North Vietnam used trick to excuse paying back to Cambodia. The suffering also brought Cambodia to against the Viet Cong inside the country along the need for new regime to reform economic development strategy.

New regime began as the vote to withdraw the confidentiality on King NORODOM Shihanouk was conducted on March 18^th, 1970. Finally, he was withdrawn the confidentiality from the public and General LON Nol became a president of Khmer Republic, but later he got serious disease not allow him to move his body. As the first step for reforms, Cambodia reinforced the tie with the United States to force out Viet Cong troops. The United States had more chance to drop thousand tons of bombs (B-59) on the border territory of Cambodia. However, this tie was not helpful to Cambodia since the United States had negotiated with North Vietnam to withdraw his troops back since 1972. No protection from the United States longer for Khmer Republic, the troops of Khmer Rouge increasing quickly fought with Khmer Republic army and gained control on most of Cambodia’s territory in 1973, especially rural areas. It should be noticed that the reason for the strength of Khmer Rouge was because of the fake kindness to local people during fighting and the attraction of young men based on the fame of King NORODOM Shihanouk. Khmer Republic still wanted to reform her economic condition and asked to join Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in order to get help in controlling Khmer Rouge troops and reinstalled back her strong economy, but Thailand strongly disagreed for the ASEAN membership approval. Then more and more territories became under Khmer Rouge troops in which in the end 1974 until early 1975 these troops surrounded Phnom Penh and other main municipalities like Battambang, Shihanoukville, Siem Reap, and so on in order to the stop the flow of supplies like weapons, food, and other materials for Khmer Republic side. They fought and used trick to weaken the strong will of Khmer Republic army. The United States embassy withdraw by bringing Khmer embassy officials to U.S. without letting them know for leave, just to travel. Also, General LON Nol and his own family were brought out of Cambodia without know the real reason to travel, but just knew it was for short visit and would come back. Finally, on April 17^th, 1975, Khmer Rouge army completely overcame Khmer Republic military in Phnom Penh and other main municipalities. Then Khmer Rouge forced people to leave their house immediately to countryside. While Khmer Rouge pushed people out of all cities, especially Phnom Penh, millions of Khmer Republic officials including members of Kanseng Sar special troops were killed gradually through out Cambodia next 3 years 8 months 20 days along with millions death of teachers, students, businessmen and businesswomen, royal families, doctors, artists, other highly skillful people, etc. “Review the reality around before taking decisions!” “Be strong enough before helping others!” “Do not trust others so easily! No one is your true friend except your own community!” “Do not just listen to your nearer one, but think of what is the right thing to do in such situation!” “The internal solidarity is the right track towards the better situation!”

By: POK Panhavuth

Patriotic Songs in Khmer Republic

Videos about Khmer Republic (1970 - 1975)

Khmer Krom People Living in Kampuchea Krom Territory (South Vietnam) Today under Pressure

Today Khmer people is recognized worldwide as the nation with own territory in the Indochina Peninsular bordering with Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. Mostly, the rich culture of Khmer nations usually gets along with the fame of Khmer People. However, millions of Khmers living around Cambodia in bordering countries is not being fully recognized worldwide since the limitation of mass media about them. One group of those Khmers, Khmer Krom people is the worst group to be known since many constraints from Vietnam’s government on the publicity to the world of this separated group from Khmer nation in Cambodia. It should be noticed that the whole territory of Kampuchea Krom covers the all Mekong River’s delta and most of plateau territory along Cambodia border. However, most Khmer Krom people live only throughout the delta of Mekong River. According to the informal statistics, there are around 8 million of Khmer Krom people living there, but they are exactly under pressure in learning their language, Khmer Language. As the evidence showing the constraints from the government of Vietnam, Khmer Krom people recently have been being under the restriction on learning Khmer language and her history. Vietnam’s authority commanded for all pagodas in Kampuchea Krom (South Vietnam) to transfer all ancient things and Khmer Literature materials belonged to Khmer empire for thousand years to put in each provincial center’s museum. It sounds strange why the government of Vietnam trying to do so since all the materials are necessarily in used by all Khmer Krom citizens to learn Khmer Literature. Since then, many associations of Khmer Krom people are taking action to give the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh the letter of opposition on new regulations from Vietnam’s government on Khmer Krom pagodas. Hopefully, Vietnam’s government does not ignore the situation. As the word of Vietnamese Embassy spokesman, Le Minh Ngoc, said Vietnam’s government usually granted the full right to all ethnic groups living in his country to live, Khmer Krom people should be reconsidered by his government to exactly grant the full freedom in living with the opportunity to protect their own language and culture in what is called the territory under Vietnamese control since 1949. It has not been just the recent issue of new regulation on Khmer Krom pagoda, but the pressure is put on Khmer Krom people for long time in learning her language and protecting her rich culture left from Angkor Empire of Khmer Nation. Khmer Krom people were not allowed to learn Khmer Language publicly, except in the pagoda. Therefore, if documents on Khmer Literature in the pagodas were brought to the provincial museum, what kind of materials for Khmer Krom people to learn Khmer. If Vietnam government wants to show all this ancient documents of Khmer to all tourists, Vietnam authority should allow Khmer Krom to put all documents in the pagoda publicly shown instead and let Khmer people there to print it as the books and to import more Khmer Language document from Cambodia. It will make sense that full freedom for living with traditional culture and language to ethnic groups is publicly guaranteed by the government of Vietnam. “To show your dignity and human right respect on others, let's give full freedom to them for what they want ethically with no harm to you!”

By: POK Panhavuth

The Heart of Khmer Krom, Sung by SIM Touch in the Interview with Host HUY Meas