Mr. Hun Sen affirmed Vietnam's contribution in helping Cambodia escape genocide.

President of the Cambodian Senate, Mr. Hun Sen - Photo: KHMER TIMES

On May 6, within the framework of his visit to Indonesia from May 5 to 7, President of the Cambodian People's Party, President of the Cambodian Senate, former Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen gave a presentation at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) in Jakarta on "Peace and National Reconciliation in Cambodia: Lessons for Southeast Asia".

During his presentation, the Cambodian leader emotionally recalled the special historical moment when he came to Vietnam in 1977, asking for Vietnam's help to liberate Cambodia from the genocidal Pol Pot regime.

"Without Vietnam's support at that time, no country could have helped Cambodia overthrow the bloody Pol Pot genocidal regime. We must protect this historical truth so that such atrocities will never be repeated," he declared.

According to Senate President Hun Sen, over the past 40 years there have been accusations against Vietnam and an extremist tendency to deny the existence of genocide under the Khmer Rouge regime.

He called for absolute protection of historical truth, especially to prevent similar heinous crimes from recurring. The Cambodian leader stressed the lasting value of peace and the importance of historical awareness in preventing future conflicts.

Last year, Cambodia marked the 45th anniversary of the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge (1979 - 2024). During more than 3 years in power since 1975, the genocidal regime led by Pol Pot - Ieng Sary killed more than 3 million innocent people.

In the historical documentary titled "Journey to Save the Country", Mr. Hun Sen once shared that at that time, he and many patriotic Cambodians considered Vietnam the only place that could extend a helping hand. Because Vietnam is a neighboring country that has shared hardships and stood shoulder to shoulder with Cambodia in the struggles against common enemies and for independence.

With the spirit of pure international solidarity and helping friends is also helping oneself, after receiving the request from the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation, tens of thousands of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and officers set off for the neighboring country. This important support helped Cambodia defeat the Khmer Rouge on January 7, 1979, saving the country from genocide.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ong-hun-sen-khang-dinh-cong-lao-cua-viet-nam-giup-campuchia-thoat-nan-diet-chung-20250506162759056.htm