Cambodian media promotes international solidarity with Vietnam on the occasion of the January 7 Victory

Cambodian media has published many articles praising the spirit of international solidarity with Vietnam on the occasion of the January 7 Victory (1979-2025), the day the country and people of Cambodia were liberated from the Pol Pot genocidal regime nearly 46 years ago.

Article praising Vietnam-Cambodia friendship in Khmer Times.. (Screenshot)

In the first days of 2025, the streets of the capital Phnom Penh and localities in the land of pagodas were splendidly decorated with national flags, welcome gates, posters, and banners celebrating the January 7 Victory (1979-2025), the day of liberation of the country and the Cambodian people from the genocidal regime led by Pol Pot nearly 46 years ago.

At the same time, many local press agencies such as the Cambodian News Agency (AKP) , the Kampuchea Thmey (New Cambodia) daily newspaper, the Cay Me Information Center (DAP News ), Domrey News, Khmer Times ... simultaneously published many articles on the preparation for the solemn rally to celebrate the event, as well as praising the January 7 Victory - the day the Pol Pot genocide regime ended, opening an era of revival and building complete peace in the homeland of Chua Thap today - as an undeniable historical truth, a symbol of the spirit of national solidarity and liberation, as well as the traditional solidarity and friendship, long-standing ties between the two neighboring countries, as a great historical victory of the spirit of international solidarity between the two peoples of Cambodia and Vietnam.

Historical events of the Cambodian people

Among many related articles, Kampuchea Thmey Daily newspaper mentioned the topic “Why commemorating January 7 is still important to Cambodian people” by author Hun Sirivadh, affirming that Victory Day January 7 is held annually to recall the collapse of the brutal Democratic Kampuchea regime in Cambodia, while analysts said that commemorating this historical event is necessary to prevent the recurrence of war and genocide, as well as to remember the dead and rejoice in the survival of the Cambodian people.

Kampuchea Thmey quoted Dr. Yang Peou, Secretary General of the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), as saying that January 7 is an undeniable historical truth of Cambodia. He explained: “If we do not acknowledge the historical truth of January 7, it means we are insulting the millions of Cambodians who died, as well as insulting our own survival. That means not acknowledging the rescue, not acknowledging our own lives.”

According to the article, the genocidal regime killed more than 2 million Cambodians and almost completely destroyed the infrastructure and administrative system... On December 25, 1978, at the request of the Cambodian United Front for National Salvation - founded by comrades Heng Samrin, Chea Sim, Samdech Techo Hun Sen and 11 other leaders in Snuol district (Kratie province), the Vietnamese Army launched an attack on the Khmer Rouge forces, destroying their administrative headquarters on January 7, 1979. The Secretary General of the RAC commented that at that time, Cambodia's request for Vietnam's help was the right thing to do, because the longer the delay, the more Cambodians would die.

After the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime, the war continued until December 29, 1998, when Cambodia finally achieved complete peace after the Khmer Rouge's organizational apparatus disintegrated. The report of the United Nations (UN) experts presented to the Security Council (UNSC) on March 16, 1999 concluded that the Khmer Rouge forces committed serious crimes under international law and Cambodian law, and that there was sufficient evidence and witnesses to convict former Khmer Rouge leaders. That is why the Khmer Rouge Tribunal was established in 2006 and will complete its work by the end of 2022.

According to Kampuchea Thmey , President of the Senate, President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) Samdech Techo Hun Sen once said that the success of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal showed that the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge by the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation and the Vietnamese Army was the most correct thing for Cambodia and the world . Organizing the celebration of Victory Day on January 7 has a truly important meaning for Cambodia.

The article emphasized that “In addition to saving the lives of Cambodian people at that time, January 7 is also the joy of all Cambodian people today, when they inherit peace, development, have freedom and have it protected, use it without having to live in fear.”

Shining symbol of international solidarity

Meanwhile, in its print and online English versions, the Khmer Times published a commentary by Mr. Uch Leang - President of the Cambodian Alumni Association who studied in Vietnam (CAVA), Acting Director of the Department of Asian-African and Middle Eastern Studies, Cambodia Institute of International Relations under RAC.

In it, the author asserts that the Cambodia-Vietnam friendship is a shining symbol of international solidarity and the close relationship between the two neighboring countries. This relationship is built on a long-standing historical foundation, along with the solidarity in the struggle for national independence and freedom of the two countries, which is the foundation for the long-lasting friendship between the two peoples.

According to the article, 46 years ago, on January 7, 1979, patriotic forces under the leadership of the "Cambodian United Front for National Salvation", the predecessor of the current "Cambodian United Front for National Development", with the support of Vietnamese volunteer troops, entered Phnom Penh to liberate and overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime. The historic victory on January 7 promptly rescued more than 5 million Cambodians from the brutal genocidal regime of the Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot, which had killed more than 3 million innocent people during its 3 years, 8 months and 20 days in power, from 1975 to 1979.

In the article, CAVA President Uch Leang said that the historic event of January 7 demonstrated the great spirit of international solidarity between the people and the army of Cambodia and Vietnam. This victory was deeply engraved in the hearts of the Cambodian people, ending the darkest period, opening a new era - the era of independence, freedom, democracy and social progress. Therefore, the Cambodian people consider January 7, 1979 as their second birthday.

Expert Uch Leang emphasized: “Without the victory on January 7, Cambodia would not exist today. This is a historical truth that no one can change or destroy. The victory on January 7, 1979 is the best historical lesson learned from Cambodia, for future generations to remember, inherit the tradition of solidarity and heroic spirit, and mutual assistance of the armies and people of Cambodia and Vietnam in the struggle to protect their territories.”

In the article, Khmer Times also quoted Mr. Sok Eysan, CPP spokesman, saying that under the Pot Pot genocidal regime, the Cambodian people fell into a miserable situation. During that tragic time, the Vietnamese volunteer army and the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation became an overwhelming force, quickly and promptly launching attacks to liberate the Cambodian people and country from the genocidal regime.

Referring to the friendly relations between the two neighboring countries, expert Uch Leang said that Vietnam and Cambodia have built the future together, standing shoulder to shoulder to overcome difficulties, especially in the struggle to liberate the South and unify the country on April 30, 1975 by the Vietnamese people and the struggle against the Pol Pot regime on January 7, 1979 by the Cambodian people. The mutual support and assistance of the two neighboring countries has contributed positively to the reconstruction of Vietnam and Cambodia, creating a solid foundation for the long-term friendship between the two countries.

According to researchers from RAC, today, the Vietnam-Cambodia friendship continues to be strengthened in many areas, from politics , economics to culture and education. The two countries are committed to organizing diverse cultural exchange activities, trade and investment cooperation, infrastructure development, improving people's lives, and promoting sustainable development.

The good cooperative relationship between the two countries has developed strongly in many fields such as economy, culture, education, and defense. Bilateral trade agreements and economic cooperation frameworks have contributed to increasing trade turnover and promoting trade and investment between the two countries. Through the growth of trade, investment, and services, Vietnamese enterprises have continuously contributed to the socio-economic development process, creating many jobs for the Cambodian people.

According to scholar Uch Leang, through high-level visits, the two sides reaffirmed the agreed direction to strengthen and develop friendship and multifaceted cooperation, form specific mechanisms, and create favorable conditions to promote the relationship between the two countries to a new stage of development. In addition, the relationship between the two countries has been constantly consolidated with strategic trust between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the CPP. In that spirit, Vietnam and Cambodia pledge to strengthen good neighborly relations, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability, enhance mutual trust, and bring practical benefits to the people of each country.

In an article on January 5, the news site dap-news.com of the Cay Me Information Center (DAP News ) published an article titled “Celebrating the 46th Anniversary of Victory Day January 7: The spirit of solidarity in the cause of national liberation” with many meaningful messages about the Vietnam-Cambodia friendship.

Through the above article, DAP News commented that in the context of the world and regional situation continuing to develop complicatedly, the traditional spirit of solidarity and friendship on January 7, 1979 with the mutual support between Cambodia and Vietnam, the two countries will continue to develop the relationship of "Good neighbors, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term sustainability" to a new height.

Through that, we will build the future together, fight against narrow nationalist tendencies and activities that distort, slander, and divide the relationship between the two countries, in order to create a pure, stable, and sustainable relationship of solidarity and traditional friendship between the two nations, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, for peace and prosperity in the region and the world.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/truyen-thong-campuchia-de-cao-tinh-than-doan-ket-quoc-te-voi-viet-nam-nhan-su-kien-chien-thang-71-299985.html