On the calendar, the day of January 7 is the public holiday for government’s civil servants, some private company and NGO staff in order to celebrate the fall of Khmer Rouge regime controlled 3 years, 8 months, 20 days. More than 1 million people had been killed by execution, overwork, and starvation.
There are two different opinions over the day of January 7’s annual anniversary held by ruling party, but others see this day as Vietnam’s invasion on Cambodia’s sovereignty.
After listening to many different debates by ordinary people in the public and other places, I noticed that there are two meanings of celebration of January 7: one recognizes, and other one does not.
First, current government’s ruling party strongly recognized the fall of Pol Pot that it regards as the second life for all Cambodians and nation and it is the great victory that their party defeated black-shirt regime. In addition, Cambodians who went through this era really recognized it.
By the way, Prime Minister branded as ‘animal’ opposition politicians and other commentators set on painting January 7. And he added that politicians take opportunity for their political campaigns.
In reality, the people who suffered unforgettable brutal murders ruled by this regime really support and recognize the fall of Pol Pot regime.
Secondly, why do they not recognize this regime? To this point, those lived abroad and were born during and after the genocidal regime. Those who went through this regime do not recognize the truth of history. They are really not human being as what the premier said. No one said that they were pleased with this regime.
All I described above was what I heard from people’s chat in public and café shop in Phnom Penh. And I hope that there are other opinions over this celebration of January 07. How do you think about?
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