CAMBODIAN-AMERICANS FOR DEMOCRACY NARANHKIRI TITH PH.D.

FORMER IMF OFFICIAL AND FORMER SAIS, PROFESSOR, THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY,

WASHINGTON DC

S T R AT E G Y A S T O H O W C A M B O D I A N -A M E R I C A N S C A N H E L P T H E I R C O U N T R Y O F

B I R T H T O I M P R O V E I T S C H A N C E F O R S U R V I VA L , B Y F U N D A M E N TA L LY C H A N G I N G C A M B O D I A’ S D O U B L E D E P E N D E N C I E S , A S

T H E G R E AT P H Y S I C I S T E I N S T E I N H A D W I S E LY S A I D , T H AT

“D OI N G THE S AM E THI N G OVER A N D OVER AG AI N, AN D A GA I N, A N D

EX PEC T D I FFER EN T R ES ULT I S S HEER M A D N ESS ”

CAMBODIAN-AMERICANS FOR DEMOCRACY

Which of the two Roads Cambodians must take for Cambodia to survive, as a civilization

Cambodians are now in this situation. “Civilizations die from suicide, not by

murder.”

This is the road that Cambodians must take in order to survive.

“As human beings, we are endowed with freedom of choice, and we cannot shuffle off our responsibility upon the shoulders of God or nature. We must shoulder it ourselves. It

is our responsibility.”

Arnold J. Toynbee; British Historian – (1886-1975)

 

  

CAMBODIAN-AMERICANS FOR DEMOCRACY

What, why, and how could Cambodian-Americans do to help Cambodia and its People survive? By Dr. Naranhkiri Tith

Agenda

1- Are we helping Cambodia as;

Cambodian-American or Cambodian National?  Which of the two should have the strongest impact from your future actions to help Cambodia, being Cambodian-Americans or Cambodian? What are legal and political implications in each case? 

  

2- DO WE KNOW OUR OWN HISTORY AND OURSELVES WELL? TAKING A LOOK AT HISTORY TO DISCOVER WHAT CAMBODIA REALLY WAS AND IS, AND WHY WE ARE WHAT AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY. BACKGROUND PAPERS PROVIDED AT: HTTP://CAMBODIANADESA.SHAREPOINT.COM/PAGES/NEWSANALYSIS2013I.ASPX

3- IS IT IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY TO KNOW OUR ENEMY’ S MINDSET? WHAT DOES VIETNAMESE NATIONALISM MEAN AND ITS CONSEQUENCES ON WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH? READ BACKGROUND PAPERS PROVIDED AT: HTTP://CAMBODIANADESA.SHAREPOINT.COM/PAGES/NEWSANALYSIS2013I.ASPX

4 - HOW DO WE GO FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW?   A- ROAD MAP TO FREEDOM; A PROPOSED DIAGNOSTICS OF THE CAMBODIAN PROBLEMS IN SEARCHING FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO SAVE CAMBODIA ONCE AND FOREVER.

BACKGROUNDS PAPERS AT:  HTTP://CAMBODIANADESA.SHAREPOINT.COM/PAGES/AROADMAPTOFREEDOMFORCAMBODIANS.ASPX

  B- WHEN, HOW AND HOW MUCH SHOULD WE TALK ABOUT THE VIETNAMESE ISSUES?

(CONTINUED)

4 -  HOW DO WE GO FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW?

C- HOW TO FACE AND DEAL WITH HUN SEN

D- HOW ARE WE GOING TO ASSESS THE IMPACT ON THE SEARCH FOR A SOLUTION FOR CAMBODIA, OF THE ROLE OF:

YOUK CHHANG

  SAM RAINSY

KEM SOKHA

MU SCHUA

E – WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF SIHANOUK’S DEATH ON THE SITUATION OF CAMBODIA? POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE? (END)

5- WHAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP SHOULD CAMBODIANS HAVE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS TASK OF NATIONAL SALVATION FOR CAMBODIA? CAN CAMBODIA BE SAVED WITHOUT A REQUIRED LEADER OF EXCEPTIONAL MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL QUALITIES AS AUNG SAN SUU KYI OR MANDELA, WHO ARE BOTH NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATES?

ARE KEM SOKHA AND SAM RAINSY AT THE SAME LEVEL OF NECESSARY EXCELLENCE OF STATESMANSHIP OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI OR MANDELA IN ORDER TO SAVE CAMBODIA? 

 

A Brief Review of Cambodian HistoryThe Legacy of Funan

 

King fan Shih-man, the greatest king of Funan, and his successors sent ambassadors to China and India. The Kingdom likely accelerated the process of indianization into Southeast Asia. Later kingdoms of Southeast Asia emulated the Funan court.  Source: Funan: A Cambodian Perspective;

http://www.khmerview.com/images/Header7.jpg

(Continued)

 

The Legacy of Funan 

During its golden age, Funan controlled modern-day southern Vietnam, Cambodia, central Thailand, northern Malaysia, and southern Myanmar. Although Funan collapsed under the pressure of neighboring Chenla, its capital Vyadhapura remained the largest and most important urban center in the region until Angkor Thom. The Funan kingdom had an efficient navy and rose to prosperity by regulating the sea trade between China and India. Source: Funan: A Cambodian Perspective;

http://www.khmerview.com/images/Header7.jpg (end)

Funan (Phnom) Birth of Cambodia: the Arab Maritime Trade, and the Land Silk Road: Between the 1st and 6th centuries, ships were sailing between the Red Sea and India, aided by

summer monsoon winds.

The Legacy of AngkorKhmer Empire

The Khmer Empire was one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asia, based in what is now Cambodia  and flourishing from the 9th  to the 13th century. The empire, which grew out of former kingdom of Chenla, at times ruled over and/or vassalized parts of modern-day Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Malaysia.  Its greatest legacy is Angkor, the site of the capital city during the empire's zenith. Angkor bears testimony to the Khmer empire's immense power and wealth, as well as the variety of belief systems that it patronized over time.

Source: Funan: A Cambodian Perspective http://www.khmerview.com/images/Header7.jpg

The Legacy of AngkorKhmer Empire

The empire's official religions included Hinduism  and Mahayana Buddhism, until Theravada Buddhism prevailed, even among the lower classes, after its introduction from Sri Lanka  in the 13th century.  Modern researches by satellites have revealed Angkor to be the largest pre-industrial urban center in the world.

The history of Angkor as the central area of settlement of the historical kingdom of Kambujadesa is also the history of the Khmer from the 9th to the 13th centuries.

Source: Funan: A Cambodian Perspective; http://www.khmerview.com/images/Header7.jpg

(Continued)

Clash of Civilizations

Comparison of Administrative, Political , Social Organizations between Sinic and Indic civilizations and its impact of national security and survival

Sinic/Vietnamese civilization

Administration: conceptually can be compared to a pyramid with the ruler at the apex with clearly defined links established between the apex and the lowest officials in the provinces who formed the base of this administration.

Law: the law was written code, detailed in form and complete with learned commentaries. Source: Milton Osborne; Southeast Asia: An Introductory History; (George Allen & Unwin, Boston, 1983)

(Continued)

 

CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS

COMPARISON OF ADMINISTRATIVE , POLITICAL, AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS BETWEEN SINIC AND INDIC CIVILIZATIONS AND ITS IMPACT OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND SURVIVAL

SINIC/VIETNAMESE CIVILIZATION

QUALIFICATION:

BASED ON SCHOLARSHIP (EXAM BASED ON CONFUCIUS TEACHING ) AND MERITOCRACY:

STRICT RULES COVERED THE AMOUNT OF AUTHORITY POSSESSED BY EACH OF OFFICIAL AND QUALIFICATIONS FOR EACH GRADE.

BORDER:

AND A FURTHER REFLECTION OF THE CHARACTER OF THE STATE THE VIETNAMESE BELIEVED IN THE NECESSITY OF CLEARLY DEFINED BORDERS WITH ITS NEIGHBORS, WITH THE USE OF A MAP AND BORDER MARKERS.

SOURCE: MILTON OSBORNE; SOUTHEAST ASIA: AN INTRODUCTORY HISTORY; (GEORGE ALLEN & UNWIN, BOSTON, 1983)

CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS

Comparative Administrative, Political, and Social Organizations between Sinic and Indic civilizations, and its impact on national security and survival

Indic/Khmer civilization

Administration: conceptually can be compared to a series of concentric circles with the ruler with absolute power at the center circle, and the largest circle represents the state. There is a lack of close linkage between the center of the kingdom and outer regions, as well as the existence of numerous petty centers of power largely independent on their greater neighbors.Source: Milton Osborne; Southeast Asia: An Introductory History; (George Allen & Unwin, Boston,1983)

(Continued)

CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS

Comparative Administrative, Political, and Social Organizations between Sinic and Indic civilizations, and its impact on national security and survival

Indic/Khmer civilization

Law: no clearly defined authority in written legal form. Control over the more distant regions of the kingdom was readily delegated to provincial governors who were able to exercise almost complete power, providing that they did not challenge the king’s position as the ultimate arbiter of affairs within the state.

Source: Milton Osborne; Southeast Asia: An Introductory History; (George Allen & Unwin, Boston,1983)

(Continued)

CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS

Comparative Administrative, Political, and Social Organizations between Sinic and Indic civilizations, and its impact on national security and survival

Indic/Khmer civilization Qualification: appointments were not based on scholarship or meritocracy. Birth into quasi-hereditary family, ability and an opportunity to gain the ruler’s notice all played their part in determining advancement.

Border: no precision on physical limitation, but rather on the porous concept of hinterland or buffer zone. No use of map nor border markersSource: Milton Osborne; Southeast Asia: An Introductory History; (George Allen & Unwin, Boston, 1983)

(end)

Asymmetry and China’s Tributary System:(How the Vietnamese were able to defend themselves against

mighty China by probing into the Chinese mindset to find its weak points, and by motivating their people under a capable, and

compassionate leader) By Brandly Womack

(The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com Downloaded from http://cjip.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Virginia on February 20, 2012)

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“This text shows a sober realization of the limits of China’s capacity to dominate. The realization of limits is the intellectual precondition for the institutionalization of the tributary system. The key to a peaceful frontier did not lie in dominating neighbors, but rather in managing a mutually acceptable relationship. Zhou’s descriptions of the equilibrium reached with Burma19 and Silla20 also fit this pattern.”

(continued)

Asymmetry and China’s Tributary System:(How the Vietnamese were able to defend themselves against mighty China by probing into the Chinese mindset to learn its weak and strength, and by motivating its people under a capable and compassionate leader)

By Brandly Womack

(The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com Downloaded from http://cjip.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Virginia on February 20, 2012)

-------------------------------------------------------------

 ”Ming Taizu’s successor, Yongle, did not obey his father’s injunction. In 1407, he occupied Vietnam and attempted to re-attach it to China. To be sure, he had his reasons. In Vietnam, Ho Quy Ly had overthrown the Tran Dynasty recognized by China and massacred the Chinese guard accompanying the Tran claimant on his return from Nanjing. Of course, from Ho’s perspective, there was little reason to be deferential to China. The Yuan had been defeated and Champa had again become Vietnam’s proximate rival and threat.21 But Ho Quy Ly’s affront to China prompted Yongle to attempt to re-annex Vietnam to the empire.”

(Continued)

Asymmetry and China’s Tributary System:(How the Vietnamese were able to defend themselves against mighty China by probing into the Chinese mind to learn its strength and weakness and by motivating its people, under a capable and compassionate leader )

By Brandly Womack

(The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com Downloaded from http://cjip.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Virginia on February 20, 2012)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

‘The re-conquest of Vietnam in 1407 was rather easily accomplished, but by 1427, it became clear that the re-annexation was a failure. The presence of a foreign administration prompted the Vietnamese to unite behind Le Loi in a protracted patriotic struggle. What was, for the Ming, a frustrating task of pacifying a new and not very desirable part of the empire was, from the Vietnamese perspective, a mortal struggle that helped define its political community. (continued)

Asymmetry and China’s Tributary System:(How the Vietnamese were able to defend themselves against mighty China by probing into the Chinese mind to learn its strength and weakness and by motivating its people, under a capable and compassionate leader)

By Brandly Womack

(The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com Downloaded from http://cjip.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Virginia on February 20, 2012)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

“In his ‘Binh Ngo Dai Cao’ [Ping Wu dagao —Proclamation of victory over Wu (China)], the scholar–patriot, Nguyen Trai, flourishes the claim of historical equality with China as articulated by 14th century historians.22 Fresh from defeating an occupation by means of guerilla warfare, Nguyen Trai also lays an emphasis on the people—their sufferings and their support for resistance.”

(continued)

Asymmetry and China’s Tributary System:(How the Vietnamese defended themselves against mighty China by probing into the Chinese mind, set to learn about its strength and weakness, and by motivating its people under a capable and compassionate leader)

By Brandly Womack

(The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com Downloaded from http://cjip.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Virginia on February 20, 2012)

“The strength and greatness Nguyen Trai said of Le Loi was grounded in his concern for the people and, thus, he prevailed over the forces of the Ming. says, in the voice of Le Loi:

 ‘Around our standard on a fragile bamboo pole I mustered forces from a scattered populace.As they drank my wine so I drank their water

And we became like son and father,Soldiers of one heart.23’”

(end)

The First Vietnamization and Liberation of Cambodia ; 1834 -1840

(Cambodia had disappeared from the map of the world)

THE FIRST VIETMAMIZATION AND LIBERATION OF CAMBODIA

(Please click on this link to read the whole book) THE VIETMAMIZATION OF CAMBODIA, 1835-1840

 By David Chandler

A History of Cambodia; (Westview Books, Boulder, Colorado, 2000)

“Whereas previously the Vietnamese fort at Phnom

Penh had been called Annam, or pacified south,

the city itself and the surrounding coun tryside

were now renamed Tran Tay, or western

commandery, and Sino-Vietnamese names were

given to all of Cambodia's sruk. (continued)

THE FIRST VIETMAMIZATION AND LIBERATION OF CAMBODIA

(Please click on this link to read the whole book)

THE VIETMAMIZATION OF CAMBODIA, 1835-1840 

By David Chandler

A History of Cambodia; (Westview Books,

Boulder, Colorado, 2000)

“Day-to-day ad ministrative decisions, including personnel

postings, salaries, military affairs, and the control of rice

surpluses, were placed in Vietnamese hands, and some sixteen

officials, seventy clerks, and ten schoolmasters were sent to

Phnom Penh to form the core of an infrastructure for the

ad ministration.

(continued)

THE FIRST VIETMAMIZATION AND LIBERATION OF CAMBODIA

(Please click on this link to read the whole book)

THE VIETMAMIZATION OF CAMBODIA, 1835-1840 

By David Chandler

A History of Cambodia; (Westview Books,

Boulder, Colorado, 2000)

Until 1839-1840, however, the administration of the

sruk — including the all- important matter of labor

mobilization—was left to the oknya, who operated

with royal seals even though their appointments

were cleared through the Vietnamese. (Continued)

THE FIRST VIETMAMIZATION AND LIBERATION OF CAMBODIA

(Please click on this link to read the whole book)

THE VIETMAMIZATION OF CAMBODIA, 1835-1840 

By David Chandler

A History of Cambodia; (Westview Books,

Boulder, Colorado, 2000)

Minh Mang's policy of Vietnamizing Cambodia had several

facets. He sought to mobilize and arm the Khmer, to colonize the

region with Viet namese, and to reform the habits of people. He

also tried to stan dardize patterns of measurement,

mobilization, and food supply , for mil itary reasons. (Continued)

THE FIRST VIETMAMIZATION AND LIBERATION OF CAMBODIA

(Please click on this link to read the whole book)

THE VIETMAMIZATION OF CAMBODIA, 1835-1840 

By David Chandler

A History of Cambodia; (Westview Books,

Boulder, Colorado, 2000)

Control—that is, control of the adult male population and the formation of a standing army, if possible, to resist the Thai

—was the essential ingredient of all the Vietnamese programs.

Problems of recruit ment arose because many of the Oknhas were unwilling to relinquish control over their followers. The Vietnamese soon found, in fact, that Cham mer

cenaries were the only troops they could recruit. Because ethnic Khmer caused so many problems, Minh

Mang sought to colonize the region with Vietnamese.

(Continued)

THE FRIST VIETMAMIZATION AND LIBERATION OF CAMBODIA

(Please click on this link to read the whole book)

THE VIETMAMIZATION OF CAMBODIA, 1835-1840

 By David Chandler

A History of Cambodia; (Westview Books, Boulder,

Colorado, 2000)

He justified this policy on the grounds that "military convicts and ordinary prisoners, if kept in jail, would prove useless.

Therefore, it would be better for them to be sent to Cambodia and live among the people there, who would benefit from their teaching."21

(End)

THE VIETMAMIZATION AND LIBERATION OF CAMBODIA(Please click on this link to read the whole book)

THE VIETMAMIZATION OF CAMBODIA, 1835-1840

 By David Chandler ; A History of Cambodia; (Westview Books,

Boulder, Colorado, 2000)

“The Vietnamese soon found, in fact, that Cham mer cenaries were the only troops they could recruit. Because ethnic Khmer caused so many problems, Minh

Mang sought to colonize the region with Vietnamese.

He justified this policy on the grounds that "military convicts and ordinary prisoners, if kept in jail, would prove

useless.

Therefore, it would be better for them to be sent to Cambodia and live among the people there, who would benefit from their teaching."21

(End)

THE FIRST HERO AND SUCCESSFUL LIBERATION FROM OF CAMBODIA FROM VIETNAMESE YOKE; 1840

  Duty of Memory

Mekong-Post | décembre 17, 2011 | 0 Comments  After reading some of books related to Cambodia, I wish to come back with few tragic pages of its history not to forget our painful past.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------On behalf of the Duty of Memory, I would like to shed light on the struggle and sacrifice of our ancestors and elders for the defense of the Khmer nation survival. In this respect, let’s remind the following painful events:

1 - The cruel atrocity inflected during 1813-1815 to our Khmer Krom ancestors known under the name “Prayat Kampup Te Ong”.

Here what was written in Khy Phanra’s Ph.D thesis («La Communauté Vietnamienne au Cambodge A l’Epoque du Protectorat Français (1863 – 1953 »), Université de la Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris III, 1974, about the history of  Kampup Te Ong : (Continued)

THE FIRST HERO AND SUCCESSFUL LIBERATION OF CAMBODIA: FROM VIETNAMESE’S YOKE; 1840

  Duty of MemoryMekong-Post | December 17, 2011 |

 

 “In the province of Kompong Svay, for instance, where the Vietnamese settlers in the fortress at srok Kandal Staung, Baray and Choeung Prey, were killed by the insurgents. The revenge of the Vietnamese army of occupation hit more than one thousand of Cambodians of the region. According to (the document of ) Wat Krauch, these latter, the flesh of whom flesh was first cut and mixed with spicy salt, were burned alive. The children were buried alive up to their necks by group of three so that their heads become a triangular stand for a wood stove, on which the winners (of that time) have cooked the rice and their tea. This last torture is called by Cambodians «Kampup Te Ong ». The Cambodian victims, burned by the flames, screamed loudly and with their convulsive agony shook their heads.

(continued)

THE FIRST HERO AND SUCCESSFUL LIBERATION OF CAMBODIA FROM THE VIETNAMESE ‘ S YOKE; 1840

  Duty of Memory

Mekong-Post | December 17, 2011 |  

. The Vietnamese torturers laughed coldly and spoke with the victims language: Chhop sen! Sngiem vei! Kampup tê ong! Stop! you spill the tea of the master !”

2 - The killing of Khmers Krom by harsh labor and by drowning per hundreds after the completion of the canal Vinh Te.

3 - The acceptance of Oknha Son Kuy (An ancestor of Lok Son San?) to be beheaded in exchange for Khmer Krom’s rights to preserve their religion, customs, traditions and Khmer language. (end)

THE FIRST HERO AND SUCCESSFUL AND ONLY LIBERATION OF

CAMBODIA BY CAMBODIANS, FROM THE VIETNAMESE ‘ S YOKE; 1840 

Duty of MemoryMekong-Post | December 17 , 2011 |

 . (end)

Suggested ReadingA Short History of Southeast Asia: Vietnam

Welcome to AFG Venture GroupAFG Venture Group: A Short History of Southeast Asia: Vietnam

(Please, click on this picture to read the highly recommended book)

Suggested Reading:A Short History of Cambodia:

From Empire to SurvivalBy John Tully

(Please, click on this picture to read this well-written and balanced book)