On May 6, within the framework of a visit to Indonesia from May 5-7, President of the Cambodian People's Party, President of the Cambodian Senate, former Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen gave a speech at the ASEAN and East Asia Economic Research Institute (ERIA) in Jakarta on " Ethnic peace and reconciliation in Cambodia: Lessons for Southeast Asia".
According to VNA, in his presentation, the Cambodian leader was moved to recall the special historical moment when he arrived in Vietnam in 1977, asking Vietnam to help liberate Cambodia from the Pol Pot epidemic.
He declared: "Without the support of Vietnam at that time, no country could help Cambodia overthrow the bloody Pol Pot epidemic. We must protect this historical truth so that such brutal acts will never happen again."
According to Senate President Hun Sen, over the past 40 years, there have been accusations against Vietnam and the extreme trend of denying the existence of crimes of elimination under the Khmer Red regime.
He called for absolute protection of historical truth, especially to prevent similar crimes from recurring. The Cambodian leader emphasized the long-term value of peace and the importance of historical awareness in preventing future conflicts.
Last year, Cambodia marked the 45th anniversary of the Khmer Red October (1979 - 2024). In more than 3 years of power since 1975, the epidemic regime led by Pol Pot - Ieng Sary has 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 Cambodians considered Vietnam as the only place that could help. Because Vietnam is a neighbor that has always suffered, standing shoulder to shoulder with Cambodia in the struggles against common enemy and for independence.
With the spirit of pure international solidarity and helping others is also helping themselves, after receiving a request from the National Unity Front for the salvation of Cambodia, tens of thousands of soldiers and officers of the Vietnam Volunteer Army have gone to the neighboring country.
This important support helped Cambodia defeat the Khmer Red on January 7, 1979, saving the country from elimination.
