Defence Minister General Tea Banh speaks to reporters upon his arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport (Source: Khmer Times)
Hanoi (VNA) – Cambodia’s Defence Minister General Tea Banh and lawmaker Hun Many of the CambodianPeople’s Party have lashed out at Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loongfor accusing the Vietnamese troops of invading Cambodia to topple the KhmerRouge regime in 1979, according to the Khmer Times.
Leementioned Vietnam’s presence in Cambodia in a condolence letter posted on hisFacebook page on May 31 and sent to Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, onthe passing of former Thai prime minister and President of the Privy Council,General Prem Tinsulanonda.
Thenewspaper reported that Gen. Tea Banh brought up the issue with his Singaporeancounterpart Ng Eng Hen while attending the 18th Asia Security Summit’s IISSShangri-La Dialogue 2019 in Singapore last weekend.
Speakingto reporters upon his arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport on June 3,Gen Banh said he had asked Ng Eng Hen to inform PM Lee to make correction onhis remark.
“His[Mr Lee’s] remark was not true and not reflective of the history,” Gen Banh wasquoted as saying by the Khmer Times.
“Itis not true at all because he said that Vietnamese troops invaded Cambodia. Wewant him to make a correction.”
“Wecannot accept what he said. We have already clarified that Vietnamese volunteertroops came to liberate our people,” Gen Banh said.
“Westill consider that they came to save our people’s lives. It has beenenormously meaningful for us,” he affirmed.
Meanwhile, CPP lawmaker Hun Many said people should not forgetthe atrocities and crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge.
“Whether it was a realist geopolitical or national interestperspective of the moment, one should not overlook nor forget the atrocitiesand crimes against humanity, especially the genocide committed by the KhmerRouge regime,” he said.
“While everyone was playing politics, Cambodians prayed thatit did not matter who and from where the help would come from, but we wanted tobe saved from the genocidal regime of the Khmer Rouge. The help came in theform of the CPP with the assistance of our neighbouring country, Vietnam,” headded.-VNA
