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Interview on Pen Sovann
by
Professor
NaranhKiri Tith
February 2, 2001
Dear Mr. Pen Sovann:
I came across your web site through Radio Cambodia International. I also just read your declaration
on the anniversary of the so-called Vietnamese
"liberation" of Cambodia on the 7th of January 1979, as well as your interview in the most recent edition of the Phnom Penh Post on that
anniversary celebration by the CPP.
Before going any further, let me introduce myself and tell you what I am doing with the information that I hope you will be able to provide me on your
background and role in the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia until you were removed from the power by the Vietnamese Political Bureau after your trip to
Moscow in the early 1980s.
I am presently a professor of International Economics and Asian Studies at the Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies, here
in Washington, DC. I have never belonged a member of any political parties. I am every much involved in trying to bring democracy, society and real freedom
to the Cambodian people by working very closely with the US Congress, the academic community, and the NGOs, local and international. I am 67 years old,
and a citizen of the United States of America. I have no political ambition except to see real freedom, peace, justice, and moral and material decency to
all Cambodians. I am not a Vietnamese hater, nor am I naive and expedient to thank Vietnam for the so-called liberation. I sincerely think that Vietnam
has been committing genocidal against the Cambodian people, especially
against Khmer Krom people, as they did against the Chams a few centuries ago.
I also read a recent book written by Colonel Bui Tin former editor of the Nhan Dan Newspaper of the Vietnamese army. From these readings, I would like
to ask you the following questions:
(1) Acceding to Bui Tin you were serving with the Vietnamese army with the rank of major until you were appointed to be the defense minister, Secretary
General of the Cambodian Communist Party, and Prime Minister, after the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia.
(2) What motivated you to be member of the Vietnamese Communist Party and a member of the Vietnamese army?
(3) Did you know that Vietnam has always been using Cambodian kings and other traitors to take over Cambodia land and committing genocidal policy against
the Cambodian people, and the Chams before that?
(4) Did you really believe that the Vietnamese were sincere in coming to "liberate" Cambodia without conditions attached?
(5) Who else were with your group that came with the Vietnamese tanks to invade Cambodia, besides Chan Si, and Say Pouthong?
(6) Do you believe that Hun Sen, Sar Kheng, and Chea Sim are still serving Vietnamese national interest at the expense of Cambodian interests? Please,
tell me why if you agree with this assessment?
(7) You still seem to praise Vietnam as the liberator of the Cambodian people, but you only objected to their insincerity How do you justify your
position in this regard?
(8) What is your judgment on King Sihanouk's role during the Khmer Rouge regime? During the Vietnamese occupation? And since the 1997 coup d' etat by
Hun Sen? Is he guilty at all in all these activities with all these events in Cambodia?
Is he the God father of the Khmer Rouge and Hun Sen?
Please, elaborate for the so - Kov5 Plan? What is it how was it organized? who led it? And what were the objectives of that plan? What kind and extent
of damage did the plan cause the Cambodian people and where?
(9) What is your strategy and policy to reverse the tragic course history that you personally brought about to make the Vietnamese master of Cambodia's
destiny?
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and kind answers. With best regards.
N. Tith,
The School of Advanced International Studies,
The Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC.
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Dear Mr. N. Tith,
I am very happy that you
have asked me nine questions, dated Feb. 2, 2001.
I am Pen Sovann and my answers to your questions are the following:
ANSWER
(1)
I was sent by the Khmer Peopleıs Revolutionary Party to continue my
study in Vietnam from 1955 to 1970. I
studied at the ³Modern Infantry Institute².
I did not belong to any Vietnamese army, but I participated in the
hand-on training requirements given through the Vietnamese armed forces to build
my technical military experiences so that I could eventually use it to serve my
own country.
(2)
I have never been a member of the Vietnamese Communist Party nor was I
ever a soldier of any Vietnamese armed forces.
I was just a Cambodian designated to go and fulfill my study in a foreign
country with the intention of returning to serve my country.
(3)
According to history, I knew that Vietnam had used Cambodian kings and
other group of traitors as a mean to seize Cambodian territories and to
implement their genocidal policy to swallow Cambodian land.
Kampuchea Krom, was another example of what they implemented to absorb
the territories belonging to Champa.
(4)
I have clearly expressed in my statement as of Jan. 1, 2001, regarding
the cooperation to free Cambodia from the genocidal regime but the party of
Vietnam violated the cooperative contract and instead jailed me for over ten
years when I rebelled and chose to serve the interests of my own country.
(5)
There were indeed a lot of people that I am not able to explain
everything, but you will soon see everything in my book to be published in the
near future.
(6)
It is true that they still serve the interests of Vietnam as they receive
perks, power, and protection in return. Because
of these benefits they never acted on problems such as illegal Vietnamese
immigrants or border encroachments, etc.
(7)
Yes, as for me and other Cambodians who survived the massacre, it is
appropriate to say that Vietnam timely saved Cambodians from the genocidal
regime. Contrary to this, Vietnam
held intentions to inappropriately colonize Cambodia.
They illegally sent their people into Cambodia in order to seize
Cambodian land.
(8)
As for this question, letıs not judge it yet as there are many angles
that we cannot address. And as for the KOR 5 PLAN, you will see and understand it
when my history book is published in the near future.
(9)
My strategies and policies are to destroy dictatorship, family and clan
interests by using nonviolent means based on real democratic principles.
Sincerely,
Pen
Sovann
Phnom Penh Feb. 8, 2001
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