Spreading the Word of the Cambodian Genocide
3RD STORY of Level 1 printed in
FULL format. Copyright 1989 The New York Times Company The New York Times February 24,
1989, Friday, Late City Final Edition SECTION: Section A; Page 33, Column 1; Editorial
Desk LENGTH: 497 words HEADLINE: Mr. Bush: Help Cambodia BYLINE: By Dith Pran; The author
of the following letter, a New York Times photographer, was a Cambodian journalist whose
nearly four-year ordeal under the Khmer Rouge and escape in 1979 were portrayed in a film,
``The Killing Fields. `` BODY:
Dear President Bush, In a short time, you will
be sitting down with Deng Xiaoping in Beijing. There will be many pressing matters on your
agenda, but none more vital than insuring that Cambodia becomes free after the Vietnamese
troops withdraw and that the Khmer Rouge, who are supplied by the Chinese, do not fill the
vacuum. ''The Khmer Rouge problem'' sounds dry and abstract. But there is nothing academic
about what the Khmer Rouge would do if they are able to return to power in Cambodia or
even a portion of the country. For several months, we have been treated to a preview, with
the Khmer Rouge forcing back perhaps 16,000 civilians from closed camps along the Thai
border into the interior of Cambodia. Forced labor, including ammunition porterage, is
required of civilians. Those pushed back are often subjected to artillery fire from the
Vietnamese side, caught in a cross-fire between the two Communist camps. The number of
casualties is unknown, for the Khmer Rouge have not permitted the civilians to enter the
internationally supported hospitals on the border. So far, the world has remained
relatively silent on these human rights abuses. It is high time that the international
community take steps to open up these concentration camps along the border and give the
civilians the right to move elsewhere. Over the past few weeks, there has been growing
awareness of the Khmer Rouge's activities and strength. But an effective plan to block
them is not likely to be proposed by any of the parties, including Moscow and Beijing.
Hence, the need for American leadership. Given this context and the extraordinary stakes,
I would suggest that you appoint a senior official to take responsibility as special envoy
for Cambodian affairs, including, most importantly, coordinating American efforts to block
the Khmer Rouge and to help bring a peaceful settlement. Such an envoy could also address
the problems of the displaced Cambodians along the Thai-Cambodian border, particularly
civilians under the Khmer Rouge yoke. Recently, 27 senators wrote Secretary of State James
A. Baker 3d, urging him to have the U.S. take the lead in preventing a Khmer Rouge
resurgence. Their letter is a reminder that the American people and their elected
representatives from both parties abhor the Khmer Rouge and will not tolerate their return
to power. The Senators concluded: ``The fact that the Khmer Rouge have been nursed back to
health underscores the importance of an international effort to prevent new Khmer Rouge
terror and bloodshed in the killing fields of Cambodia. We look forward to supporting your
initiatives that advance the likelihood of a political solution in Cambodia and that
maintain the U.S. refugee protection and resettlement policies we have fought to
protect.'' I hope that under your leadership, America and China can work together to
prevent a Khmer Rouge return. If America does not now take the lead, Cambodia's holocaust
could happen again. LANGUAGE: ENGLISH |
