7 January 1997 – the Regular Annual Controversial Discussion

7 January 1997 – the Regular Annual Controversial Discussion

The Mirror, Vol. 15, No. 698

Year after year, this day – related to the survival of Cambodia, when the Khmer Rouge dominated period of killings, mainly of Khmers by Khmers, came to an end – leads to discussions about the role of this day in Cambodian history.

Nobody can deny that this day brought an end to an unprecedented period of killings. To quote some of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s recent statements:

Hun Sen said that if there was no 7 January, there would be no Khmer Rouge tribunal and the country would not have made any progress.

“Those who consider 7 January as their enemy, would they dare to say that there was a genocidal regime of Pol Pot, or not?”

…without the toppling of the Khmer Rouge, the Paris Peace Accords would never have been signed.

“I would like to put the question at this point: If Pol Pot had continued to have power until 1991, would Pol Pot have agreed to sign them?”

In spite of such practical interpretations, an emotional debate continues. It has been summed up in a Cartoon which we quote with permission, which calls at the end of the explanatory text:

“I am hoping that this New Year people will temper their frustration and anger, engage in constructive discussion, and use facts and wit to demonstrate their point of view.”

Have a look here at today’s QuickDRAW cartoon Victory Day on Genocidal Regime [3].

We hope that this call for “constructive discussion and use of facts and wit” will find a good response. The QuickDRAW daily cartoons [4] are a regular challenge to pause and reflect.

Norbert KLEIN

This article was first published by The Mirror, [5] Vol. 15, No. 698 – Friday, 7.1.2011
Have a look at the last editorial - you can access it directly from the main page of The Mirror. [5]

Norbert Klein is the Editor of The Mirror [6] – The Mirror is a daily comprehensive summary and translation of the major Khmer language press - More about The Mirror [7]