Victory over genocidal regime marked in HCM City

HCM City (VNA) – A ceremony was held in Ho Chi Minh City on January 6 to mark the 37th anniversary of the victory in the western border defence war and the joint victory of Vietnam and Cambodia over the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime (January 7).

Addressing the event, President of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association’s HCM City chapter Truong Minh Nhut said that January 1, 1979 went down in history as a milestone of the pure and faithful international solidarity and the special friendship between the two nations.

The day also marked Cambodia’s escape from the genocidal regime and stepping into a new era of independence, freedom and revival, as well as ushered in a new chapter for the two countries’ neighbourliness, he said.

It is the solidarity that has helped Vietnam and Cambodia overcome all obstacles and contributed to each nation’s great victories, Nhut noted.

He underlined the need to carry forward the solidarity, especially among the two countries’ young people, in order to further enhance the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations in a sustainable fashion.

Sim Sokhom, Cambodian Consul General to HCM City, said all Cambodian people always bear in mind the historic day as well as the support of Vietnamese people during the fight against the genocidal regime and the cause of national construction.

The Consul General briefed participants on Cambodia’s achievements in politics, economy and socio-culture over the past 37 years.

On this occasion, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations posthumously presented the insignia “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” to Major General Hoang The Thien, former Deputy Defence Minister and Deputy Political Commander of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in Cambodia.

Reigning from 1975-1979, the genocidal regime killed nearly 3 million Cambodian civilians in only 3 years, 8 months and 20 days, destroyed all social facilities and pushed the Cambodian nation to the brink of perdition.

The regime also distorted the history of Vietnam and mobilised most of its military strengths, including dozens of divisions and many local regiments, to launch an invasion into the southwestern border of Vietnam.

They ravaged villages, brutally killed local people, including the elderly, children and women, and seriously violated the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Vietnam.-VNA