Phnom Penh (VNA) – The Solidarity Front for theDevelopment of Cambodia Motherland (SFDCM) held a ceremony in Phnom Penh onDecember 2 to mark the 41st founding anniversary of the Kampuchean United Frontfor National Salvation, which was the beginning of the struggle to topple thegenocidal regime and revive Cambodia.
Addressing the celebration, President of theCambodian National Assembly, Honorary President of the ruling CambodianPeople’s Party (CPP) and Chairman of the SFDCM National Council Heng Samrinrecounted the foundation of the Salvation Front on December 2, 1978 in Snuoldistrict of Kratie province.
In response to the front’s call, with the greatsupport of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, Cambodian people of all strata joinedin an uprising to defeat the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime and win the gloriousvictory on January 7, 1979, he noted.
He said Cambodia always keeps in mind theenormous sacrifices that cadres, soldiers and patriots made for the sake oftheir motherland.
Heng Samrin also lauded the country’sachievements under the leadership of the CPP-led Government, adding that tofurther bring into play the great national unity bloc to boost national development,the SFDCM and the CPP will keep strongly supporting the Government’sdevelopment policy, which aims at an annual economic growth rate of 7 percentand a household poverty rate of under 10 percent.
Talking to the media on this occasion, CPP spokesmanSok Eysan affirmed that the date December 2, 1978 was an important milestonethat led to the collapse of the regime led by Pol Pot from 1975 to 1979. Healso recalled the event on June 20, 1977, when Hun Sen and his comrades came toVietnam to seek assistance in the fight against the Pol Pot regime.
Historian Ros Chantrabot, former President ofthe Royal Academy of Cambodia, stressed that December 2, 1978 was the startingpoint of an era of peace and development of the country. He also refuted the oppositionparty’s criticism of the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers’ assistance, saying thatsuch criticism is wrongful since Cambodia would not have secured the January 7,1979 victory without the date December 2, 1978./.
VNA