The hand-over ceremony in Binh Phuoc province on December 1 (Photo: VNA) Addressing the hand-overceremony at the X-16 area in Binh Phuoc province, Sen. Lt. Gen. Do Can, Deputy Director of Vietnam People's Army (VPA)'s General Department of Politics and Standing ViceChairman of the Government’s specializedcommittee, recalled that after the victory of the anti-US resistance war, theCambodian people hoped to live in peace and national harmony for nationalconstruction. But the Cambodian revolution was betrayed by the Pol Pot-IengSary group, which implemented a genocidal policy, killing millions ofCambodians. They also sent troops to the border with Vietnam, attackingVietnamese localities and killing tens of thousands of innocent Vietnamese.
The Cambodian people along with genuine Cambodian revolutionaries had risen tofight against the genocidal regime. The genuine Cambodian revolutionaries, ledby Hun Sen (now the Prime Minister of Cambodia) travelled to Vietnam to buildup their forces.
On May 12, 1978, Division 125, the predecessor of Cambodia’s unitedarmed forces for national salvation, was established at SuoiRam hamlet (Long Giao commune, Cam My district of Dong Nai province) under thecommand of Hun Sen with Vietnam’s support. Together with other patriotic forcesof Cambodia, Division 125 has developed into the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces,which along with voluntary Vietnamese soldiers toppled the Pol Potadministration and saved the Cambodian people and country from genocide.
While performing their duties, 49 Cambodian officers and soldiers died due to injuriesin fighting in Cambodia or illnesses, and were buried at the hamlet. The areawas later turned into a cemetery and built into a historical site, which is asymbol of the pure and loyal solidarity and friendship bonds between the twonations and armies.
At the request of PM Hun Sen and the wish of relatives of the 49 dead officersand soldiers, the Vietnamese PM agreed to repatriate the remains to Cambodia.
Working teams of both sides have coordinated closely to complete the excavationof the remains to return them to Cambodia.
For his part, Gen. SaoSokha, deputy commander of the RCAF and commander ofthe National Military Police, expressed thanks to Vietnam for dedicating the site for theburial of the Cambodian officers and soldiers and for taking care of theirgraves over the past 45 years./.
VNA
