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Cambodia: Important U.N. Vote

By VVAW

Winter Soldier has consistently reported the continued war in Indochina, pointing out that even though there are few U.S. Ground troops fighting there, US imperialism has not given up in its efforts to dominate that part of the world. The Indochinese people have been fighting for freedom and independence from colonialism and imperialism for decades and now more than ever, it looks like complete independence will be achieved. The liberation forces are winning major victories while the lies and distortions directed at the American people by Washington (calculated to win support for their war efforts) are exposed.

In Cambodia, the Lon Nol regime is near final collapse. With 90% of the country controlled by the Royal Government of National Union (GRUNC), the dictator and his henchmen are totally isolated in small enclaves and in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Even with the US pumping $2 million a day in a vain attempt to stop liberation, Lon Nol is losing all control. Phnom Penh is being racked by food riots because the people cannot afford the 300% inflation rate. Troops under the regime have resorted to burglary because they haven't been paid in weeks and there is a flourishing black market where war supplies from the US are openly sold to liberation fighters. Over 85% of the people live in GRUNC territory, pointing out the fact that it is CRUNC that represents the people of Cambodia.

The US government has tried hard to keep other governments and the American people from recognizing that GRUNC is the only legitimate government in Cambodia. Last year, the US used parliamentary maneuvers to block the ouster of the Lon Nol regime from the United Nations. It was only when the supporters of GRUNC were out at another meeting that the US managed to have a resolution tabled. But defeat of the US on this front is inevitable. The same vote is coming up on the UN agenda and the US is arm-twisting its "allies" to scrounge up votes against GRUNC. However, 62 countries already recognize GRUNC and others are moving to give full recognition.

The US government has consistently tried to cover up the legitimacy of GRUNC, calling the liberation forces "rebels" or "insurgents." The mass media has continually toed the line on this matter, never once questioning this practice. The latest effort of the US focuses on trying to cal for a negotiated settlement between GRUNC and Lon Nol. John Gunther Dean, US Ambassador to Cambodia, has recently tried to contact GRUNC officials in the hopes of setting up discussions. However, this can be seen as an admission by the US government that Lon Nol and his regime have had it. For their part, GRUNC has consistently vetoed negotiations, pointing out that they are the legitimate government ousted by a US controlled coup, and that there will be no talks with dictators such as Lon Nol.

US Congressional opinion, reacting to the sentiments of the American people, is also going against continued US presence in Cambodia. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in hearings on foreign aid authorizations, recommended the cutting of aid to Phnom Penh. The committee cited the fact that US aid is being used for luxury items serving the ruling clique. A recent supply ship, having just fought its way up the Mekong River, carried only whiskey! The committee also pointed out the practice of indiscriminate shelling by Phnom Penh forces of liberated zones without regard to whether the target is of military value or not. Finally, they pointed out that things were so bad that much of the US military aid was ending up in the hands of GRUNC forces.

In a recent attempt to bolster the Phnom Penh regime, the US sent Lon Nol's brother, Lon Non (who has been living in the US) back to Cambodia. Brig. General Non was removed from Cambodia by the US because of his penchant for total repression against the population, which was making things difficult for the puppet regime in its futile efforts to win support from the Cambodian people. His return signals a desperate attempt to shape up the rapidly deteriorating army and possibly to replace the sickly Lon Nol.

The final hole-card for the US is the re-introduction of direct US military forces. For months now, thousands of Marines have been stationed in the Pacific Rim area. Operation Eagle Pull is the code name for over 5,000 Marines and Naval forces stationed off the coast of Cambodia. Related to this is the home porting of the USS MIDWAR, an attacked aircraft carrier, in Japan -- within easy striking distance of Indochina. Deputy Defense Secretary William Clements raised the specter of renewed US involvement in Indochina on October 8th, saying that the US could not rule our the us of US Naval and air power with relation to the situation in Southeast Asia.

The situation in Cambodia is linked to the general situation throughout Indochina, particularly South Vietnam. As reported in the last issue of Winter Soldier, the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam is fighting back against the forced occupation of their territory by the armed forces of Gen. Thieu, the current US supported dictator. Also, the people living in Saigon -- controlled areas are fed up with the corruption and police terror that prevails there. They have staged large demonstrations in Saigon to protest the misery they live under while Thieu's only response has been to beat and jail any dissenters.

The current crisis of US imperialism is in a large part due to the successful fight for freedom that the people of Indochina are waging. Their victories are limiting the areas that US imperialism can exploit, forcing big business and the US government to place the burden of this crisis on the backs of the American people. The interrelatedness of the struggles of the Indochinese people and the American people is a concrete fact. It is in our interest to fight for a complete end to all US intervention in Indochina, while at the same time, we must fight the attempts to have the burden of the imperialists' crisis foisted upon us.