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War and Starvation: Cambodia Ten Years Later

By Marilyn Sutkus

With the United States, China, and the Soviet Union deadlocked behind the scenes, peace in Cambodia is a distant prospect at best. But until the situation is resolved, the lives of undreds of thousands of Cambodian refugees hang in the balance.

A slideshow to the Vietnam War, Cambodia became the focus of international attention from 1978-1979, when Khymer Rouge atrocities and reports of impending famine were widely publicized. Then, all too quickly, problems of an overwhelming magnitude disappeared from the news. Other crises—in Afghanistan, Iran, Ethiopia—were easier to understand politically, easier to resolve in humanitarian terms, and far easier on the consciences of many Americans.

But though forgotten by many, Cambodia's problems have not gone away. The land is still occupied by 180,000 Vietnamese soldiers. As of mid-1984, an estimated 235,000 Cambodian civilians were living in refugee camps in the Cambodian side of the Thai-Cambodian border. And last December, fierce Vietnamese attacks in and around Rithisen, the largest refugee camp in Cambodia, killed at least 63 civilians and wounded 78 others.

Cambodian border camps are typical villages, with schools, hospitals, Buddhist temples and markets. They are internationally recognized as civilian population centers. Nevertheless, the civilian camps are unavoidably connected with the political and military groups in the area. Thus, refugees are fre-victims of attacks which Thai Foreign Ministry officials describe as "cruel, savage and brutal."

Historically, Cambodia and Vietnam have been uneasy neighbors. The Vietnamese were hailed as liberators when they overthrew Pol Pot's Khymer rouge—a government responsible for the deaths of at least 2 million Cambodians between 1975 and 1978. They have since become oppressors. The government of Heng Samrin, which the Vietnamese installed and continue to support with troops, is not recognized by the United Nations. Instead, the UN has regularly called for a Vietnamese withdrawal from Cambodia, and free Cambodian elections.

The UN recognizes a three-party coalition as the legitimate government of Cambodia. The coalition is made up of the anti-Communist Khymer People's National Liberation Front (KPNLF), led by former Prime Minister Son Sann; an anti-Communist group loyal to former chief of state Prince Norodom Sihanouk; and Pol Pot's communist Khymer Rouge.

The coalition government is supported in varying degrees by the association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), by most Western governments, and by the United States. Washington however, has nothing to do with Pol Pot's organization and has repeatedly turned down Son Sann's request for American military aid for KPNLF guerrillas. Both Singapore and China are aid to supply KPNLF with arms. And China is one of the few nations standing behind the Khymer Rouge as well as non-Communist members of the of the coalition government. Perking says it will not withdraw its support from Pol Pot as long as Vietnamese troops remain in Cambodia. But the Vietnamese, who are supported by the Soviet Union, say they will be willing to begin serious peace negotiations only if Pol Pot is repudiated.

Following in December Vietnamese attacks on Rithisen, over 60,000 civilian refugees—perhaps as many as 100,000—fled to Thailand, where they have been given temporary sanctuary. They will be moved back across the border as soon as the Vietnamese retreat, but that does not appear to be soon.

Meanwhile at least 45,000 Cambodian refugees have already been living in holding camps across the Thai border, some for years. However, in the summer of 1984, the Thai government withdrew its blanket offer of first asylum to Cambodian refugees. In fact, Thailand announced on July 29th that Khao-I-Dang, the largest holding camp, would be changed to a processing center and that refugees there who were not already being processed or accepted by a third country would be placed in a repatriation program. For many, a return to Cambodia under the Vietnamese would mean death. The Thai's estimated that as many as 25,000 to 30,000 refugees would be left unaccepted by third countries and not in process at the end of 1984.

The consequences of 15 years of warfare have been devastating. Disease, malnutrition, continual uncertainty about their future and the ongoing fighting that regularly destroys their crops, homes and families have made life nearly impossible for hundreds of thousands of civilians. Efforts to improve the lives of Cambodian civilians at the Thai-Cambodian border a major concern of the Cambodian humanitarian Organization of America (CHOA), a Chicago-based group of concerned Cambodians and Americans.

The aims of CHOA are to improve the quality of life among the Cambodians in Southeast Asia, to facilitate the protection of human rights for Cambodians and other oppressed people throughout the world, to work with international organizations which provide relief for the Cambodian people, to assist any Cambodian associations or projects in the realization of their goals and the meeting of their needs.

Current CHOA fund-raising projects include the production of a Cambodian language tape for English speakers working here or in Thailand with refugees, slide presentations and a day-long seminar to introduce Americans to Cambodian history, culture and life. The goal of fund-raising projects is to provide direct relief in the form of food, clothing and medicine to refugees on the borer. In addition, involvement with other organizations to facilitate reunification procedures is an ongoing effort. Finally, CHOA seeks to keep events in Cambodia in the public eye, knowing that problems are more likely to be resolved when they are recognized.

CHOA encourages everyone who is willing to remember—or cannot forget—to do as much as possible to relieve the incredible suffering of Cambodian people. Individuals can write to local newspapers and national magazines requesting continued coverage of the Cambodian situation and stressing the humanitarian concerns that are at stake. Congressional representatives must also be kept informed on the latest developments and of their constituents' concern. Sponsors, advocates and friends of the Cambodian people are needed.

CHOA is an all-volunteer organization that gratefully accepts time, talent, information and (tax-deductible) contributions. To join, to help or form more information, contact the Cambodian Humanitarian Organization of America, P.O. Box 408353, Chicago, IL 60640. The phone numbers are (312) 878-7092, or 929-5805.

—Marilyn Sutkus
for CHOA