Great victory of the Cambodian people : warmly congratulating the patriotic Cambodian armed forces and people on the liberation of Phnom Penh and all Cambodia

vdoo' -\c\r^o\f^O' N\N\N\ uoiupe uonBn|BA9 -ifiriQinD miM pesseoojd -in

'^

GREAT VICTORY
IP OF THE
CAMBODIAN PEOPLE

A™.d Fcce, and Peopl. o« ,ho Ub,ro«or,
of Phnom P,nh ond All Cambodio

FOREIGN LANGUAGES PRESS PEKING

PDF processed with CutePDF evaluation edition www.CutePDF.com

GREAT VICTORY OF
THE CAMBODIAN PEOPLE

Warmly Congratulating the Patriotic Cambodian

Armed Forces and People on the Liberation

of Phnom Penh and All Cambodia

FOREIGN LANGUAGES PRESS
PEKING 1975

iiiii

rttMiMHiHHMHMiliHHMIHiHHiMMMaH^

mmA.mmmmmmA.mmm^mi^

SOTigS$^^SJS25fc:§S3IS5S5aSl£5S$^S^eS55|ClSCO:^Sg

sjscai

The people of Petcing gather at a grand rally In celebration of the
Cambodian people's great victory In liberating Phnort-Penh. Picture
shows the rostrum ot tne rally.

A view of the Peking rally.

Printed in the People's Republic of China

}|V:':tL;

# V

^^"%^^if

On April 18, 1975, Chinese leaders Teng Hsiao-ping, Chen Hsi-lien and
Li Su-wen calied at the Mansion of the Head of Stats of Cambodia and
handed Samdech Norodom Sihanoul< and Prime Minister Penn Nouth a
message of greetings doted April 17, 1975. The message, which was
signed by Chairman Mao Tsetung, Chairman Chu Teh ond Premier Chou
En-iai, expressed the warmest congratulations to Samdech Norodom
Sihanoult, Prime Minister Penn Nojth and Deputy Prime Minister Khieu
Samphan on the compiete liberation of Phnom Penh. Teng Hsiao-ping,
Chen Hsi-iien and Li Su-wen aiso conveyed the most cordial congrotula-
lions to the heroic Cambodian people on behalf of the Communist Party
of China and the Chinese Government and people.

CONTENTS

MESSAGE FROM CHAIRMAN MAO TSETUNG. CHAIRMAN
rfrnTEH Am) PREMIER CHOU EN-LAI TO SAMDECH
SoSoDOM SIHAN^^^^ PRIME MINISTER P^NN NOUTH
AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER KHIEU SAMPHAN ^

(April 17, 1975)

SPEECH BY VICE-CHAIBMAN YEH CHIEN-YING AT
™^^f4 RATLY IN PEKING CELEBRATING THE
CAMBOD^ PEOPLE's'llBERATlON OF PHNOM

PENH 4

{April 19> 1975)

ciPTTTrrH BY PRIME MINISTER PENN NOUTH AT THE
T^Ai?HALLYm PEKING CELEBRATING THE CAM-

(April 19, 1975)

Armed Forces and People on the Liberation of Phnom
Penh ^ ___

Remnin Ribao editorial, April 18, 1975

RTITTLTANT EXAMPLE, PATHWAY TO VICTORY
^ - wS Gre^i^O the Liberation of Phnom Penh

Commentary by Hsinhua Correspondent
SALUTE TO OUR HEROIC CAMBODIAN COMRADES-IN-

The^^China-Cambodia Friendship Peopled Commune,
Peking
IN PRAISE OF THE VICTORY OF PEOPLE'S WAR
Ching Wen

18
24

28
31

MESSAGE FROM CHAIRMAN MAO TSETUNG,

CHAIRMAN CHU TEH AND PREMIER CHOU EN^LAI

TO SAMDECH NORODOM SIHANOUK. PRIME

MINISTER PENN NOUTH AND DEPUTY PRIME

MINISTER KHIEU SAMPHAN

Satndech Norodom Sihanouk,

Head of State and Chairman of the National United
Front of Cambodia,

Samdech Penn Nouth,

Chairman of the Political Bureau of> the Central
Committee of the National United Front'^nd Prime
Minister of the Royal Government of National Union
of Cambodia,

His Excellency Mr. Khieu Samphan,

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National De-
fence of the Royal Government of National Union
and Commander-in-Chief of the People's Armed
Forces of National Liberation of Cambodia,

Phnom Penh is now completely liberated by the
People's Armed Forces of National Liberation of Cam-
bodia in their mighty offensive. People are overjoyed
and inspired by the tidings of victory. On behalf of the
Communist Party of China, the Chinese Government and
people, we extend our warmest congratulations and
highest esteem to you, to the National United Front of

Cambodia, the Royal Governmont of National Union of
Cambodia, the heroic People's Armed Forces of National
Liberation of Cambodia and the entire Cambodian people.

Five years ago, U.S. imperialism engineered the
reactionary coup d'etat by the traitorous Lon Nol clique
and even brazenly sent troops into Cambodia in a vain
attempt to turn an independent, peaceful and neutral
Cambodia into its colony. Defying brute force, the Cam-
bodian people, who have a glorious revolutionary tradi-
tion of combating imperialism, rose up in arms and,
rallying around the National United Front of Cambodia
with Samdech Norodom Sihanouk as its Chairman, fought
bravely and stubbornly for five whole years and finally
won the decisive victory in their war of national liberation
after overcoming numerous difficulties. This great
victory scored by the Cambodian people through armed
struggle is another eloquent proof that, firmly following
a correct road, a weak nation can certainly defeat a strong
one, and a small nation can certainly defeat a big one.

The unyielding revolutionary spirit and dauntless
heroism displayed by the Cambodian people in the long
years of armed struggle have set a brilliant example for
the revolutionary people of the world and won admiration
and praise from the people of all countries. The great
victory of the Cambodian people not only constitutes an
important contribution to the anti-imperialist struggle
of the Indochinese peoples but is also a powerful en-
couragement and stimulus to the revolutionary struggle
of all the oppressed nations and oppressed peoples of the
world.

The Chinese and Cambodian peoples are very close
brothers. Sympathizing with, encouraging and sup-

porting each other throughout the long anti-imperialist
struggle, our two peoples have forged a profound militant
friendship. The Chinese people heartily I'ejoicc over the
victory of the Cambodian people as they would their own.
The fraternal Cambodian people may rest assured that
the Chinese people will forever stand by you and march
forward with you in the struggles ahead.

The liberation of Phnom Penh marks the beginning
of a new historical stage in Cambodia's struggle for
national liberation. We are certain that under the banner
of the National United Front of Cambodia with Samdech
Norodom Sihanouk as its Chairman, the Cambodian
people, strengthening the great unity of the entire nation
and people and carrying on their valiant struggle, will
keep on winning new and greater victories. Cambodia
will emerge with a new visage in the East.

Mao Tsetung

Chairman of the Central Committee
of the Communist Party of China

Chu Teh

Chairman of the Standing Committee

of the National People's Congress of

the People's Republic of China

Chou En-lai

Premier of the State Council of the
People's Republic of China

Peking, April 17, 1975

iiiiJ

SPEECH BY VICE-CHAIRMAN YEH CHIEN-YING

AT THE MASS RALLY IN PEKING CELEBRATING

THE CAMBODIAN PEOPLE'S LIBERATION

OF PHNOM PENH

(April 19, 1975)

Respected Prime Minister Samdech Penn Nouth and Mmo
Penn Nouth,

Respected Vice-President Kim Dong Gyu of the Demo-
cratic People's Republic of Korea,

Respected Vice-Premier Pak Sung Chul of the Adminis-
tration Council of the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea,

Comrades and Friends,

The heroic People's Armed Forces of National
Liberation of Cambodia have victoriously liberated
Phnom Penh, Today, people from all walks of life of
our capital are gathered in this grand rally with bound-
less elation and joy to warmly hail this great histo.ic
victory of the Cambodian people. At this moment of
jubilation over the victory, allow me, on behalf of the
Chinese people's great loader Chairman Mao Tsetung
the Communist Party of China and the Chinese Govern-
ment and people, to extend our warmest fraternal con-
gratulations to Samdech Norodom Sihanouk, Prime

Minister Penn Nouth and Deputy Prime Minister Khieu
Samphan, to the National United Front and the Royal
Government of National Union of Cambodia, to the
brave and capable People's Armed Forces of National
Liberation of Cambodia and to the heroic Cambodian
people.

The Cambodian people have a glorious tradition of
combating imperialism and colonialism. They have
waged a protracted and unyielding struggle to defend
their motherland's independence and national dignity
Engineering the reactionary coup d'etat by the traitorous
Lon Nol clique and brazenly sending troops to invade
Cambodia in 1970, U.S. imperialism violated .single-
handedly the independence, peace and neutrality of
Lambodm m a vain attempt to turn Cambodia into its
colony. The U.S. imperialist aggression and iflf^vention
roused the Cambodian people to blazing anger and in-
dignation. Defying brute force, the Cambodian people
rose up in arms and, rallying around the banner of the
National United Front of Cambodia with Samdech
Norodom Sihanouk as its Chairman, vigorously waged a
just war to resist U.S. aggression and punish the trai-
torous Lon Nol clique. The People's Armed Forces of
National Liberation of Cambodia - the Cambodian
peoples own army - have expanded and grown in
strength amidst the flames of war. In the past five years
the patriotic armymen and civilians of Cambodia suc-
cessively frustrated the invasions of U S aggressor
troops and Saigon puppet troops, bravely combated
wanton bombings by the U,S, air force and dealt
devastating blows at the Lon Nol puppet troops, com-
pelling them to retreat in panic and despair. From the

iiMiJ

Uiiil

beginning of this year, the people's armed forces, with
dauntless revolutionary mettle and the force of a
thunderbolt, launched a fierce general offensive on
Phnom Penh and the few other isolated cities. Pressing
on irresistibly, they destroyed large numbers of enemy
effectives and finally liberated Phnom Penh on April
17, and won the decisive victory of the national-libera-
tion war. The traitorous Lon Nol clique rigged up by
U.S. imperialism totally collapsed and was swept onto
the garbage heap of history by the Cambodian people.
The Cambodian people's struggle for national liberation
has now entered a new historical stage.

The great victory of the war of people's national
liberation of the Cambodian people is an event of major
international significance. The staunch revolutionary
spirit and dauntless heroism displayed by the Cambodian
armymen and civilians in their long war of resistance
have won the admiration and praise of the people
throughout the world. The practice of the Cambodian
people's struggle forcefully bears out Chairman Mao
Tsetung's wise dictum in his May 20, 1970 statement that
"a weak nation can defeat a strong, a small nation can
defeat a big. The people of a small country can certainly
defeat aggression by a big country, if only they dare to
rise in struggle, dare to take up arms and grasp in their
own hands the destiny of their country. This is a law
of history." The victory of the people's war in Cam-
bodia has set a brilliant example for the people of all
countries in their struggle to resist foreign aggression
and defend national independence. It is providing not
only an impetus to the further development of the ex-
cellent situation in Indochina as a whole, but also a

powerful encouragement to the revolutionary struggles
of all oppressed nations and oppressed peoples.

That the Cambodian people have, within five years,
achieved the liberation of their motherland and scored
such a great victory is because the patriotic armymen
and civilians of Cambodia have followed a correct line.
Adhering to the principles of independence, initiative
and self-reliance and persisting in the road of armed
struggle, they have mobilized the masses, relied on the
masses, established and upheld the National United
Front, united all forces that can be united, and achieved
a great unity of the whole nation and people. It is in-
separable, too, from the widespread sympathy and
support of the people of all countries, and especially of
the third world countries which are growing in strength.
The Cambodian people's victory is also a common vic-
tory of the people of all countries.

Imperialism and its lackeys always overestimate
their own strength and underestimate the strength of
the people. U.S. imperialism thought that it could put
down the people's struggle for liberation and wilfully
decide the fate of other countries by relying on its
dollars and guns and hiring and maintaining a handful
of lackeys. It swaggered and blustered like anything
five years ago when it engineered the reactionary coup
d'etat in Cambodia. But, under the heavy blows of the
Cambodian people, it was not long before its lackeys
toppled one after another, and U.S. imperialism itself was
driven out of Cambodia. Facts again prove that it is
not imperialism and its lackeys but the people who are
really powerful. Cambodia belongs to the Cambodian
people and not to imperialism and its lackeys.

The victory of Cambodia's national-liberation war
has also put a superpower in a most awkward position.
Five years ago, at the critical juncture when Cambodia's
national existence was in peril, this superpower sided
and fraternized with the traitorous Lon Nol clique,
calling Cambodia's traitor No. 1, Lon Nol, by the
flattering term of "president" and maintaining diplomat-
ic relations all along with the bogus regime in Phnom
Penh, On the other hand, it referred to the Royal
Government of National Union — the sole legal govern-
ment of Cambodia — as a government *'in exile" and
refused to recognize Samdech Norodom Sihanouk as
Head of State. But now, five years later, when nation-
wide victory appeared imminent for the Cambodian
people's just war of national salvation, this superpower
made an about-face and struck up a different tune, try-
ing to describe itself as a friend "who was, is and will
always be with the Khmer people in their just struggle."
Its clumsy performance on the Cambodian question can
deceive nobody but will only enable people to see more
clearly that it is social-imperialism.

Comrades and friends,

At present, the international situation is excellent.
In their contention for world hegemony, the two super-
powers have perpetrated aggression, interference or
subversion everywhere and committed all sorts of evil
and foul deeds, thus arousing the people of the world
to ever stronger resistance and becoming tightly be-
sieged by them. The struggle against colonialism,
imperialism and hegemonism is mounting throughout
the world. Beset with troubles at home and abroad, the
two hegemonic powers have long been in the plight as

mmm

described by the verse, "Flowers fall off, do what one
may.'*

We hail the great victories of the south Vietnamese
armymen and civilians in their fight to severely punish
the Nguyen Van Thieu clique for its crimes of violating
the Paris agreement. We firmly support the Vietnamese
people in their just struggle.

We firmly support the Lao people in their just
struggle for the thorough implementation of the
Vientiane agreement.

We firmly support the Korean people in their just
struggle for the independent and peaceful reunification
of their fatherland free from foreign interference.

We firmly support the Arab people in their just
struggle against superpower interference and Israeli
aggression and expansion and for the recovery of the
lost territories and the restoration of the Palestinian
people's national rights.

We firmly support the people in southern Africa in
their just struggle for national liberation and against
white racist rule.

We firmly support the people of Asia, Africa and
Latin America and of all countries in their just struggle
against superpower aggression, subversion, control, inter-
ference or bullying.

Comrades and friends,

China and Cambodia are very cordial neighbours,
and our two peoples are near and dear to each other
like brothers. Sympathizing with and supporting each
other throughout the protracted struggle against impe-

rialism, our two peoples have forged a profound revolu-
tionary friendship. The great victory of the Cambodian
people is a powerful support and a great encouragement
to the Chinese people's revolutionary cause. In the years
to come, the Chinese Government and people will, as
always, continue to perform our internationahst duty
and render resolute support to the Cambodian people's
just struggle to liquidate the remnant forces of the
lackeys of imperialism and defend their national inde-
pendence and state sovereignty. We are convinced that
the Cambodian people, persevering in unity and in
struggle under the banner of the National United Front
of Cambodia, will surmount all difficulties and obstacles
on their road of advance and continue to win new and
still greater successes. The militant friendship and great
unity of the Chinese and Cambodian peoples will
certainly grow stronger and develop further in the new
historical stage.

Long live the great victory of the war of people's
national liberation of the Cambodian people!

Long live the great friendship and militant unity
of the Chinese and Cambodian peoples!

SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER PENN NOUTH

AT THE MASS RALLY IN PEKING CELEBRATING

THE CAMBODIAN PEOPLE'S LIBERATION

OF PHNOM PENH

<Apiil 19, 197fi)

Your Excellency Wang Hung-wen, respected and be-
loved Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee of
the Communist Party of China,

Your Excellency Yeh Chien-ying, respected s^J^d beloved
Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of China, Vice-Chairman of the
Military Commission of the C.P.C. Central Com-
mittee and Minister of National Defence of the
People's RepubUc of China,

Your Excellency Teng Hsiao-ping, respected and be-
loved Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee of
the Communist Party of China and Vice-Premier
of the State Council of the People's Republic of
China,

Your Excellency Wu Teh, respected and beloved Chair-
man of the Peking Municipal Revolutionary Com-
mittee,

Your Excellencies,
leaders,

10

respected and beloved Chinese

U

lngy

liiiil

• • *

Your Excellency Kim Dong Gyu, respected and beloved
Vice-President of the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea,

Your Excellency Pak Sung Chul, respected and beloved
Vice-Premier of the Administration Council of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea,

Your Excellencies, respected and beloved Heads of
Diplomatic Missions, ladies and gentlemen,

Respected and beloved Chinese brothers and sisters,

First of all, allow me, on behalf of the Cambodian
people, the National United Front of Cambodia, the Royal
Government of National Union of Cambodia and the
People's Armed Forces of National Liberation of Cam-
bodia, to express our heartfelt thanks to respected and
beloved Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen and friends
who attend this grand rally of the people of Peking
organized by the Peking Municipal Revolutionary Com-
mittee to celebrate the liberation of Phnom Penh by the
Cambodian people and express our thanks to His Ex-
cellency Yeh Chien-ying for his eloquent words over-
flowing with revolutionary fraternity for the Cambodian
nation and people.

This rally is a new vivid testimony to the militant
unity and fraternal friendship between the Cambodian
and Chinese peoples, a new testimony to the manifold
support and aid accorded by the fraternal Chinese people
to the Cambodian people's struggle from its beginning to
complete victory against the U.S. aggressors and their
lackeys the traitorous clique.

Under the overwhelming offensive launched by the
Cambodian people and the People's Armed Forces of

12

National Liberation of Cambodia {P.A,F.N.L,C.) in the dry
season, U.S. imperialism, who is the boss of the traitorous
clique, fled from Phnom Penh on April 12, 1975, after
wreaking havoc on our beloved motherland Cambodia
and committing the most savage crimes against our
nation and people for more than five years. This con-
stitutes the proof of the thorough defeat of the U.S. im-
perialist war of aggression in Cambodia.

At half past nine on April 17, 1975, our revolutionary
army completely liberated Phnom Penh, the last den of
the traitorous clique.

Thus, the U.S. imperialist aggressors and their
lackeys were at last completely crushed by the Cambodian
people and the P.A.F.N.L.C after our armymen and
civilians, our National United Front of Cambodia
(N.U.F.C.) and our Royal Government of National Union
of Cambodia (R.G.N.U.C.) waged a heroic, resolute and
arduous fight for five years and one month.

This inspiring and brilliant victory is the greatest
victory in the history of several thousand years of the
Cambodian people and nation.

This victory is due to the correct political line fol-
lowed firmly and constantly by the Cambodian people, the
P.A.F.N.L.C., N.U.F.C. and R.G.N.U.C, under a correct
leadership and their position of independence, sover-
eignty, and being master of their own destiny, daring to
surmount all sorts of difficulties, daring to undergo all
sacrifices and daring to wage a protracted war without
retreat, compromise or negotiations, for genuine national
independence, peace, neutrality, non-alignment and ter-
ritorial integrity. This glorious page in the history of

13

Wili

Cambodia has been written with the: blood and sweat of
the heroic Cambodian people.

At the same time, this |*reat victory is due to the
union and complete unity of the Cambodian people and
nation in their stinigglc against the U.S. imperialist
aggressors and their lackeys — a unity from the view-
point of conception, position, lino and action under the
ever-victorious banner of the N.U.F.C. with Head of State
Samdeeh Norodom Sihanouk as its Chairman, Through
all sorts of tests and the tempest of the war of people's
national liberation of the Cambodian people, this union
and this unity have been reinforced and developed until
complete victory, and will grow stronger and develop
further in the future.

This historic victory of the Cambodian people, of the
P.A.F.N.L.C., N.U.F.C. and R.G.N.U.C. is won with their
own blood and sweat, but also with the support of all
people who love peace and justice and of all friendly
countries in the world. In particular, it is inseparable
from the manifold assistance in all fields rendered by the
great leader Chairman Mao Tsetung, the Communist
Party of China, the Chinese people, and the Chinese
Government with His Excellency Chou En-lai as its
Premier.

The Cambodian people, the P.A.F.N.L.C., N.U.F.C.
and R.G.N.U.C. will never forget Chairman Mao Tsetung's
solemn statement of May 20, 1970, which affirms that
Chairman Mao Tsetung, the Chinese people, the Com-
munist Party of China and the Chinese Government
firmly support the Cambodian people, the P.A.F.N.L.C,
N.U.F.C. and R.G.N.U.C. in their struggle against the U.S.
imperialist aggressors and the traitorous clique.

14

liiiJ

In our just struggle for people's national liberation,
the Cambodian people, the P.A.F.N.L.C, N.U.F.C. and
R.G.N.U.C. have always, whether circumstances were
favourable or not, and however the situation might
change, received many-sided support materially, politi-
cally and morally from Chairman Mao Tsetung,
Premier Chou En-lai, the Chinese people, the Chinese
Communist Party and the Chinese Government. In the
five years and one month of the war of people's national
liberation of the Cambodian people, the militant unity
and fraternal friendship between the Cambodian and
Chine.se peoples have grown stronger and developed in
all aspects. The People's Republic of China, which is a
large country with a population of 800 million, has
rendered Cambodia, a small country with a population
of only seven million, sincere and unconditional support
while abiding by the principle of mutual equality and
respecting the sovereignty and dignity of the ^ambodian
nation and people. The friendship between the Cam-
bodian and Chinese peoples is based on the most correct
principles and sincere unity. This is a brilliant example
in relations between nations of the world.

The great victory won by the Cambodian people, the
P.A.F.N.L.C, N.U.F.C. and R.G.N.U.C clearly bears out
Chairman Mao Tsetung^s following dictum: "The people
of a small country can certainly defeat aggression by a
big country, if only they dare to rise in struggle, dare
to take up arms and grasp in their own hands the destiny
of their country.'*

Therefore, we regard the complete liberation of
Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975 as a victory of the
fraternal Chinese people, just as the Cambodian people

Hili

regard the victories achieved by the Chinese people in
their socialist construction as our own.

Not long ago, Chairman Mao Tsetung reaffirmed
that the fraternal Cambodian people may rest assured
that the Chinese people will forever stand by you and
march forward with you in the struggles ahead. We are
overjoyed at this. We are convinced that the Cambodian
people and the fraternal Chinese people will, as before,
continue to achieve common splendid victories.

With these sentiments, I wish to extend once again
to His Excellency Chairman Mao Tsetung, His Excellency
Premier Chou En-lai, the Chinese people, the Chinese
Communist Party and the Chinese Government the
deepest and warmest thanks of the Cambodian people
the P.A.F.N.L.C, N.U.F.C. and R.G.N.U.C. We are firmly
convinced that the militant unity and fraternal friendship
between the Cambodian and Chinese peoples will grow
stronger and develop continuously.

1 would like to take this solemn occasion to express
our heartfelt thanks to the people and governments of
all friendly countries and all people who love peace and
justice for their support to the Cambodian people's just
cause.

The Cambodian people will continue to support all
nations and peoples in the world, and particularly the
Palestinian people and the peoples of Asia, Africa and
Latin America, in their just war for national liberation
against all forms of aggression by imperialism, colonial-
ism and neo-colonialism, until complete victory is won.

I would like to express my deep thanks to His Ex-
cellency Wang Hung-wen, His Excellency Yeh Chien-
16

liiiiJ

ymg. His Excellency Teng Hsiao-ping, His Excellency
Wu Teh, other leaders of the Party and Government of
the People's Republic of China and the Peking Mu-
nicipal Revolutionary Committee which has kindly
organized this grand rally. I would like to thank the
Heads of Diplomatic Missions for attending this rally.
I would like to convey my greetings to the people of
Peking, who are taking part in this rally in great
numbers.

Long live the great historic victory of the Cambodian
people's war of people's national liberation!

Long live the militant unity and fraternal friendship
between the Cambodian and Chinese peoples!

17

A GREAT HISTORIC VICTORY

— Warm Congratulations to the Patriotic Cambodian

Armed Forces and People on tlie Liberation

of Phnom Penh

Renmin Rihao (People's Daily) editorial, Aptil 18, 1075

With the momentum of a landslide and like a whirl-
wind sweeping away wisps of clouds, the -patriotic
Cambodian armed forces and people liberated Phnom
Penh on April 17, 1975. As the Cambodian people^s armed
forces marched in, the enemy fled in disorder, and the
people raised thunderous cheers. Opposed by the people
and deserted by its followers, the traitorous Lon Nol
clique was totally overthrown. The liberation of Phnom
Penh and the decisive victory of the Cambodian people's
just war for national salvation is a brilliant page in the
annals of Cambodia's struggle for national hberation. It
marks the beginning of a new historical stage in the
revolutionary struggle of the Cambodian people. This
great victory is another great event of far-reaching his-
toric significance for Asia in the period after World War
II. It is a great encouragement to the revolutionary
struggle of the oppressed nations and oppressed peoples
the world over. With boundless joy, the Chinese people
extend their warmest congratulations and highest respects
to the great and heroic Cambodian people.

i»

The verdict of history is merciless. When the trai-
torous Lon Nol clique staged the coup under U.S. in-
stigation five years ago, they were so inordinately arro-
gant and unbridled as to think they could swallow up
the whole of Cambodia at. one go. At that time, U.S.
imperialism disbursed large amounts of money to aid
this clique, rushed arms to it and even flagrantly dis-
patched troops to invade Cambodia. The superpower
which flies the banner of '^socialism" tore off its dis-
guise as a supporter of the Cambodian people and staked
all on the traitorous Lon Nol clique. But their rejoicing
was premature. After a mere five years the situation
has changed radically. As the Cambodian people won
victory after victory in their just war for national salva-
tion, the traitorous Lon Nol clique rapidly fell apart
and finally perished in utter disgrace. Superpower though
it be, the United States had to close its "embassy" in
Phnom Penh, an act which set the seal of total bankruptcy
on its policy of aggression. The other superpt^xs^^r hastily
started singing a different tune and changed its tactics,
exposing before the world the predicament of a political
gambler who has lost everything. In a word, these
reactionaries overestimated their own strength and un-
derestimated the might of the people. They lifted a rock
only to smash their own toes.

The reason why such a great change took place in
the Cambodian situation in the past five years is that
the heroic Cambodian people, rallying as one around
the National United Front of Cambodia with Samdech
Norodom Sihanouk as Chairman, and the Royal Govern-
ment of National Union of Cambodia with Samdech Penn
Nouth as Prime Minister and Khieu Samphan as Deputy

19

^^iied brute to^ce^Lt^ZsTcLZT' "'''"' *'^^

Cambodian peonle fo,,2t T \^ ^'^^ ^''^''^ ^^^

united in batK thTsf f vf ;" fth^ib ^d"'' ""'?
continued to advance in trij;::^:^,Z^/^ZT

for nlXr satS; if ^h?"'"''^" ^^°^'^'^ ^'^^ --

30

■

1 °,r ' "" "*' ""*'• P'^^'^i^t in struggle and con-

ttev wi.T'^r' !'r ^'^^^''^ '" *^« ^--e of struggle
oneL" '""'' ^ '"^^ ^^^"*-"y *<> defeat powcffui

provJs'thXr'' °' '''^ '^""'°'''^" P^^'P'^'^ struggle
proves tiiat to gain genuine independence and strive for

complete liberation, it is essential to build a perpS

armed force with combat strength and persevere ^

peoples war. When the imperialists have forced the^I

way m, hey cannot bo driven out except by relying on

he people who take up arms and carry out resolute

truggi. Nor will thoy become kind-heart/d and serve up

independence and sovereignty to the oppressed people on

a silver platter. Only by establishing and developinVthe

heroism, adhering to a correct line, constantly acc^mulat-
mg experience and giving full play to the might of
people's war can the revolutionary armed forces defea
the counter-revolutionary armed forces. Facts prove tha
the people's armed forces act like a magic weaoon in
wmning national liberation and the victory of SuTion

The experience of the Cambodian people's struselo
also proves that a just cause is invincible because i eS
abundant support, while an unjust cau.se has little suppoT
The Nationa United Front and the Royal Government

o ?he°"r h"T "' '^'""'^"''^ '•^P^-^'^t the inferos s
of the Cambodian people. Domestically they are

Cam'bod "' r^""'^" ^^ ^^^ ^™-^ -'-- of 'he
Cambodian people and internationally they have won the

universal sympathy and support of the Indochinese peo!

21

■H

pies, the third world people and all countries and peoples
which uphold justice throughout the world The Cam-
bodian people have friends all over the globe. Events
prove that those who represent progress and justice have
inexhaustible strength.

In his statement of May 20, 1970, Chairman Mao
said: A just cause enjoys abundant support while an
unjust cause finds little support. A weak nation can
defeat a strong, a small nation can defeat a big The
people of a small country can certainly defeat aggres-
sion by a big country, if only they dare to rise in strug-
gle, dare to take up arms and grasp in their own hands
the destiny of their country." The course of the Cam-
bodian people's great struggle has fully borne out this
law of history.

The Cambodian people have won a great historic
victory. But the tasks facing them will be arduous We
are convinced that the heroic People's Armed Forces of
National Liberation of Cambodia will continue to march
forward from victory to victory and liberate the whole
country by sweeping away the remnants of the enemy.
The entire Cambodian people will unite more closely and
continue their advance so as to win new and greater
victories in safeguarding national independence, healing
the wounds of war and building up the motherland.

The Chinese people and the Cambodian people are
brotherly comrades-in-arms, dose members of one family
In the long years of revolutionary, anti-imperialist
struggle, profound revolutionary friendship and militant
solidaiity have been forged between our two peoples Our
friendship is long-tested and indestructible. The Chinese
22

people will always stand firmly on the side of the Cam-
bodian people and resolutely support their just struggle
They will always be united, fight side by side and win
victory together with the fraternal Cambodian people

2.'i

• • •

!■!

BRILLIANT EXAMPLE, PATHWAY TO VICTORY
— Warmly Greeting the Liberation of Phnom Penh

Commentary by Hsinhua Correspondent

Pressing forward irresistibly, the People's Armed
Forces of National Liberation of Cambodia (P,A,F,NX.C.)
liberated their national capital, Phnom Penh, on April 17,
1975. Army and government chieftains of the traitorous
Phnom Penh clique surrendered one after another. People
are inspired by the news of victory.

The liberation of Phnom Penh marked the collapse
of the traitorous Lon Nol clique and its political regime,
which were an ulcer on the country and the people. It
bespoke the complete failure of U.S. imperialist policies
of aggression and intervention against Cambodia, and
proclaimed the Cambodian people's winning of a decisive
victory of great historic significance in their revolutionary
war for national liberation. Moreover, the liberation of
Phnom Penh dealt a telling blow to the other superpower,
which, being hostile to the Cambodian people's struggle,
colluded with the traitorous Lon Nol clique.

This signal, historic victory was won with guns by
the patriotic Cambodian army and people, who defied
brute force and feared no sacrifices. Five years ago, U.S.
imperialism instigated the traitorous Lon Nol clique to
stage a reactionary coup d'etat and then braxenly sent

24

■MUli

its troops to invade Cambodia in a vain attempt to ward
off total defeat on the Indochinese battlefield. But the
Cambodian people, with a glorious tradition of struggle,
were not cowed by the overweening arrogance of U.S.
imperialism and its lackeys. When dark clouds gathered
over the land of Cambodia and the future of the nation
hung in the balance, the Cambodian people determinedly
took up arms. Rallying around the National United Front
of Cambodia (N.U.F.C.) with Head of State Samdech
Norodom Sihanouk as Chairman and the Royal Govern-
ment of National Union of Cambodia (R.G.N.U.C.) with
Samdech Fenn Nouth as Prime Minister and Khieu
Samphan as Deputy Prime Minister, they plunged into
the just struggle for national salvation. Displaying the
spirit of revolutionary heroism and of readiness to fight
the enemy to the last drop of their blood, they wrote a
magnificent song of victory to people's war.

For more than five years the Cambodiah people, led
by the N.U.F.C. and R.G.N.U.C, persisted in the line of
independence, initiative and self-reliance, the line of na-
tional union and the line of people's war. Keeping to the
firm stand of no compromise and no retreat, they waged
a tit-for-tat struggle against the enemy, shattered its
various kinds of "peace talks" plots, and achieved one
great victory after another on the political, military,
economic and diplomatic fronts.

Born in the flames of battle, the glorious P.A.F.N.L.C.
learned warfare through warfare and rapidly grew and
gained in strength. Closely relying on the people and
developing the inexhaustible might of people's war, they
became ever stronger as they fought. They crushed the
massive intrusions into Cambodia by more than 100,000

3f3

U.S. and Saifion aggressor troops, frustrated the continual
wanton bombings by U.S. planes which flew more than
35,000 sorties in some 200 days, wiped out the several
hundred thousand Lon Nol puppet troops equipped with
modern U.S. arms, and foiled all the war schemes of U.S.
imperialism and its Phnom Penh lackeys.

In the course of the war the patriotic Cambodian
armed forces and people speedily established stable and
expanding liberated areas to serve as powerful bases for
their just struggle for national salvation. Organs of
people's political power at various levels were set up in
the vast liberated areas, where the people, rifle in one
hand and hoe in the other, launched a vigorous production
campaign through which they gradually attained self-
sufficiency in grain and even built up a surplus. Man-
power and materials to support the liberation front
steadily increased. In contrast, the traitorous Lon Nol
clique^ holed up in a few isolated cities, managed to pro-
long its feeble existence only thanks to U.S. aid.

From the beginning of 1975 the patriotic armed forces
and people of Cambodia fought strategically decisive
battles against the traitorous Lon Nol clique. With a
mighty force they swept away the enemy strongholds,
swiftly cut land and water transport routes to Phnom
Penh, captured the Pochentong Airport, the only airway
to and from Phnom Penh, and finally overthrew the
traitorous Lon Nol clique when they completely liberated
the city itself. A new Cambodia has grown out of the
barrel of a gun, a Cambodia where the people are the
masters of the country.

The splendid victory won by the Cambodian people
has demonstrated that a just cause enjoys abundant

26

support and is sure to win. At home, the Cambodian
people of all strata, closely rallying around the banner of
the N.U.F.C, formed a broadest unity against U.S. im-
perialism and its Phnom Penh lackeys. The people in
enemy-held areas closed their ranks and waged continuous
struggle of various kinds, forming a second front for at-
tacking the traitorous Lon Nol clique. Internationally,
the just cause of the Cambodian people has won wide-
spread sympathy and support from the people of all
countries and its prestige is growing throughout the world.

The great victory of the Cambodian people has set
a brilliant example for the oppressed peoples and
oppressed nations in their just struggles against foreign
aggression and for independence and liberation. Cam-
bodia has a population of only seven million. The Cam-
bodian people, however, dare to despise the colossus of
U.S. imperialism, dare to wage a tit-foK-tat struggle
against it and have scored a magnificent victory. This
proves to the hilt that "a weak nation can defeat a
strong, a small nation can defeat a big. The people of a
small country can certainly defeat aggression by a big
country, if only they dare to rise in struggle, dare to
take up arms and grasp in their own hands the destiny
of their country/'

Countries want independence, nations want liberation
and the people want to make revolution. This is an
irresistible historical trend of our time. The great victory
of the Cambodian people is certain to greatly inspire the
people throughout the world to win new victories in their
struggle against imperialism, colonialism and hegemonism.

27

iiliJ

SALUTE TO OUR HEROIC CAMBODIAN
COMRADES-IN-ARMS

The China-Cambodia Friendship People's Commune, Peeking

When the exciting news came of the liberation of
Phnom Penh and all Cambodia by the Cambodian people's
armed forces, we members of the China-Cambodia
Friendship People's Commune passed it round excitedly
and rejoiced over it. Filled with revolutionary sentiment,
we extend our warmest congratulations and highest
respects to our heroic Cambodian comrades-in-arms.

Five years ago U.S. imperialism instigated its running
dogs of the traitorous Lon Nol clique to stage a reactionary
coup. In no time, dark clouds thickened over Cambodia
and monsters and freaks ran amuck^ turning the country
into a hell for the masses of the people. The Cambodian
people refused to give in to this calamity, however.
Rallying around the National United Front of Cambodia
with Samdech Norodom Sihanouk as Chairman and the
Royal Government of National Union of Cambodia with
Samdech Penn Nouth as Prime Minister and Khieu
Samphan as Deputy Prime Minister, they waged a stirring,
just war for national salvation with indomitable revolu-
tionary spirit. They won one victory after another and
finally liberated Phnom Penh and the whole country.

The Cambodian people's brilliant victory culminating
in the liberation of Phnom Penh is of enormous signifi-

2a

canee. It shows forcefully that the surging tide of revolu-
tion is thundering ahead in the world today, that gone
are the days when the imperialists and all reactionaries
could do as they pleased. If only the invaded and
oppressed countries and peoples adhere to the correct
road, dare to take up arms, advance wave upon wave and
persist in fighting regardless of sacrifice, they can defeat
the imperialists and all reactionaries despite the enemy's
truculence and apparent strength. With a population of
only seven million, Cambodia defeated the U.S. aggres-
sors and their lackeys through five years of heroic fight-
ing. This is another convincing proof that the weak can
defeat the strong and the small can defeat the big. The
real strength lies in the people of all countries fighting
for their just cause, not in imperialism and reaction. Once
a people awakens, gets united and perseveres in struggle,
no reactionary forces can halt their march forward.

The Chinese and Cambodian peoples are close
brothers and comrades-in-arms. In the ma?iy years of
anti-imperialist struggle the two have always sympathized
with and supported each other, have always stood together
in storm and stress. We Chinese people regard support-
ing the Cambodian people's just struggle as our bounden
internationalist duty. Every victory won by them has
been a valuable support and encouragement to us. Since
the naming of our China-Cambodia Friendship People's
Commune on November 7, 1971, our relationship with
the Cambodian comrades-in-arms has become ever closer.
Subsequent visits by distinguished Cambodian guests
Samdech Norodom Sihanouk, Prime Minister Penn Nouth,
Deputy Prime Minister Khieu Samphan and Special
Adviser leng Sary and others have brought us great en-

29

couragement. It excites us still to recall our meetings
with our Cambodian comrades-in-arms where they told of
the excellent situation in their just war for national salva-
tion and some of the glorious deeds arising from their
unity and struggle. The day of victory longed for by
the Chinese and Cambodian comrades-in-arms came at
last! While celebrating the victory we at the same time
determined, in accordance with Chairman Mao's con-
sistent teaching, to continue our firm support to the just
struggle of the Cambodian people. We will grasp revolu-
tion, promote production, learn from the revolutionary
fighting spirit of our Cambodian comrades4n-arms and
win still bigger harvests as our part in supporting their
just cause. We sincerely wish the Cambodian people new
and still greater victories. May the friendship between
the peoples of China and Cambodia remain ever green
like the pine tiee!

30

IN PRAISE OF THE VICTORY OF PEOPLE'S WAR
Ching Wen

On April 17, 1975 the People's Armed Forces of
National Liberation of Cambodia completely liberated
Phnom Penh, making a clean sweep of the traitorous Lon
Nol clique and shattering the U.S. imperialist policy of
aggression against Cambodia. This is a victory of his-
toric significance in the Cambodian people's struggle for
national salvation.

People may remember that spring five years ago
when, manipulated by U.S. imperialism, a^ handful of
Cambodian traitors staged a reactionary coup d'etat,
which was followed up by a large-scale invasion of Cam-
bodia by U.S. aggressor and Saigon puppet troops. In-
stantly, reaction ran amuck, monsters and freaks came to
the fore and terror reigned in Cambodia, turning the
beautiful land into a stark inferno, The heroic Cambodian
people, however, refused to bow down and be subjugated.
Rallying closely around the National United Front of
Cambodia (N.U.F.C) with Head of State Samdech
Norodom Sihanouk as Chairman, and the Royal Govern-
ment of National Union of Cambodia (R.G.N.U.C.) with
Samdech Penn Nouth as Prime Minister and Khieu
Samphan as Deputy Prime Minister, they launched an
earth-shaking, just struggle for national salvation. After
five years of extremely arduous struggle, they finally de-

31

*>

feated U.S. imperialism and its lackeys, scoring a dudsive
victory in their national-liberation war.

The key to the Cambodian people's winning such a
splendid victory is their adherence to the stand of no
compromise and no retreat, and to the correct line of in-
dependence, initiative and self-reliance and of waging
people's war. And this is why, in the past five years, they
frustrated all enemy plots and advanced from victory to
victory on the military, political, diplomatic and economic
fronts.

The splendid victory of the Cambodian national-
liberation war is a majestic song of praise to people's war.
From the very start, the N.U.F.C. made it entirely clear
that armed struggle was the Cambodian people's only road
to victory and the realization of their aspirations. The
N.U.F.C. called on the people of various strata to take up
arms in struggle and, in the flames of battle, an army of
the people was born. This people's army grew rapidly in
strength, developing into a mighty force made up of reg-
ular and local forces and guerrilla units. Sweeping over
the length and breadth of Cambodia, this army waged
people's war everywhere from both banks of the Mekong
River to the lake shore of the Tonle Sap and from the
Dangrck Mountains to the coast on the Gulf of Siam,
forming a vast sea in which to drown the enemy. The
patriotic armymen and civilians of Cambodia learned
warfare through warfare, summing up their experience
from time to time in order to perfect their strategy and
tactics. In this way they became stronger and stronger in
the course of war. They wiped out great numbers of
enemy effectives and put to rout the several hundred
thousand Lon Nol puppet troops, till their total destruc-

32

tion. The patriotic armymen and civilians established
bases in the countryside and gradually expanded and con-
solidated the liberated areas, forcing the enemy to en-
trench itself in a number of besieged cities and towns.
They proceeded then to capture all these isolated enemy
points, including Phnom Penh, lair of the traitorous Lon
Nol clique, and finally seized nation-wide victory. The
triumph of the Cambodian people's just war of national
salvation fully demonstrates the might of people's war.
Little wonder that the victorious course of the Cambodian
people's struggle is described in the Western bourgeois
press as the most enigmatic among the revolutionary wars
in the world. In fact, the "enigma" is by no means dif-
ficult to solve. For the N.U.F.C. mobilized the people
and relied on them in waging a genuine people's war.
When an awakened people in their millions are mobilized
and organized, when they rise in arms and keep to the
correct road, they can grow from weak td^rong and
become a force capable of defeating any powerful enemy.
Within the short span of five years the Cambodian people
completely defeated the traitorous Phnom Penh clique
supported by U.S. imperialism, overthrew its autocratic
rule and gave Cambodia a new life — further and striking
proof that people's war is a most effective weapon in
the hands of oppressed nations and peoples for dealing
with imperialism and reaction.

The splendid victory of the Cambodian national-
liberation war is also due to the seven million Cambodian
people uniting as one in their struggle. When the hand-
ful of traitors attempted, five years ago, to turn an in-
dependent, peaceful and neutral Cambodia into a colony
serving U.S. imperialism by launching a reactionary coup,

33

■

they placed themselves in a position antagonistic to the
entire Cambodian people. To uphold national independ-
ence, overthrow the autocratic rule and strive for na-
tional liberation became the common demand of the vast
masses of the people. It was on this common political
ground that a broad united front against U.S. imperiaHsm
and its lackeys was formed. Raising high the banner
of national hberation, the N.U.F.C., which came into being
at a critical juncture in the existence of the Cambodian
nation, rallied and organized into a mighty army all
patriotic forces including workers, peasants, the petty
bourgeoisie, the national bourgeoisie, patriotic members
of the Royal House, intellectuals, Buddhist clergy and
patriotic personages. This isolated the enemy as never
before. It was in the dragnet formed by the whole people
that the traitorous Phnom Penh regime, battered by the
people's armed forces and confronted with the heroic
resistance of the people in enemy-occupied areas, went to
its doom at increasing speed.

The splendid victory of the Cambodian national-
liberation war was won by the Cambodian people carrying
forward the spirit of dauntlessness and persevering in the
arduous and staunch struggles. The N.U.F.C. held fast
to the policy of independence, initiative and self-reliance,
relying primarily on its own strength. Under its leader-
ship, the broad masses of patriotic armymen and civilians
in the past few years established stable revolutionary
bases in the liberated areas, launched production drives
for solving the problems of food, clothing and other daily
necessities, and armed themselves with weapons captured
from the enemy. In this way they overcame all difficul-
ties and remained impregnable.

34

The victory of the Cambodian national-liberation war
is also the common victory of all the world's people. The
just struggle of the Cambodian people for national salva-
tion has been an important component part of the struggle
against imperialism and hegemonism waged by the people
of the third world and of the entire world. The struggle
and victory of the Cambodian people are a great contribu-
tion to the revolutionary, anti-imperialist cause of the
people of all countries and have won their universal
sympathy and support. The revolutionary people of ai]
countries have resolutely sided with the Cambodian
people. When times were most difficult for the Cam-
bodian people, many countries that stand for justice ex-
tended recognition to the E.G.N.U.C., which represents
the interests of the Cambodian people, as the sole legal
government of the Cambodian people. As for the two
superpowers, one brazenly pushed its policy of aggression,
openly using U.S. dollars, weapons and even It^troops to
buttress and aid the Phnom Penh puppet regime; the
other put its stake on a handful of national traitors
spurned by the Cambodian people and, consorting over
the years with the Phnom Penh puppet regime, tried to
undermine the just cause of the Cambodian people for
national salvation. Both, however, were only lifting
rocks to drop on their own toes, and both ended up
ignominiously.

The great victory of the Cambodian people is a shin-
ing example of a small nation defeating a big one, of a
weak nation besting a strong one, Five years ago the
Cambodian people rose in arms with almost nothing to
start with. But, as a heroic people, they dared to despise
the apparently strong enemy and take up arms to fight

35

against it. Sapping the enemy's strength while building
up their own, they grew from weak to strong and finally
inflicted total defeat on the enemy. Though U.S. im-
perialism in the past five years threw several thousand
million dollars down the drain of the traitorous Phnom
Penh clique, rained hundreds of thousands of tons of
bombs on Cambodian soil and even intervened with more
than 100,000 of its own and Saigon puppet troops, it could
not rescue the traitorous Phnom Penh clique from ex-
tinction, nor could it avert its own defeat. The glorious
deeds of the Cambodian people are a great inspiration to
all oppressed nations and peoples as well as all small and
weak countries which are victims of aggression.

The heroic struggle and great victory of the Cam-
bodian people are of profound historic significance Their
experience, gained at the cost of blood, will become a
treasure common to the revolutionary people of the world
Their national-liberation struggle having entered a new
historical stage, the Cambodian people, who have been
steeled in the flames of war, will certainly continue to
hold high the banner of national liberation and forge
ahead to win new, still greater victories!

3d

• * •