ASEAN: AICHR Peace & Human Rights Education
Promote a culture of diversity, peace, and a respect for human rights through professional development of Cambodian women teachers and members of marginalized communities
Regionalization is a significant factor in U.S. foreign policy in Southeast Asia as it presents as many opportunities as risks. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has always played a significant role in Southeast Asian politics and development. However, in recent years, it has assumed an increasingly more aggressive approach in the region, and the increase in cross-border exchange and integration has become a new factor in PRC strategies. The U.S. stands to lose opportunities for improvement and growth in the region in nearly all fields of foreign policy, from market position to socio-political influence, should it overlook or underestimate the PRC’s elevated posture and leverage in the Southeast Asian region.
To this end, as regionalization increases, there will be increasing opportunities for the PRC to influence ASEAN member states as well as Cambodia. To a large extent, with the Cambodian elite’s alliance with the PRC, Cambodia is becoming increasingly important to the PRC as a strategic gateway to manipulating ASEAN member states. On the other hand, regionalization can also present strategic opportunities for facilitating U.S. foreign policy in the region.
As Cambodian institutions coordinate and integrate with ASEAN member institutions, there will be opportunities for increased dialogue between Cambodian and ASEAN institutions on issues that the Governments would not have entertained, let alone encouraged. This proposal includes the development of a Peace and Human Rights Education Program drawn from other countries in ASEAN. The program would be developed under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) for grassroots education in Cambodia and Cambodian student teacher training centers. Apart from the diplomatic efforts necessary to facilitate the project’s completion, we will initiate the project with a public commitment to AICHR’s core treaty obligations.
UNITED NATIONS
OFFICE ON GENOCIDE PREVENTION
AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROJECT
Expert Meeting
Atrocity Prevention through Education
in South and Southeast Asia
18 May 2021
8:00-10:30am EST
CAMBODIA — The preamble to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide states that “genocide is a crime under international law,” yet, since the Genocide Convention was ratified in 1949, how many genocides have occurred? And how many of these genocides have been prosecuted under national or international law? Since 1949, only three genocides (Cambodia, Bosnia, and Rwanda) have been prosecuted in an international court.
Cambodia lost approximately two million lives in less than four years. It has been over fourty years since the collapse of the Khmer Rouge and 5 million survivors are still alive today. I am one of them. Most survivors continue to struggle with the horrors they witnessed or suffered, and the effects of the period resonate in their lives, not only in the form of mental trauma, but also health conditions and injuries that persist with little public recognition, let alone actual support in services and care.
The Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam) has established itself as not only the world’s largest repository for records about the Khmer Rouge regime, but also a key contributor to genocide education in Cambodia. We have also been working with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on this topic. Our work continues to proceed incrementally, but steadily, forward because ASEAN, though one community, continues to co-exist with invisible, but still very sensitive, lines.
DC-Cam sees documentation and genocide education as crucial components to preventing and addressing the effects of genocide; however, this is just one dimension of our overall effort. In 2021, DC-Cam will be expanding its work with survivors to include support to their medical care and well-being. DC-Cam will be implementing activities directly aimed at improving their health, welfare, and well-being, as well as field research and outreach activities that raise public awareness of the struggles of survivors. The nation-wide project represents a great step forward in not only calling attention to and actually addressing the great gap in services and support for the health, welfare, and well-being of survivors of genocide, but also transforming the concept of transitional justice into restorative justice.
Restorative justice depends upon leveraging pre-existing entry points and approaches as much as creating new ones that are based on a contemporary, evolving society. One guiding question asked for a response to the main entry points for promoting atrocity prevention, and my response would be that grassroots as well national-level stakeholders and institutions are equally important to achieving any impactful change. Another guiding question asked to identify the education tools that have been most useful for education related to atrocity prevention, and I reiterate that impactful change depends as much on leveraging well-known and accepted approaches to learning as much as introducing new ones. DC-Cam has implemented a marriage of traditional as well as contemporary forms of learning and education in order to achieve a combination of the old and new. In this way, education both partially reaffirms a person’s prior knowledge and experience, as much as it transforms what they know and think about the world. I close by stating that transitional justice can only be justice if it is truly founded upon a credible and impactful effort aimed at restoring as much as transforming the society and each individual person.
Youk Chhang
Director
Documentation Center of Cambodia
by YOUK CHHANG
As we commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the Paris Peace Agreements, we would do well to recognize the importance of history, and in particular Cambodia’s military history, for the region and the world. Cambodia’s history should be recognized as a national resource to inform the country’s strategic development, influence, and leadership in the ASEAN region.
Military history has been described as the research of war and the analysis of victory and defeat; however, it also encompasses much more. Military history covers a range of topics from the rise and fall of regimes to the transformation of countries, and how humanity repeats and/or learns from its mistakes. Cambodia’s history is filled with unique lessons for the country, region and world.
Cambodia was a significant crossroads in the Cold War struggle between ideologies, political systems, and foreign policy agendas. The history of Cambodia that led up to, and comprises part of, the history of foreign interventions in the region demonstrates how critical the country is to regional security, and the region’s security is to global security. Further, the mass atrocities, war, and deprivation that colored so much of Cambodia’s history in the latter part of the twentieth century provide important lessons on the conditions that precipitate and result from instability, war, and genocide. Cambodia’s history is an illustration of the human spirit, as much as a lesson in the depths of human depravity.
The history of Cambodia is also punctuated by numerous attempts by neighboring countries to encroach upon, occupy, and even usurp territory from the Cambodian people. Studying the history of these past relations, disputes, and conflicts will not provide a roadmap for current or future diplomatic or military affairs; however, this history is a national resource that empowers leaders with strategic wisdom on how to manage relations with neighbors and the world.
Cambodia’s history, and particularly its military history, provides an important resource for the development of strategic wisdom for our country, our region, and world leaders. Cambodia’s military history is full of lessons on how (and when) to wisely exercise restraint, when to exercise patience, and when to exercise boldness in defending national security. Cambodian military leaders can look to Cambodia’s military history as a national resource in building up not only their own strategic wisdom, but also the professionalism of their organization and officer ranks.
Cambodia’s national security depends upon a professional military organization. Professional military organizations require competent leaders who are not only strategists but also historians—because no successful strategy can be developed without an understanding of history.
History shapes the core components of all successful strategies. Military history ensures that strategy is not only informed by the current operational environment, tactics and doctrine, but also the successes and mistakes of the past. History can provide you insights into whether the objectives of your strategy are acceptable, whether the methods for achieving your objectives are even feasible, and how your predecessors fared in using the same or different strategies in the past. Military history is a key component of all combined military and national security strategies.
The member states and collective leadership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), also requires leaders that are historians as well as strategists. Cambodia’s military history is uniquely important to the peace and security of the region because many battles, struggles, and geopolitical strategies were centered within Cambodia’s military history. Cambodia was a key center of gravity during the various wars, conflicts, and struggles of the 20th century within the region. In the wake of the First Indochina War, Cambodia became independent, and during the Second Indochina War, Cambodia was the epicenter of one of the largest aerial bombardments in world history. Cambodia’s geopolitical location during the Second Indochina War made it a critical battleground between various competing actors.
Between 1975-1979, the people of Cambodia also suffered unspeakable tragedy under the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime, and though the Khmer Rouge were overthrown from power in 1979, Cambodia continued to struggle with war, famine, and humanitarian crises resulting in the death, displacement, or resettlement of millions of Cambodians. The defeat of the Khmer Rouge was not only a strategic victory for Cambodia, it was a strategic victory for ASEAN and the world.
The military engagements, maneuvers, and strategies that played out in Cambodia between 1979 and 1993 rippled across the region, and to some extent many of these forces shaped (and still shape) the geopolitics of ASEAN today. Cambodia’s military history is a history of not only battles and military maneuvers but also key political decisions and strategies that remain important references for informing national security and collective ASEAN strategy in the Southeast Asian region today.
As we mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Paris Peace Agreements, we should take the opportunity to not only reflect on what we must learn from the history surrounding these agreements, but also how much we can learn from all of Cambodia’s history. The importance of this history is perhaps no greater than now, as Cambodia prepares to assume the chair for the ASEAN in 2022. As Cambodia prepares to assume the chair for ASEAN, we should recognize this upcoming leadership role as an opportunity to leverage, among many other resources, Cambodia’s history to inform the Cambodian and ASEAN peoples’ collective development, partnership and leadership. Cambodia’s history is part and parcel to envisioning a collective peace and security for the ASEAN region.
Photo of the Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of National Defense of Cambodia (right), and General Nem Sowath, Special Advisor to the Defense Minister (left) inspect the Anlong Veng Peace Center’s (DC-Cam) plans to build a Win-Win monument.
Photo of Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of National Defense of Cambodia and his special advisor, General Nem Sowat (standing right). Next to General Sowat is Lieutenant General Meas Sina (standing left) with Mr. Youk Chhang (sitting). The distinguished party was visiting a proposed military history zone near the Anlong Veng Peace Center, Oddar Meanchey Province, along the Cambodian-Thai border. Photo by Ly Kok-Chhay, 6 March 2020.
~ Youk Chhang is the director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, and a leader in genocide education, prevention, and research. In 2018, Chhang received the Ramon Magsaysay Award, known as “Asia’s Nobel Prize,” for his work in preserving the memory of genocide and seeking justice in the Cambodian nation and the world. In 2007, he was nominated as Time Magazine’s top 100 men and women. Chhang has worked with civil society organizations and leaders around the world, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Myanmar, and other post-conflict developing countries. For the past 18 months, he has also been doing extensive research on Cambodian military history and military zones with General Nem Sowath of the Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense.
ដោយ៖ ឆាំង យុ នាយកមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលឯកសារកម្ពុជា
ប្រែសម្រួលជាភាសាខ្មែរដោយ: សុភ័ក្ត្រ ភាណា
ភ្នំពេញ៖ ខណៈពេលដែលយើងរំឭកខួបលើកទី៣០នៃសន្ធិសញ្ញាសន្តិភាពទីក្រុងប៉ារីស យើងនឹងបំពេញកាតព្វកិច្ចបានយ៉ាងប្រសើរមួយក្នុងការទទួលស្គាល់សារសំខាន់នៃប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រ ជាពិសេសប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រយោធាកម្ពុជា ចំពោះតំបន់ និងពិភពលោក។ ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រកម្ពុជា គួរតែត្រូវទទួលស្គាល់ថាជាធនធានជាតិមួយ ជំរុញដល់ការអភិវឌ្ឍជាយុទ្ធសាស្ត្ររបស់ប្រទេសជាតិ ជះឥទ្ធិពល និងភាពជាអ្នកដឹកនាំរបស់កម្ពុជានៅក្នុងតំបន់អាស៊ាន។
សម្តេចពិជ័យសេនា ទៀ បាញ់ ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី និងជារដ្ឋមន្ត្រីការពារជាតិកម្ពុជា និងឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ ណឹម សុវត្ថិ (ខាងស្តាំ)។ នាយទាហានបន្ទាប់ពីឯកឧត្តម ណឹម សុវត្ថិ គឺឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ឯក មាស ស៊ីណា (នៅខាងឆ្វេង) និងលោក ឆាំង យុ (អង្គុយ)។ គណៈប្រតិភូកិត្តិយសបានធ្វើទស្សនកិច្ចនៅទីតាំងដាក់ស្នើជាតំបន់ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រយោធា ស្ថិតនៅក្បែរមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលសន្តិភាពអន្លង់វែង ខេត្តឧត្តរមានជ័យ តាមបណ្តោយព្រំដែនកម្ពុជា-ថៃ។ រូបថតដោយ លី កុកឆាយ ថ្ងៃទី៦ ខែមីនា ឆ្នាំ២០២០។
ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រយោធា ត្រូវបានពិពណ៌នាថា គឺជាការសិក្សាស្រាវជ្រាវអំពីសង្គ្រាម និងការវិភាគអំពីជ័យជំនះ និងបរាជ័យ។ ទោះបីជាយ៉ាងណាក៏ដោយ ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រយោធា រួមបញ្ចូលនូវធាតុផ្សំជាច្រើនដទៃទៀតលើសពីនេះ។ ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រយោធាក្តោបនូវប្រធានបទជាច្រើន ដែលរួមមានវឌ្ឍនភាព និងបរាជ័យនៃរបបនីមួយៗរហូតដល់ការវិវត្តរបស់ប្រទេសជាតិនានា ព្រមទាំងសកម្មភាពដែលមនុស្សជាតិ សាងកំហុសដដែលៗ ឬបានរៀនសូត្រពីកំហុសរបស់ខ្លួន។ ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រកម្ពុជា ពោរពេញទៅដោយមេរៀនឥតមានពីរសម្រាប់ប្រទេសរបស់ខ្លួន តំបន់ និងពិភពលោក។
ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា គឺជាចំណុចប្រសព្វដ៏សំខាន់ជាយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រមួយ នៃការតស៊ូប្រទាញប្រទង់គ្នាក្នុងអំឡុងសង្គ្រាមត្រជាក់រវាង មនោគមន៍វិជ្ជា ប្រព័ន្ធនយោបាយ និងទំនោរនៃគោលនយោបាយការបរទេស។ ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រកម្ពុជាដែលញ៉ាំងឲ្យកើតមាន និងជាផ្នែកខ្លះនៃប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រទាក់ទងនឹងអន្តរាគមន៍ពីសំណាក់បរទេសនៅក្នុងតំបន់ សបញ្ជាក់ឲ្យឃើញថា ប្រទេសកម្ពុជាមានសារសំខាន់យ៉ាងដូចម្តេចចំពោះសន្តិសុខនៅក្នុងតំបន់ ហើយសន្តិសុខនៅក្នុងតំបន់មានសារសំខាន់យ៉ាងដូចម្តេច ចំពោះសន្តិសុខពិភពលោក។ បន្ថែមលើសពីនេះទៅទៀត ការសម្លាប់រង្គាល សង្គ្រាម និងការបំផ្លិចបំផ្លាញ កើតមានជាច្រើនលើកច្រើនសានៅក្នុងទំព័រប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រកម្ពុជានាចុងសតវត្សរ៍ទី២០ បានផ្តល់ជាមេរៀនសំខាន់ៗ ស្តីអំពីស្ថានភាពដែលកើតមានឡើង និងលទ្ធផលពីអស្ថិរភាព សង្គ្រាម និងអំពើប្រល័យពូជសាសន៍។ ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រកម្ពុជា គឺជាតឹកតាងមួយនៃស្មារតីដ៏រឹងមាំរបស់មនុស្ស ក៏ដូចជាមេរៀនស្តីពីជម្រៅនៃទុច្ចរិតភាពរបស់មនុស្ស។
សម្តេចពិជ័យសេនា ទៀ បាញ់ ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី និងជារដ្ឋមន្ត្រីការពារជាតិកម្ពុជា (ខាងស្តាំ) និងឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ ណឹម សុវត្ថិ ទីប្រឹក្សាពិសេសរបស់សម្តេចពិជ័យសេនា ទៀ បាញ់ (ខាងឆ្វេង) អញ្ជើញពិនិត្យគម្រោងនៅឯមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលសន្តិភាពអន្លង់វែង (មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលឯកសារកម្ពុជា) ដើម្បីបង្កើតជាស្តូបអនុស្សាវរីយ៍ឈ្នះ ឈ្នះ។
ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រកម្ពុជា ត្រូវបានបន្ទច់បង្អាក់ជាច្រើនលើកច្រើនសា ដោយប្រទេសជិតខាង ដើម្បីទន្ទ្រានយក គ្រប់គ្រង និងដណ្តើមកាន់កាប់ទឹកដីពីប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា។ ការសិក្សាអំពីប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រនៃទំនាក់ទំនង ទំនាស់ និងជម្លោះកាលពីអតីតកាលទាំងអស់នេះ មិនអាចត្រួសត្រាយផ្លូវសម្រាប់ការទូត ឬកិច្ចការយោធានាពេលបច្ចុប្បន្នឬអនាគតទេ ក៏ប៉ុន្តែប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រនេះ គឺជាធនធានជាតិមួយ ដែលផ្តល់អំណាចដល់អ្នកដឹកនាំតាមរយៈគតិបណ្ឌិតជាយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រក្នុងការគ្រប់គ្រង ទំនាក់ទំនងជាមួយនឹងប្រទេសជិតខាងនិងពិភពលោក។
ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រកម្ពុជា ជាពិសេសប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រយោធា ផ្តល់ជាធនធានដ៏ចាំបាច់មួយសម្រាប់ការអភិវឌ្ឍគតិបណ្ឌិតជាយុទ្ធសាស្ត្ររបស់អ្នកដឹកនាំប្រទេសជាតិរបស់យើង អ្នកដឹកនាំក្នុងតំបន់ និងអ្នកដឹកនាំកម្រិតពិភពលោក។ ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រយោធាកម្ពុជា ពោរពេញទៅដោយមេរៀន អំពីវិធីសាស្ត្របែបណានិងពេលវេលាសក្កិសមណាមួយដែលគួរដាក់កំហិត អត់ធ្មត់ ឬតតាំងដោយអង់អាច ក្នុងការការពារសន្តិសុខជាតិប្រកបដោយភាពវៀងវៃ។ ថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំយោធារបស់កម្ពុជា អាចចាត់ទុកប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រយោធាកម្ពុជា ថាជាធនធានជាតិមួយ ក្នុងការដុសខាត់កសាងគតិបណ្ឌិតជាយុទ្ធសាស្ត្ររបស់ខ្លួន និងការបង្កើនជំនាញវិជ្ជាជីវៈរបស់អង្គភាពនិងមន្ត្រីយោធារបស់ខ្លួនថែមទៀតផង។
សន្តិសុខជាតិរបស់កម្ពុជា ពឹងផ្អែកទៅលើអង្គភាពយោធាប្រកបដោយជំនាញវិជ្ជាជីវៈ។ អង្គភាពយោធាប្រកបដោយជំនាញវិជ្ជាជីវៈទាមទារនូវថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំពោរពេញដោយសមត្ថភាព ដែលមិនត្រឹមជាអ្នកជំនាញរៀបចំយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រ ប៉ុណ្ណោះទេប៉ុន្តែថែមទាំងជាអ្នកប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រទៀតផងពីព្រោះថាគ្មានយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រ ជោគជ័យណាមួយ ដែលអាចបង្កើតឡើងបានដោយគ្មានការយល់ដឹងអំពីប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រនោះឡើយ។
ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រកំណត់នូវសមាសធាតុស្នូល សម្រាប់យុទ្ធសាស្ត្រជោគជ័យនានា។ ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រយោធា ធានាថាយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រមួយមិនមែនរួមបញ្ចូលតែបរិបទប្រតិបត្តិការ យុទ្ធវិធី និងទ្រឹស្តីបច្ចុប្បន្នប៉ុណ្ណោះទេប៉ុន្តែថែមទាំងគួបផ្សំនូវជោគជ័យនិងកំហុសពីអតីតកាលថែមទៀតផង។ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រអាចផ្តល់ជាគោលគំនិតដល់យើង ថាតើគោលបំណងនៃយុទ្ធសាស្ត្ររបស់យើងអាចទទួលយកបានឬទេ? ថាតើវិធីសាស្ត្រឈានទៅសម្រេចគោលបំណងរបស់យើង អាចបត់បែនតាមកាលៈទេសៈ ដែរឬទេ? ថាតើអ្នកដឹកនាំពីមុនៗ របស់យើងបានប្រើប្រាស់យុទ្ធសាស្ត្រដូចគ្នា ឬខុសគ្នាបែបណានាពេលកន្លងទៅ? ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រយោធា គឺជាសមាសធាតុស្នូលគួបផ្សំបញ្ចូលគ្នានូវយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រយោធានិងសន្តិសុខជាតិ។
ប្រជាជាតិជាសមាជិកនិងសហថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំនៃសមាគមប្រជាជាតិអាស៊ីអាគ្នេយ៍ (អាស៊ាន) ត្រូវការអ្នកដឹកនាំដែលជាអ្នកប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រផងនិងជាអ្នករៀបចំយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រផង។ ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រយោធាកម្ពុជា មានសារសំខាន់ឥតពីរ ចំពោះសន្តិភាព និងសន្តិសុខនៅក្នុងតំបន់ ពីព្រោះថាសមរភូមិ ការតស៊ូ និងយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រភូមិសាស្ត្រនយោបាយជាច្រើន ត្រូវបានផ្តោតនៅក្នុងប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រយោធាកម្ពុជា។ ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា គឺជាចំណុចប្រជុំទម្ងន់ដ៏សំខាន់មួយក្នុងអំឡុងសង្គ្រាម ជម្លោះ និងការតស៊ូជាច្រើនដែលកើតមាននៅក្នុងតំបន់នាសតវត្សរ៍ទី២០។ បន្ទាប់ពីសង្គ្រាមឥណ្ឌូចិនលើកទីមួយបានបញ្ចប់ទៅ ប្រទេសកម្ពុជាទទួលបានឯករាជ្យ ចំណែកឯនៅក្នុងអំឡុងសង្គ្រាមឥណ្ឌូចិនលើកទីពីរ ប្រទេសកម្ពុជាគឺជាចំណុចកណ្តាលមួយនៃការទម្លាក់គ្រាប់បែកទ្រង់ទ្រាយធំបំផុតនៅក្នុងប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រពិភពលោក។ ទីតាំងភូមិសាស្ត្រនយោបាយរបស់កម្ពុជា នៅក្នុងអំឡុងសង្គ្រាមឥណ្ឌូចិនលើកទីពីរ ញ៉ាំងឲ្យកម្ពុជាក្លាយជាវាលសមរភូមិដ៏សំខាន់មួយរវាងគូប្រកួតប្រជែងអំណាចមួយចំនួន។
នៅចន្លោះឆ្នាំ១៩៧៥ដល់ឆ្នាំ១៩៧៩ ប្រជាជនកម្ពុជាបានទទួលរងទុក្ខវេទនា ពីសោកនាដកម្មហួសពីការស្មាននៅក្រោមរបបប្រល័យពូជសាសន៍ខ្មែរក្រហម។ ថ្វីត្បិតតែរបបខ្មែរក្រហមត្រូវផ្តួលរំលំតាំងពីឆ្នាំ១៩៧៩ទៅហើយក្តី ប្រទេសកម្ពុជាបន្តប្រឈមជាមួយនឹងសង្គ្រាម ទុរភិក្ស និងវិបត្តិមនុស្សធម៌នានា ដែលបង្កឲ្យមានការបាត់បង់ជីវិត ការជម្លៀសទីតាំង ឬការប្តូរទីជម្រករបស់ប្រជាជនកម្ពុជារាប់លាននាក់។ បរាជ័យរបស់ខ្មែរក្រហម មិនត្រឹមតែជាជោគជ័យជាយុទ្ធសាស្ត្ររបស់ប្រទេសកម្ពុជាតែប៉ុណ្ណោះទេ ប៉ុន្តែថែមទាំងជាជោគជ័យជាយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រសម្រាប់អាស៊ាន និងពិភពលោកថែមទៀតផង។
ការចូលរួម សមយុទ្ធ និងយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រយោធា ដែលបានអនុវត្តនៅក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជានៅរវាងឆ្នាំ១៩៧៩ដល់ឆ្នាំ១៩៩៣ បានអង្រួនតំបន់អាស៊ាន ហើយនៅក្នុងកម្រិតមួយ កម្លាំងចលករទាំងនេះបាន(និងនៅតែបន្ត)កំណត់សណ្ឋាននៃភូមិសាស្ត្រនយោបាយរបស់អាស៊ានបច្ចុប្បន្ន។ ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រយោធាកម្ពុជា គឺជាប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រដែលមិនត្រឹមតែរួមបញ្ចូលសមរភូមិនិងសមយុទ្ធយោធាប៉ុណ្ណោះទេ ប៉ុន្តែថែមទាំងរួមផ្សំនូវការសម្រេចចិត្តនយោបាយជាគោលនិងយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រសំខាន់ៗដែលនៅតែជាកំណត់យោងដ៏ចាំបាច់សម្រាប់ផ្តល់ដល់សន្តិសុខជាតិនិងយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រអាស៊ានជារួម នៅក្នុងតំបន់អាស៊ីអាគ្នេយ៍សព្វថ្ងៃនេះ។
ខណៈពេលដែលយើងរំឭកខួបលើកទី៣០នៃសន្ធិសញ្ញាសន្តិភាពទីក្រុងប៉ារីស យើងគួរឆ្លៀតយកឱកាសនេះ ដើម្បីសញ្ជឹងគិតអំពីអ្វីដែលយើងបានរៀនសូត្រពីប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រនៅជុំវិញសន្ធិសញ្ញានេះ និងឆ្លុះបញ្ជាំងអំពីអ្វីខ្លះ ដែលយើងបានឈ្វេងយល់ពីប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រទាំងស្រុងរបស់កម្ពុជា។ គ្មានពេលវេលាណាដែលសក្កិសមជាងពេលបច្ចុប្បន្នក្នុងការរំលេចចេញនូវសារសំខាន់នៃប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រ ស្របពេលដែលកម្ពុជាកំពុងត្រៀមខ្លួនធ្វើជាម្ចាស់ផ្ទះនៃកិច្ចប្រជុំអាស៊ានក្នុងឆ្នាំ២០២២។ ខណៈពេលដែលកម្ពុជា កំពុងត្រៀមរៀបចំកិច្ចប្រជុំអាស៊ាន យើងគួរតែទទួលស្គាល់តួនាទីក្នុងការដឹកនាំកិច្ចប្រជុំនេះ ថាជាឱកាសមួយក្នុងការប្រើប្រាស់ធនធាននានាក្នុងចំណោមធនធានទាំងឡាយ ជាពិសេសប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រកម្ពុជាឲ្យមានប្រសិទ្ធភាព ឈានទៅសម្រេចបានការអភិវឌ្ឍ ភាពជាដៃគូសហការ និងភាពជាអ្នកដឹកនាំជារួមសម្រាប់ប្រជាជនកម្ពុជានិងប្រជាជនអាស៊ាន។ ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រកម្ពុជា គឺជាផ្នែកនិងធាតុផ្សំចម្បងក្នុងការឈានទៅបង្កើតសន្តិភាពនិងសន្តិសុខរួមគ្នាមួយសម្រាប់តំបន់អាស៊ាន។
លោក ឆាំង យុ គឺជានាយកប្រតិបត្តិមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលឯកសារកម្ពុជា និងជាអ្នកដឹកនាំម្នាក់លើការអប់រំ ការរារាំងទប់ស្កាត់ និងការសិក្សាស្រាវជ្រាវពីអំពើប្រល័យពូជសាសន៍។ នៅក្នុងឆ្នាំ២០១៨ លោក ឆាំង យុ ទទួលបានពានរង្វាន់ រ៉ាមុន ម៉ាកសៃសៃ ដែលត្រូវស្គាល់ថាជា “ពានរង្វាន់ណូបែលអាស៊ី” សម្រាប់ការងាររបស់លោកក្នុងការថែរក្សាការចងចាំពីអំពើប្រល័យពូជសាសន៍ និងការស្វែងរកយុត្តិធម៌សម្រាប់ប្រទេសកម្ពុជានិងពិភពលោក។ នៅក្នុងឆ្នាំ២០០៧ លោកត្រូវបានជ្រើសរើសជាបុគ្គលដ៏មានឥទ្ធិពលបំផុតទាំង១០០នាក់របស់ទស្សនាវដ្ដីថាមស៍។ លោក ឆាំង យុ បានបំពេញការងារជាមួយស្ថាប័ននិងអ្នកដឹកនាំសង្គមស៊ីវិលជាច្រើននៅជុំវិញពិភពលោក ដែលក្នុងនោះរួមមានប្រទេសអ៊ីរ៉ាក់ ប្រទេសអាហ្វហ្កានីស្តាន ប្រទេសស៊ីរី ប្រទេសមីយ៉ាន់ម៉ា និងប្រទេសកំពុងអភិវឌ្ឍក្រោយជម្លោះដទៃផ្សេងៗទៀត។ នារយៈពេល១៨ខែចុងក្រោយនេះ លោកបានសិក្សាស្រាវជ្រាវលម្អិតអំពីប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រយោធាកម្ពុជា និងតំបន់ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រយោធា ជាមួយនឹងឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ ណឹម សុវត្ថិ នៃក្រសួងការពារជាតិកម្ពុជា៕
ประวัติศาสตร์ทางการทหารของกัมพูชาว่าด้วยเรื่องของบทเรียนเกี่ยวกับความอดทนอดกลั้น และความกล้าหาญในการปกป้องความมั่นคงของชาติ
เนื่องในโอกาสครบรอบ៣០ ปีของข้อตกลงสันติภาพปารีส เราควรถือโอกาสนี้ในการเรียนรู้และตระหนักถึงความสำคัญของประวัติศาสตร์ โดยเฉพาะประวัติศาสตร์ทางการทหารของกัมพูชาในระดับภูมิภาคและระดับโลก ประวัติศาสตร์ของกัมพูชาได้รับการยอมรับว่าเป็นแหล่งข้อมูลระดับชาติเกี่ยวกับการพัฒนาเชิงยุทธศาสตร์ อิทธิพล และความเป็นผู้นำของประเทศในภูมิภาคอาเซียน
ประวัติศาสตร์การทหารนั้นนอกจากจะเป็นการศึกษาวิจัยเกี่ยวกับสงครามและการวิเคราะห์ชัยชนะและความพ่ายแพ้แล้ว ประวัติศาสตร์ทางการทหารยังอธิบายถึงระบอบการปกครองไปจนถึงการเปลี่ยนแปลงของประเทศต่าง ๆ รวมถึงสิ่งที่มนุษยชาติได้เรียนรู้จากความผิดพลาด และวิธีการนำความรู้นั้นไปปรับใช้
ประวัติศาสตร์ของประเทศกัมพูชาไม่ได้บทเรียนสำคัญสำหรับประเทศ แต่ยังครอบคลุมไปถึงระดับภูมิภาค และระดับโลก
กัมพูชาเป็นทางแยกสำคัญในช่วงสงครามเย็นด้วยความขัดแย้งระหว่างอุดมการณ์ ระบบการเมือง และวาระนโยบายต่างประเทศ ประวัติของกัมพูชาที่เป็นส่วนสำคัญต่อประวัติศาสตร์และที่มาของการแทรกแซงจากต่างประเทศในภูมิภาค ซึ่งแสดงให้เห็นว่าประเทศกัมพูชานั้นมีความสำคัญต่อความมั่นคงในภูมิภาค รวมถึงความมั่นคงของภูมิภาคที่มีความสำคัญต่อความมั่นคงระดับโลก
นอกจากนี้ ความโหดร้ายของมนุษย์ สงคราม และการตัดทอนสิทธิมนุษย์ที่เป็นส่วนสำคัญและส่วนหลักของประวัติศาสตร์กัมพูชาในช่วงหลังศตวรรษที่ ២០ ได้ให้บทเรียนที่สำคัญเกี่ยวกับผลกระทบจากความไม่มั่นคงของประเทศ สงคราม และการฆ่าล้างเผ่าพันธุ์ ประวัติศาสตร์ของกัมพูชาเปรียบเสมือนเป็นภาพฉายของจิตวิญญาณมนุษย์ ในขณะเดียวกันก็เป็นภาพฉายของส่วนลึกในความเลวทรามของมนุษย์อีกด้วย
การรุกล้ำ การยึดครอง และกระทั่งการแย่งชิงอาณาเขตจากชาวกัมพูชาโดยประเทศเพื่อนบ้านเคยทำให้ประวัติศาสตร์ของกัมพูชาต้องถูกปรับเปลี่ยนและคั่นกลางมาหลายครั้ง แม้ว่าการศึกษาประวัติศาสตร์ในด้านความสัมพันธ์ ข้อพิพาท และความขัดแย้งในอดีตเหล่านี้จะไม่ใช่แนวทางหรือกิจการทางการทูตและการทหารในปัจจุบันหรืออนาคตแล้ว แต่อย่างไรก็ตามประวัติศาสตร์เหล่านี้ล้วนเป็นทรัพยากรของชาติและช่วยสนับสนุนภูมิปัญญาเชิงกลยุทธ์ให้กับผู้นำในการจัดการความสัมพันธ์กับเพื่อนบ้านและความสัมพันธ์กับโลกได้ดียิ่งขึ้น
ประวัติศาสตร์ของกัมพูชา โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งประวัติศาสตร์ทางการทหาร เป็นแหล่งทรัพยากรที่สำคัญในการพัฒนาภูมิปัญญาเชิงยุทธศาสตร์สำหรับผู้นำของประเทศ ผู้นำภูมิภาค และผู้นำโลก ประวัติศาสตร์ทางการทหารของกัมพูชาเต็มไปด้วยบทเรียนเกี่ยวกับวิธีการและเวลาที่ต้องฝึกความอดทนอดกลั้น เมื่อใดควรใช้ความอดทน และเมื่อใดควรใช้ความกล้าหาญในการปกป้องความมั่นคงของชาติ ผู้นำทหารกัมพูชาควรมองประวัติศาสตร์การทหารของกัมพูชาให้เป็นแหล่งทรัพยากรของชาติในการสร้างภูมิปัญญาเชิงกลยุทธ์ของตนเอง รวมไปถึงความเป็นมืออาชีพของคณะทหารและพลทหารในยศต่าง ๆ
ความมั่นคงของชาติกัมพูชาขึ้นอยู่กับความเป็นมืออาชีพของคณะทหาร แน่นอนว่าคณะทหารมืออาชีพต้องการผู้นำที่มีความสามารถ ซึ่งไม่เพียงแต่เป็นนักยุทธศาสตร์เท่านั้น แต่ยังต้องเป็นนักประวัติศาสตร์อีกด้วย เพราะหากปราศจากความเข้าใจในประวัติศาสตร์แล้ว ก็ไร้กลยุทธ์ที่จะประสบความสำเร็จในการพัฒนาได้ทางการทหารได้
ประวัติศาสตร์เป็นตัวกำหนดองค์ประกอบหลักของกลยุทธ์ที่ประสบความสำเร็จ ประวัติศาสตร์ทางการทหารเป็นทรัพยากรที่ทำให้มั่นใจได้ว่านอกจากสภาพแวดล้อมการปฏิบัติการ ยุทธวิธี และหลักการในปัจจุบันที่ล้วนมีผลต่อกลยุทธ์แล้ว ความสำเร็จและความผิดพลาดในอดีตก็มีผลต่อกลยุทธ์ที่ใช้ในปัจจุบันอีกด้วย ประวัติศาสตร์สามารถให้ข้อมูลเชิงลึกได้ว่าวัตถุประสงค์ของกลยุทธ์เป็นที่ยอมรับหรือไม่ วิธีการเพื่อให้บรรลุวัตถุประสงค์เหล่านั้นเป็นไปได้หรือไม่ และผู้ที่เคยใช้กลยุทธ์เดียวกันหรือต่างกันในอดีตนั้นเป็นอย่างไร ประวัติศาสตร์การทหารถือเป็นองค์ประกอบสำคัญของกลยุทธ์ทางทหารและความมั่นคงของชาติ
ประเทศสมาชิกและความเป็นผู้นำร่วมของสมาคมประชาชาติแห่งเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ (ASEAN) ยังต้องการผู้นำที่นอกจากจะเป็นนักประวัติศาสตร์ ยังต้องเป็นนักยุทธศาสตร์อีกด้วย ประวัติศาสตร์ทางการทหารของกัมพูชามีความสำคัญอย่างยิ่งต่อสันติภาพและความมั่นคงของภูมิภาค เนื่องจากเรื่องราวของการสู้รบ การดิ้นรน และยุทธศาสตร์ทางภูมิรัฐศาสตร์จำนวนมากล้วนมีศูนย์กลางอยู่ที่ประวัติศาสตร์การทหารของกัมพูชา
กัมพูชาเป็นศูนย์กลางที่สำคัญระหว่างสงคราม ความขัดแย้ง และการดิ้นรน เพราะสิ่งเหล่านี้ล้วนเป็นปัญหาสำคัญของกัมพูชาในสมัยศตวรรษที่ ២០ หลังสงครามอินโดจีนครั้งที่ ១กัมพูชาได้รับเอกราช และระหว่างสงครามอินโดจีนครั้งที่สอง กัมพูชาได้ถูกทิ้งระเบิดทางอากาศครั้งใหญ่ที่สุดครั้งหนึ่งในประวัติศาสตร์โลก จึงทำให้ตำแหน่งทางภูมิศาสตร์การเมืองของกัมพูชาในช่วงสงครามอินโดจีนครั้งที่สองกลายเป็นสนามรบที่สำคัญของหลายฝ่าย
ในช่วงปี พ.ศ. ២៥១៨-២៥២២ ชาวกัมพูชาประสบโศกนาฏกรรมการฆ่าล้างเผ่าพันธุ์ภายใต้ระบอบเขมรแดง และแม้ว่าเขมรแดงจะถูกโค่นอำนาจในปี ២៥២២ แต่กัมพูชายังคงต่อสู้กับสงคราม การกันดารอาหาร และวิกฤตการณ์ด้านมนุษยธรรมส่งผลให้มีผู้เสียชีวิต การพลัดถิ่น หรือการตั้งถิ่นฐานใหม่ของชาวกัมพูชาหลายล้านคน ความพ่ายแพ้ของเขมรแดงไม่ได้เป็นเพียงแค่ชัยชนะทางยุทธศาสตร์สำหรับกัมพูชาเท่านั้น แต่ยังเป็นชัยชนะเชิงกลยุทธ์ของประเทศอาเซียนและของโลกอีกด้วย
การปะทะ การซ้อมรบ และยุทธศาสตร์ทางทหารที่เกิดขึ้นในกัมพูชาระหว่างปี ២៥២២ ถึง ២៥៣៦ ได้แผ่ขยายไปทั่วภูมิภาค และบางส่วนของกองกำลังเหล่านี้ได้กำหนดภูมิรัฐศาสตร์ของอาเซียนในปัจจุบันอีกด้วย ประวัติศาสตร์ทางการทหารของกัมพูชาไม่เพียงแต่เป็นประวัติศาสตร์ของการสู้รบและการซ้อมรบทางทหารเท่านั้น แต่ยังรวมถึงกลยุทธ์การตัดสินใจทางการเมืองที่สามารถใช้เป็นข้อมูลอ้างอิงที่สำคัญต่อความมั่นคงของชาติและยุทธศาสตร์อาเซียนโดยรวมในภูมิภาคเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ในปัจจุบันอีกด้วย
เนื่องในโอกาสครบรอบ ៣០ ปีของข้อตกลงสันติภาพปารีส เราควรถือโอกาสนี้ในการเรียนรู้ประวัติศาสตร์เกี่ยวกับข้อตกลงดังกล่าว และวิเคราะห์สิ่งที่เราได้เรียนรู้จากประวัติศาสตร์กัมพูชา และตอนนี้ประวัติศาสตร์กัมพูชาจะได้รับความยิ่งใหญ่อีกครั้ง เนื่องจากกัมพูชากำลังเตรียมเข้ารับตำแหน่งประธานอาเซียนในปี พ.ศ. ២៥៦៥
ในขณะที่กัมพูชากำลังเตรียมพร้อมสู่การดำรงตำแหน่งเป็นประธานอาเซียน บทบาทความเป็นผู้นำอาเซียนที่กำลังจะเกิดขึ้นนี้ถือเป็นโอกาสของประเทศกัมพูชาในการใช้ประโยชน์จากประวัติศาสตร์ในการพัฒนาความร่วมมือและความเป็นผู้นำของชาวกัมพูชาและประชาชนในประเทศอาเซียนผู้เขียน
Youk Chhang
Youk Chhang เป็นผู้อำนวยการศูนย์เอกสารของกัมพูชา และเป็นผู้นำการศึกษา การป้องกัน และการวิจัยการฆ่าล้างเผ่าพันธุ์ ในช่วง ១៨ เดือนที่ผ่านมา Youk ได้ทำการศึกษาวิจัยอย่างละเอียดเกี่ยวกับประวัติศาสตร์การทหารของกัมพูชาและเขตการทหารกับพลเอก Nem Sowath กระทรวงกลาโหมกัมพูชา
Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh รองนายกรัฐมนตรีและรัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงกลาโหมกัมพูชา (ขวา) และพลเอก Nem Sowath ที่ปรึกษาพิเศษรัฐมนตรีกระทรวงกลาโหม (ซ้าย) ตรวจสอบแผนการสร้างอนุสาวรีย์ชนะ-ชนะของศูนย์สันติภาพอันหลงเวง เครดิต: Ly Kok-Chay
Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh รองนายกรัฐมนตรีและรัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงกลาโหมของกัมพูชา (นั่งซ้าย) และที่พลเอก Nem Sowath ที่ปรึกษาพิเศษรัฐมนตรีกระทรวงกลาโหม (ยืนขวา) พลโท Meas Sina (ยืนซ้าย) และ Youk Chhang (นั่ง) กำลังเยี่ยมชมเขตประวัติศาสตร์การทหารที่เสนอใกล้ศูนย์สันติภาพ Anlong Veng จังหวัด Oddar Meanchey ตามแนวชายแดนกัมพูชา – ไทย ภาพถ่ายโดย Ly Kok-Chhay วันที่ ៦ มีนาคม ២៥៦៣
Note: The author is only responsible for his original article in English, published on The Diplomat, dated October 22, 2021. First-Class Solutions Ltd. is responsible for the Thai language translation.
Lịch sử quân sự Campuchia chứa nhiều bài học về cách (và khi nào) cần thể hiện sự kiềm chế, nhẫn nại và gắn kết trong việc bảo vệ an ninh quốc gia
Viết bởi Youk Chhang
Nhân dịp kỷ niệm 30 năm Hiệp Định Hoà Bình Paris, chúng tôi muốn bày tỏ ghi nhận sự quan trọng của lịch sử, đặc biệt là lịch sử quân sự Campuchia, trong khu vực và trên toàn thế giới. Lịch sử Campuchia cần được công nhận như tài sản quốc gia cho việc phát triển đất nước mang tính chiến lược, sự tác động, và vai trò lãnh đạo trong khu vực Đông Nam Á.
Lịch sử quân sự được mô tả như một cuộc nghiên cứu chiến tranh và phân tích chiến thắng của sự đánh bại kẻ thù, tuy nhiên, nó còn bao hàm nhiều ý nghĩa hơn thế nữa. Lịch sử quân sự bao gồm một loạt các đề tài khác nhau, từ việc đi lên hay thoái trào của các chế độ đến việc chuyển mình của các quốc gia, và con người chúng ta lặp lại hay là học hỏi từ các sai lầm trong quá khứ như thế nào. Lịch sử Campuchia chứa nhiều bài học quý báu cho đất nước, khu vực và thế giới.
Campuchia đã là một ngã rẽ có ý nghĩa trong cuộc Chiến Tranh Lạnh giữa các hệ tư tưởng, hệ thống chính trị, và các chính sách chính trị của nước ngoài. Lịch sử của Campuchia đã dẫn đến, và bao gồm một phần của, lịch sử sự can thiệp của các nước khác trong khu vực chứng tỏ đất nước này quan trọng như thế nào đối với an ninh trong khu vực, và an ninh của khu vực đối với an ninh toàn cầu. Thêm vào đó, sự tàn bạo, chiến tranh, và sự cưỡng đoạt đã tô màu thêm vào lịch sử Campuchia trong thời kỳ hậu thế kỷ 20, mang đến bài học quan trọng về các tình huống bị dồn ép vào hoàn cảnh khó khăn và là hậu quả của sự không ổn định, chiến tranh và sự diệt chủng. Lịch sử Campuchia là một minh hoạ của tinh thần dân tộc đồng thời là một bài học sâu sắc về sự đồi bại của con người.
Lịch sửa của Campuchia cũng là một sự nhấn mạnh về các ý đồ xâm lấn, chiếm đóng, kể cả chiếm đoạt lãnh thổ Campuchia từ tay nhân dân Campuchia. Nghiên cứu về lịch sử của các sự quan hệ, tranh chấp, và mâu thuẫn trong quá khứ không phải tạo tiền đề cho các vấn đề ngoại giao hoặc quân sự, tuy nhiên, lịch sử này là nguồn tài nguyên quốc gia trang bị cho các lãnh đạo về chiến lược khôn ngoan trong cách quản lý các mối quan hệ với các nước láng giềng và trên thế giới.
Lịch sử Campuchia, đặc biệt là lịch sử quân sự, mang lại kinh nghiệm quí báu cho sự phát triển các chiến lược khôn ngoan của đất nước Campuchia, của khu vực và lãnh đạo trên thế giới. Lịch sử quân sự Campuchia chứa nhiều bài học về cách (và khi nào) cần thực hành sự kiềm chế, khi nào cần thể hiện lòng kiên nhẫn, và khi nào thể hiện sự gắn kết trong việc bảo vệ an ninh quốc gia một cách khôn ngoan. Các nhà lãnh đạo quân sự Campuchia có thể xem lịch sử quân sự Campuchia như là một tài sản quốc gia để không chỉ xây dựng nên các chiến lược không ngoan mà còn là sự chuyên nghiệp trong việc tổ chức cơ cấu quân sự.
An ninh quốc gia Campuchia sẽ tuỳ thuộc vào một tổ chức quân sự chuyên nghiệp. Các tổ chức quân sự chuyên nghiệp đòi hỏi các nhà lãnh đạo năng lực, đó không chỉ là các nhà chiến lược mà còn là những nhà sử học – bởi vì chiến lược thành công cần phải được xây dựng dựa trên sự am tường lịch sử.
Lịch sử đã mài dũa các yếu tố cốt lõi cần thiết cho chiến lược thành công. Lịch sử quân sự bảo đảm rằng chiến lược không chỉ được thiết lập dựa trên môi trường hoạt động, các chiến thuật, và học thuyết hiện tại, mà còn cần dựa vào sự thành công và lỗi lầm trong quá khứ. Lịch sử có thể giúp ta am hiểu về các mục tiêu của một chiến lược có đáng được chấp nhận hay không, phương pháp thực hiện để đạt được mục tiêu có khả thi không, và những người tiền nhiệm đã làm thế nào để đưa ra quyết định ứng dụng lại chiến lược hay ứng dụng chiến lược khác nhau trong quá khứ. Lịch sử quân sự là yếu tố quan trọng của việc kết hợp các chiến lược.
Các quốc gia thành viên và sự lãnh đạo của các quốc gia thuộc Hiệp Hội Các Nước Đông Nam Á (ASEAN) cũng yêu cầu các nhà lãnh đạo vừa là nhà lịch sử học cũng như nhà chiến lược. Lịch sử quân sự Campuchia là quan trọng duy nhất cho hoà bình và an ninh của khu vực bởi vì đã có rất nhiều cuộc chiến đấu, đấu tranh, và chiến lược địa lý chính trị tập trung vào lịch sử quân sự Camphuchia.
Campuchia đã là trung tâm của các cuộc chiến tranh nghiêm trọng, mâu thuẩn, và đấu tranh đưa đến nhiều rắc rối trong khu vực trong thế kỷ 20. Trong cuộc Chiến Tranh Đông Dương Lần Thứ Nhất, Campuchia đã trở nên độc lập, và trong cuộc Chiến Tranh Đông Dương Lần Thứ Hai, Campuchia đã là tâm điểm của một trong những cuộc oanh tạc trên không lớn nhất trong lịch sử thế giới. Vị trí địa lý chính trị của Campuchia trong thời kỳ Chiến Tranh Đông Dương Lần Thứ Hai đã làm cho nó trở thành một chiến trường quan trọng giữa các nước chiến tranh với nhau.
Trong các năm 1975-1979, nhân dân Campuchia đã chịu đựng bi kịch không thể mô tả thành lời dưới chế độ diệt chủng Khmer Đỏ, và cho dù Khmer Đỏ đã bị lật đổ năm 1979, Campuchia vẫn tiếp tục tranh đấu với chiến tranh, nạn đói, khủng hoảng về quyền nhân đạo, đưa đến sự chết chốc, di dân, hoặc tái định cư của hàng triệu người dân Campuchia. Sự bài trừ quân Khmer Đỏ không chỉ là một chiến thắng mang tính chiến lược cho Campuchia mà còn là một chiến thắng chiến lược cho ASEAN và thế giới.
Các thoả thuận quân sự, các cuộc diễn tập, và chiến thuật đã diễn ra tại Campuchia trong khoảng thời gian 1979 và 1993 đã gây ra các làn sóng trong khu vực, và trong chừng mực nào đó rất nhiều trong số này đã hình thành (và vẫn đang hình thành) nên các vị trí chính trị của ASEAN ngày nay.
Nhân dịp kỷ niệm lần thứ 30 Các Hiệp Định Hoà Bình Paris, chúng ta hãy nhân cơ hội này bày tỏ không chỉ những gì chúng ta đã học được từ lịch sử qua các hiệp định này, mà chúng ta còn học được rất nhiều từ tất cả những gì đã có trong lịch sử Campuchia. Sự quan trọng của lịch sử lớn hơn bao giờ hết, khi Campuchia chuẩn bị cho việc tổ chức hội nghị ASEAN vào năm 2022.
Nhân dịp Campuchhia đang chuẩn bị cho lượt tổ chức ASEAN sắp tới, chúng ta nên ghi nhận vai trò lãnh đạo sắp tới như là một cơ hội để lan toả, cùng với các nguồn tài nguyên khác, lịch sử Campuchia để chứng tỏ sự phát triển cộng đồng, tinh thần hợp tác, và vai trò lãnh đạo của nhân dân Campuchia và nhân dân các nước Đông Nam Á. Lịch sử Campuchia là một phần của tầm nhìn cho một hoà bình chung và an ninh cho các nước Đông Nam Á trong khu vực.
TÁC GIẢ
Youk Chhang
Youk Chhang là Giám Đốc của Trung Tâm Tài Liệu Campuchia, và là một nhà lãnh đạo trong giáo dục, nghiên cứu và phòng chống nạn diệt chủng. Năm 2018, Chhang được nhận Giải Thưởng Ramon Magsaysay, được xem như là “Giải Nobel Châu Á” cho cống hiến của ông trong việc bảo tồn ký ức về sự diệt chủng và đi tìm công lý trong phạm vi đất nước Campuchi cũng như trên thế giới. năm 2007, ông được đề cử trong Top 100 người đàn ông và phụ nữ của Tạp Chí Times. Chhang đã cộng tác với nhiều tổ chức xã hội dân sự cũng như các lãnh đạo trên toàn thế giới, bao gồm I Rắc, Ap-ga-nix-tan, Si-ria, Miến Điện, và các nước đang phát triển kể từ sau các cuộc xung đột. Trong suốt 18 tháng qua, ông cũng đã thực hiện nhiều cuộc nghiên cứu sâu về lịch sử quân sự Campuchia và các vùng quân sự cùng với Tướng Quân Nem Sowath của Bộ Quốc Phòng Campuchia.
Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh, phó bộ trưởng và bộ trưởng bộ quốc phòng Camphuchia (bên phải), và Tướng Quân Nem Sowath, cố vấn đặc biệt của bộ quốc phòng (bên trái) đang kiểm tra kế hoạch Trung Tâm Hoà Bình Anlong Veng để xây dựng Đài Tưởng Niệm Win-Win.
Hình cung cấp bởi Ly Kok-Chhay.
Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh, phó bộ trưởng và bộ trưởng bộ quốc phòng Camphuchia (ngồi bên trái), và cố vấn đặc biệt của ông – Tướng Quân Nem Sowat (đứng bên phải), Trung Tướng Meas Sina (đứng bên trái), và Youk Chhang (ngồi), trong một cuộc viếng thăm dự án khu lịch sử quân sự gần Trung Tam Hoà Bình Anlong Veng, tỉnh Oddar Meanchey, dọc theo biên giới Campuchia-Thái lan.
Hình được cung cấp bởi Ly Kok-Chhay, 06 tháng 3 năm 2020.
