the truth about Cambodia

Ever been to Cambodia? Its a beautiful country with beautiful people. The cities are full of life. But they are also full of reminders about what went on their just a couple decdes ago Only once you are there can you really find out the truth about Cambodia. Littering the countryside in Laos and Cambodia are landmines. You visit some lanscapes and you aren't allowed to go for a walk because they are still detonating them. This has an impact on the economy, not to mention the mind, in the countryside.

The US refuses to sign the land mine treaety, banning them in warfare. This fact continues to upset, and righfully so, citizens around the world. When you see a man hobbling around Phnom Penh with only one leg and four children, you start to wonder why the US won't suck it up.

Truth is the casualty. Without the US support, their is major lack of funding in the extraction of land mines in several countries worldwide. Why won't they help? Because the US put most of those land mines down in the first place. And this was morally wrong. If the government does give in and sign the treaty, then it would prove that the international community has the power to sway the US to give up an essential ground weapon. If they were able to achieve this, what else could they do?

The discussion is frustrating.

But, I'm not done with Cambodia.
A little history
- Vietnam War spilled over into Cambodia
- Nixon and Kissinger adminstirations launched numerous air attacks along the borders of Vietnam, killing many Cambodians (not to mention the landmines also).
- In March 1970, there was a CIA backed coup that deposed King NOrodom Sihanouk.
- He was replaced by a pro-Washington man named Lon Nol. The social consequences of this breathed new life into the Khmer Rouge, an extreme communist organization.
- Pol Pot (KR), took power in April 1975
- There was the genocide
- The communist part of the regime was supported by China.

This means that the West denied development AID by the UN in the years after the genocide. The West demonizes and punishes Cambodia and Vietnam for not aligning.
When will they learn better?