Allen Myers' view on the issue of the Vietnamese settlers in Cambodia is typical
of the view that reinforces the Vietnamese domination of Cambodia (Post letters,
Dec. 4-17).
When we try to address the problem of the Vietnamese settlers moving into Cambodia
we are accused of inviting hatred against the Vietnamese. This is not the issue of
inviting racism but rather it is a matter of the survival of Cambodia.
These Vietnamese are illegal immigrants brought here by the Vietnamese invading forces,
therefore they must leave.
Cambodia could accept those Vietnamese who can prove that they were in Cambodia before
Jan. 7, 1979, otherwise they must leave.
We are not alone in denying illegal settlers a place in our home. America and Australia
are two of the most civilized nations and they have deported many illegal immigrants
and settlers like the Vietnamese in Cambodia.
Allen Myers has compared the Vietnamese to blacks in the United States, to Jews in
Germany, etc. This comparison is unsuitable because the blacks and Jews were established
citizens of those countries, while the Vietnamese were brought here by the occupying
forces and many of them are still moving into Cambodia everyday.
The question of the Vietnamese can be solved if they leave Cambodia and, when we
have an elected and stable government, they can reapply through an immigration process
for entry back into Cambodia.
By these means they are guaranteed equal rights as naturalized citizens of Cambodia.
If they are moving in illegally, taking the land of Cambodians and taking the jobs
of Cambodians (construction projects in Cambodia are done by Vietnamese workers),
Cambodians would resent this.
Mr. Myers, please stop accusing us of inviting racism because Kampuchea Krom is a
testimony of Vietnamese annexation of Cambodian land-moving in the settlers and their
annexing of it. If the problem of Vietnamese settlers is not addressed, we could
see a Kampuchea Krom II and Cambodia would be no more.
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