First Published: The Call, Vol. 7, No. 3, January 23, 1978.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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Nothing could be giving more enjoyment to the two superpowers than to see two revolutionary third world countries like Vietnam and Kampuchea waging war. The present fighting, now deep within Kampuchean territory, has caused a tremendous loss of life on both sides and destruction of the recently built-up productive capacity in the two countries, which were only recently liberated from foreign imperialist domination.
Statements issued by the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry refer to the battle as a “border conflict.” Their statement, issued Jan. 9, states that the Vietnamese are anxious to settle the issues “through negotiations.” The statement stresses the “special relationship” that should exist between Vietnam and Kampuchea and affirms that “all difficulties inherent in the border problem can be overcome in order to jointly establish a border of lasting friendship between neighboring fraternal countries.”
For its part, the government of Democratic Kampuchea insists that all foreign troops must be withdrawn from its territory in order for negotiations to take place. In a declaration from its Ministry of Information issued Jan. 17, the Kampucheans deny that the struggle is a “border conflict.”
The declaration points out that, on Jan. 5, Kampuchean forces “liberated Chak and victoriously defeated the enemy at this place.” The statement asks: “Is this what the Vietnamese Party and Government call the Kampuchea-Vietnam ’border conflict’ which they deplore to the highest degree? Since when is the Vietnam border found at Prasaut and at Phum Chak? Let the Vietnamese government and Party respond to these questions to clarify world opinion.”
The Kampuchean statement also opposed the idea of entering an “Indochinese Federation planned under its (Vietnam’s) lead ... ” The statement adds, “In the past, the people and nation of Kampuchea have willingly made immense sacrifices in their struggle for popular and national liberation. The Revolutionary Army of Kampuchea did not volunteer to make so many sacrifices to liberate themselves from a great power just to be enslaved or to be satellites of some other great power, but to live in independence, sovereignty, honor and dignity.”
It is our view that everything possible must be done to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Vietnam-Kampuchea fighting, a settlement which guarantees the independence and integrity of both countries. The continued fighting must be settled justly and free from superpower interference so that both countries can develop in peace.