A Change of Guard

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Monday 4 August 2014

Someone else's war: Cambodians who served on the front line of World War 1 ខ្មែរ​រងគ្រោះ​ក្នុង​សង្គ្រាម​នៅ​បារាំង​ត្រូវ​គេ​បំភ្លេច

Cambodian war volunteers at Wat Phnom, 1916
At the height of World War I, 2,000 Cambodian volunteers were sent to the fields of France to support their colonial rulers. Many did not return.
March 1916. As artillery shells pounded the battlefields of eastern France, Sen Sak, a Cambodian widow, pleaded with the head of the French administration in Phnom Penh to allow her only child, Sen Sam, to leave the army before he was sent to fight in Europe’s distant war.
Without teenage Sam, her only close relative after the successive deaths of her husband and daughter, Sak wrote to Resident Superior François Baudoin that she would be “abandoned and miserable”.
“I pray and beg you, M. Resident Superior, to accord me this grace,” she wrote. “I can already feel my heart breaking.”
After travelling to the capital from her Kampong Chhnang village to beg her son not to go, he had reversed his decision, she claimed.
Scribbled on the same letter – buried in Cambodia’s National Archives – is Baudoin’s reply. Faded to the point of illegibility, it is unclear if he accepted her request. It is also unknown if Sam deserted anyway or dutifully donned his uniform and boarded a steamer to the port of Marseille like approximately 2,000 other Cambodians eventually did by war’s end in 1918.
One hundred years ago this month, at the outbreak of the First World War, and nearly two years before the heartbroken mother put pen to paper, the French authorities in Indochina offered battalions of “native soldiers” for the war effort in Europe.
They were rejected. The war, they were told, would be over by Christmas.
But as historian John Tully notes in Cambodia Under The Tricolour, “By 1916, the euphoria had evaporated and the enormous casualties suffered in the trenches (equal to the population of Poitiers every week) could not long be replaced from [France’s] metropolitan population of 40 million.”
France, like Britain, turned to its empire.
It was initially thought that hundreds of thousands could be raised in Indochina, but the figure was later limited to 50,000, according to Tully. Of that, the overwhelming majority were Vietnamese, but Cambodia was asked to provide 2,500 tirailleurs (light infantry) and workers to serve in the trenches, garrisons and factories of France.
The call was strongly backed by the Royal Palace, with then-King Sisowath serving as president of a committee in charge of organising recruitment.
“The members of the royal family, ministers, government officials of all ranks, all the Cambodian people and myself, have for France a love and a devotion without bounds,” he proclaimed.
An intense propaganda campaign began. Notices were posted in every village; high-ranking French officials and royalty went out on recruiting drives.
“The monks were put to work contributing to the ordinary recruitment drives, while the King himself would go to the districts promising honourific distinctions and jobs in the administration and at the Royal Palace to those who joined,” French historian Alain Forest writes.
But according to Forest, after three months, only 2,295 people had volunteered to serve as soldiers, of which 508 were sent home after it became apparent they had been coerced to join by local authorities. Of those remaining, 1,008 were deemed appropriate for military service. Of that number, 20 died during training and 340 more deserted.
As he reported a batch of just 28 new recruits from Kampong Cham and Kratie provinces in May 1916, War Minister Chakrey Ponn attributed slow recruitment “not to a hostile sentiment towards the protectorate, but to the fact that Cambodians are very attached to their homes and do not like to go abroad.
“Having a far from belligerent character, they content themselves with their farms.”
Despite Ponn’s assurances, the recruitment drive, in fact, coincided with peasant protests against French taxation now known as the “1916 Affair”. In this atmosphere, anti-recruitment propaganda also flourished, contributing to desertions and slowing enlistment.
Nevertheless, on May 1, 1916, the first battalion of Cambodian soldiers – the 20th Indochinese – proudly set sail for France, waved off by large crowds.
Arriving in Marseille, they boarded trains to barracks further east, in Fréjus, for basic training.
While the largely uneducated volunteers may have had trouble adjusting, small concessions had been made to ease the transition. The men arriving dined on dried fish, vermicelli and even prahok, according to Tully.
They were also welcomed by locals bearing gifts of flowers and wine, some soldiers later said, and “amused themselves by sending ‘obscene’ postcards to friends and relatives” and apparently even charming pretty French girls.
But early contact with working locals, particularly in the factories, was already worrying the colonial administration.
On May 27, 1916, Nguyen Van Vinh, a high-ranking Vietnamese colonial administrator posted with the Indochinese volunteers, noted that such contact could see them “lose their native quality of docility” when they return home.
“Outside of the workshops and barracks, the men have gotten used to a certain liberty which they may retain as they come back to Indochina,” he wrote.
Although Vinh’s fears may have been overblown, at least two veterans – Pach Chhoeun and Kim Tith – later became prominent nationalists and figures in the independence movement.
While Baudoin and other French colonial officials initially lamented the lack of military prowess they perceived in Cambodians, the volunteers were ultimately praised for their bravery on the battlefield.
Many served as garrison troops in France and Macedonia. But others saw action in Vietnamese-Cambodian frontline units on the Western Front – at the ferocious Battle of Verdun, in the Vosges mountains of Alsace and the Chemins des Dames in Aisne. Cambodians also fought on the Balkans front.
Indochinese troops were said to be especially brave during patrols towards enemy trenches, Tully writes, although given that tirailleurs were often used in this manner, “the unavoidable conclusion is that they were seen as being more expendable than Europeans.”
An October 1918 letter from Baudoin to the family of a volunteer tirailleur named Nuon, from Prey Veng province, killed on July 28 on the Alsace front and awarded the Croix de Guerre, cites his courage.
“A brave tirailleur, who stayed brave under a violent bombardment. Killed in the accomplishment of his duty.”
Nuon’s family, like those of most who volunteered, were poor.
“The mother, 47, farms three little rice paddies which they own. These people live in misery, so I have sent [them] the sum of 30 piastres,” a French official in Prey Veng wrote to Baudoin.
Maurice Rives, of the National Association of Friends of Indochina, writes that the French infantry, or poilus, considered their Asian comrades “unaffected by the artillery shells, serious, cold, with nerves of steel”.
While the number of Cambodians who died serving France in the war is unknown, some commanders estimated that 115,000 of a total 545,000 colonial soldiers died in battle – a 20 per cent death rate, compared to 15 per cent for European troops.
Their names have long been forgotten and the stories of Cambodia’s involvement in the Great War are now relegated to the pages of a few history books and the shelves of colonial archives. But last month, a small group of Cambodian youth, officials and soldiers joined a Bastille Day march in Paris to commemorate the centenary of the war.
While the war was credited with blood-bonding the friendship between French and Khmer, and Cambodians undoubtedly held their own on the battlefields, some believe it was less patriotic fervour for the protectorate, and more a spirit of adventure, that drew young Khmers to serve.
Huy Kanthoul, who interviewed veterans and later became prime minister in 1951, puts it down to the determined curiosity of men who had heard so much, for so long, about the land from which those who ran their country had come.
“They wished to travel, to cross the seas, see France,” he wrote in his unpublished memoirs.
“The marvels of which they had heard extolled so much.”




យុវជន​កម្ពុជា​ថតរូប មុន​បញ្ជូន​ទៅ​ច្បាំង នៅ​ប្រទេស​បារាំង ក្នុង​សង្គ្រាម​លោក​លើក​ទី​មួយ ក្នុង​អំឡុង​ឆ្នាំ ១៩១៦។
យុវជន​កម្ពុជា​ថតរូប មុន​បញ្ជូន​ទៅ​ច្បាំង នៅ​ប្រទេស​បារាំង ក្នុង​សង្គ្រាម​លោក​លើក​ទី​មួយ ក្នុង​អំឡុង​ឆ្នាំ ១៩១៦។ រូបថត សហការី
ខែ​មីនា ឆ្នាំ​១៩១៦ ខណៈ​ដែល​គ្រាប់ផ្លោង​បាន​ជញ្រ្ជំ​សមរភូមិ​នៅ​បារាំង​ខាង​កើត អ្នកស្រី សេន សាក់ ស្រ្តី​មេម៉ាយ​កម្ពុជា​បាន​សូម​អង្វរករ​ប្រធាន​រដ្ឋបាល​បារាំង​នៅ​ភ្នំពេញ ដើម្បី​អនុញ្ញាត​ឲ្យ​កូនប្រុស​តែ​ម្នាក់​គត់​របស់​អ្នកស្រី ចាកចេញ​ពី​កងទ័ព មុន​ពេល​ត្រូវ​បាន​បញ្ជូន​ឲ្យ​ទៅ​ប្រយុទ្ធ​នៅក្នុង​សង្គ្រាម​អឺរ៉ុប។
ដូច​យុវជន​កម្ពុជា​ផ្សងព្រេង​ជាច្រើន​នាក់​ដែរ ក្មេងប្រុស សេន សំ ជា​អនីតិជន បាន​ស្ម័គ្រចិត្ត​បម្រើ​អំណាច​អាណានិគម បន្ទាប់ពី​មាន​ការ​ជ្រើសរើស​កងទ័ព​នៅក្នុង​ខេត្ត​ផ្សេងៗ​។ ប៉ុន្តែ ដោយ​ទើប​តែ​បាត់បង់​កូនស្រី និង​ស្វាមី​នា​ពេល​ថ្មីៗ​នោះ អ្នកស្រី សាក់ មិន​អាច​ឲ្យ​កូន​ចុងក្រោយ ដែល​នៅ​សល់​របស់​អ្នក​ស្រី​ប្រឈម​នឹង​គ្រាប់កាំភ្លើង​អាល្លឺម៉ង់ ក្នុង​ចម្ងាយ​រាប់​ពាន់​គីឡូម៉ែត្រ​ពី​មុខ​របស់​ខ្លួន​ឡើយ។
អ្នកស្រី សាក់ សរសេរ​ទៅ​លោក​ប្រធាន​រដ្ឋបាល François Baudoin ថា បើ​គ្មាន​សំ អ្នកស្រី​ស្ទើរតែ​នៅ​ឯកោ បាត់បង់​គ្រប់​យ៉ាង និង​សោកសៅ។
អ្នកស្រី​បាន​សរសេរ​ថា៖ «​ខ្ញុំ​សូម​អង្វរ​លោក​ប្រធាន​រដ្ឋបាល​អនុគ្រោះ។ ជីវិត​របស់​ខ្ញុំ​ពឹងផ្អែក​តែ​លើ​កូនប្រុស​ម្នាក់​នេះ​គត់​។ ខ្ញុំ​បាន​ខកចិត្ត​រួច​ហើយ​»។ អ្នកស្រី​អះអាង​ថា​បន្ទាប់ពី​បាន​ធ្វើ​ដំណើរ​ពី​ភូមិ​ក្នុង​ខេត្ត​កំពង់ឆ្នាំង​មក​រាជធានី​ដើម្បី​អង្វរ​កូនប្រុស​កុំ​ឲ្យ​ទៅ​តែ​លោក​សំ​បាន​កែប្រែ​សេចក្តី​សម្រេច​របស់​ខ្លួន​។
ការ​រំឭក​ដល់​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​កម្ពុជា​ដែល​បាន​ស្លាប់​ក្នុង​សង្គ្រាម​លោក​លើក​ទី​មួយ នៅ​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ​។
ការ​រំឭក​ដល់​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​កម្ពុជា​ដែល​បាន​ស្លាប់​ក្នុង​សង្គ្រាម​លោក​លើក​ទី​មួយ នៅ​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ​។ រូបថត សហការី
ចារ​នៅលើ​លិខិត​ដដែល​នោះ គឺជា​ការ​ឆ្លើយតប របស់​លោក Baudoin ប៉ុន្តែ​បន្ទាប់ពី​រយៈពេល​ច្រើន​ឆ្នាំ​មក​ហើយ​នោះ ចំណារ​នោះ ពុំ​អាច​អាន​យល់​ទេ។ គេ​ពុំ​ដឹង​ទេ​ថា តើ លោក សំ បាន​លះបង់ ឬ​ពាក់​ឯកសណ្ឋាន ហើយ​ឡើង​ជិះ​នាវា​ឆ្ពោះ​ទៅ​កំពង់ផែ Marseille ដូច​ពលរដ្ឋ​កម្ពុជា​ប្រហែល ២ ពាន់​នាក់​ផ្សេង​ទៀត គិត​ត្រឹម​ចុងបញ្ចប់​នៃ​សង្គ្រាម​ឆ្នាំ ១៩១៨ នោះ​ឬ​អត់​?
កាលពី ១០០ ឆ្នាំ​មុន នៅពេល​ផ្ទុះ​សង្គ្រាម​លោក​លើក​ទី ១ អាជ្ញាធរ​បារាំង នៅ​ឥណ្ឌូចិន​បាន​ផ្តល់​កងពល​ជនជាតិ​ដើម​សម្រាប់​សង្គ្រាម​នៅ​អឺរ៉ុប ប៉ុន្តែ​សំណើ​នេះ​ត្រូវ​បាន​បដិសេធ ព្រោះ​ថា គេ​ជឿជាក់​ថា​សង្គ្រាម​នឹង​បញ្ចប់​នៅ​ត្រឹម​ថ្ងៃ​គ្រិស្តស្មាស។
ប៉ុន្តែ​លោក John Tully ប្រវតិ្ត​វិទូ កត់សម្គាល់​ក្នុង​សៀវភៅ Cambodia Under The Tricolour ថា «​នៅ​ឆ្នាំ ១៩១៦ ពេល​រីករាយ​បាន​សាបរលាប ហើយ​មាន​ចំនួន​ជនរងគ្រោះ​ច្រើន​សន្ធឹក នៅក្នុង​លេណដ្ឋាន... មិន​អាច​ជំនួស​បាន​ដោយ​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ ៤០ លាន​នាក់​ឡើយ។ ដូច្នេះ​បារាំង​បាន​ដើរ​តាម​ប្រទេស​អង់គ្លេស ដោយ​បែរ​ទៅ​ជ្រើសរើស​កងទ័ព​ពី​ប្រទេស​ក្រោម​អាណានិគម​របស់​ខ្លួន»។
ក្នុង​ចំណោម​អ្នក​ស្ម័គ្រចិត្ត ៥ ម៉ឺន​នាក់ ដែល​ចេញ​ពី​តំបន់​ឥណ្ឌូចិន ចំនួន​ភាគច្រើន​គឺជា​ជនជាតិ​វៀតណាម​។ ប៉ុន្តែ​កម្ពុជា​ត្រូវ​បាន​ស្នើឲ្យ​ផ្តល់​កង​ថ្មើរជើង​និង​កម្មករ​ចំនួន ២៥០០ នាក់​ដើម្បី​បម្រើ​នៅ​លេណដ្ឋាន​បន្ទាយ​និង​រោងចក្រ​នៅ​បារាំង។
ការ​អំពាវនាវ​នេះ​ត្រូវ​បាន​គាំទ្រ​យ៉ាង​ខ្លាំង​ពី​ព្រះបរមរាជវាំង ដោយ​ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ ស៊ីសុវត្ថិ ទ្រង់​បាន​គង់​ជា​ប្រធាន​គណៈកម្មាធិការ​ជ្រើសរើស​កងទ័ព​ស្ម័គ្រចិត្ត។
ព្រះអង្គ​បាន​ប្រកាស​ថា៖ «​សមាជិក​រាជវង្ស ក្រសួង មន្រ្តីរដ្ឋាភិបាល​គ្រប់​ជាន់​ថ្នាក់ ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា​ទាំងអស់ និង​ព្រះកុរណា​ខ្ញុំ មាន​ក្តីស្រឡាញ់​ស្មោះស្ម័គ្រ​ចំពោះ​បារាំង​ដោយ​គ្មាន​ព្រំដែន»។
យុទ្ធនាការ​ឃោសនា​ខ្លាំងក្លា បាន​ចាប់ផ្តើម​។ សេចក្តី​ជូន​ដំណឹង​បាន​បិទ​ផ្សាយ​នៅ​តាម​ភូមិ​ដែល​ផ្សព្វផ្សាយ​អត្ថប្រយោជន៍​ដែល​អ្នក​ស្ម័គ្រចិត្ត​ទទួល​បាន​ពី​មន្រ្តី​រាជការ​បារាំង ព្រះអង្គ​ម្ចាស់​ផ្សេងៗ​និង​ថែម​ទាំង​ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ​ផ្ទាល់ បាន​ចុះ​ទៅ​ជ្រើសរើស​អ្នក​ស្ម័គ្រចិត្ត។ ប៉ុន្តែ យោងតាម Forest បន្ទាប់ពី​រយៈពេល​៣​ខែ មាន​អ្នក​ស័្មគ្រចិត្ត​តែ​២២៩៥ នាក់ ក្នុង​នោះ​៥០៨​នាក់​ត្រូវ​បាន​បញ្ជូន​មក​វិញ បន្ទាប់ពី​គេ​ច្បាស់​ថា ពួកគេ​ត្រូវ​បាន​បង្ខំ​ឲ្យ​ចូលរួម​ក្នុង​ជួរ​កងទ័ព​ពី​សំណាក់​អាជ្ញាធរ​មូលដ្ឋាន។ ក្នុង​ចំណោម​នោះ​១០០៨ នាក់​ត្រូវ​បាន​ចាត់​ទុក​ថា ស័ក្តិសម សម្រាប់​បម្រើ​យោធា ប៉ុន្តែ​២០ នាក់​ទៀត​បាន​ស្លាប់​ក្នុង​អំឡុង​ពេល​ហ្វឹកហាត់ និង ៣៤០ នាក់​ទៀត​ត្រូវ​បាន​បណ្តេញ​ចេញ​ពី​ជួរ​កងទ័ព។
លោក ចក្រី ពន់ រដ្ឋមន្រ្តី​សង្គ្រាម បាន​កំណត់​មូលហេតុ​នៃ​ការ​ជ្រើសរើស​យឺតយ៉ាវ​នេះ គឺ​មិនមែន​ដោយសារ​តែ​អារម្មណ៍​ប្រឆាំង​របប​អាណាព្យាបាល​ទេ ប៉ុន្តែ គឺ​ដោយសារ​តែ​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា​ចង់​នៅ​ផ្ទះ ហើយ​មិន​ចង់​ទៅ​ក្រៅ​ប្រទេស​ទេ។
នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១ ឧសភា ឆ្នាំ​១៩១៦ កងវរសេនា​តូច​កម្ពុជា​ទី​មួយ ដែល​ជា​ទាហាន​ស្ម័គ្រចិត្ត​ឥណ្ឌូចិន នា​សតវត្សរ៍​ទី​២០ បាន​ធ្វើ​ដំណើរ​ទៅ​ប្រទេស​បារាំង ដោយ​មាន​ការ​ជូនដំណើរ​ពី​ក្រុម​មនុស្ស​ជាច្រើន​នៅ​កំពង់ផែ​។ នៅពេល​ទៅ​ដល់ Marseille ពួកគេ​បាន​ជិះ​រថភ្លើង​ទៅ​បន្ទាយ​ទាហាន​នៅ​ភាគ​ខាង​កើត​នៅ Fre'jus ដើម្បី​ទទួល​ការ​បណ្តុះបណ្តាល​ក្បួន​យោធា​។ ខណៈ​ប្រជាជន​ដែល​មិន​ចេះ​អក្សរ និង​គ្មាន​ការ​អប់រំ​មាន​ការ​ភ័យខ្លាច​បារាំង ពួកគេ​ត្រូវ​បាន​ធ្វើឲ្យ​មាន​អារម្មណ៍​ដូច​នៅ​ស្រុក​កំណើត​របស់​ខ្លួន​ដែល​នៅក្នុង​បន្ទាយ​ទាហាន​នោះ​តាមរយៈ​ការ​ផ្តល់​ឲ្យ​នូវ​ត្រីឆ្អើរ នំបញ្ចុក និង​ប្រហុក​។ នេះ​បើ​តាម​អ្នក​ប្រវត្តិសាស្រ្ត​ដែល​បាន​កត់ត្រា។
ទាហាន​ខ្លះ ក្រោយមក​និយាយ​ថា ពួកគេ​ត្រូវ​បាន​ស្វាគមន៍​ដោយ​ប្រជាជន​មូលដ្ឋាន ដោយ​មាន​ការ​ប្រមូល​ឲ្យ​នូវ​ផ្កា​និង​ស្រា និង​បាន​«​ធ្វើឲ្យ​ខ្លួនឯង​សប្បាយ​រីករាយ​តាមរយៈ​ការ​ផ្ញើ​«​លិខិត​សួរ​សុខទុក្ខ​»​ទៅ​មិត្តភក្តិ​និង​សាច់ញាតិ​» និង​ទំនង​ថែម​ទាំង​មាន​ស្រី​បារាំង​ស្អាតៗ​។
ខណៈ Baudoin និង​មន្រ្តី​អាណានិគម​បារាំង​ដទៃៗ​ទៀត កាលពី​ដំបូង​មាន​ការ​ខកចិត្ត​ដោយសារ​ពួកគេ​គិត​ថា ទាហាន​កម្ពុជា ខ្វះ​សេចក្តី​ក្លាហាន ប៉ុន្តែ​នៅ​ទីបំផុត ទាហាន​កម្ពុជា​ត្រូវ​បាន​សរសើរ​ចំពោះ​ភាព​ក្លាហាន​នៅលើ​សមរភូមិ។ ទាហាន​កម្ពុជា​ជាច្រើន​បាន​បម្រើ​ជា​កងទ័ព​ការពារ​តំបន់​នៅក្នុង​ប្រទេស​បារាំង​និង Macedonia។ ប៉ុន្តែ​អ្នក​ដទៃ​ទៀត បាន​ឃើញ​កងទ័ព​ជួរ​មុខ​ខ្មែរ‑វៀតណាម​នៅ​រណសិរ្ស​លោក​ខាង​លិច នៅ​សមរភូមិ Verdun នៅ​ភ្នំ Vosges នៃ Alsace និង Chemins des Dames នៅ Aisne។ ទាហាន​កម្ពុជា​ក៏​បាន​ប្រយុទ្ធ​នៅ​ភាគ​ខាង​ជើង​នៃ Salonika ផង​ដែរ​។
Tully បានសរសេរ​ថា កងទ័ព​ឥណ្ឌូចិន ត្រូវ​បាន​និយាយ​ជាពិសេស​ថា ក្លាហាន​ក្នុង​អំឡុង​ការ​ល្បាត​នៅ​លេណដ្ឋាន​។ «​ការ​សន្និដ្ឋាន​ចៀស​មិន​រួច​គឺ​ថា ពួកគេ​ត្រូវ​បាន​ឃើញ​ថា មាន​សេចក្តី​ក្លាហាន​ជាង​ទាហាន​អឺរ៉ុប​»។
លិខិត​មួយ នៅ​ខែ​តុលា ឆ្នាំ​១៩១៨ ពី Baudoin ទៅ​គ្រួសារ​ទាហាន​ស្ម័គ្រចិត្ត​ឈ្មោះ នួន ដែល​មកពី​ខេត្ត​ព្រៃវែង ដែល​ត្រូវ​បាន​សម្លាប់​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​២៨ កក្កដា នៅ​ជួរ​មុខ​នៅ Alsace និង​ត្រូវ​បាន​ផ្តល់​ឲ្យ​នូវ​មេដាយ Croix de Guerre ដោយ​បាន​លើក​ឡើង​អំពី​ភាព​ក្លាហាន​របស់​គាត់។ លិខិត​នោះ​សរសេរ​ថា​៖«​គាត់​ជា​ទាហាន​ក្លាហាន​ម្នាក់ ដែល​នៅ​តែ​ក្លាហាន​នៅ​ក្រោម​ការ​ទម្លាក់​គ្រាប់បែក​ខ្លាំងក្លា»។ «​គាត់​ត្រូវ​បាន​សម្លាប់​នៅក្នុង​ការ​បំពេញ​ភារកិច្ច​»​។
គ្រួសារ​របស់ នួន គឺ​ដូច​គ្រួសារ​របស់​ទាហាន​ស្ម័គ្រចិត្ត​ដទៃៗ​ទៀត​ដែរ​គឺ​ក្រីក្រ។
Tully មន្រ្តី​បារាំង​ម្នាក់​ក្នុង​ខេត្ត​ព្រៃវែង បាន​សរសេរ​ទៅ Baudoin ថា​៖ «​ម្តាយ​អាយុ ៤៧ ឆ្នាំ​នេះ ធ្វើ​ស្រែ​លើ​ដីស្រែ​តូចៗ​ចំនួន​បី​។ ពួកគាត់​រស់នៅ​ក្នុង​ភាព​លំបាក​ណាស់ ដូច្នេះ ខ្ញុំ​បាន​ផ្ញើ​ប្រាក់​ឲ្យ​ពួកគាត់​ចំនួន ៣០ piastres»។ Tully បាន​កត់សម្គាល់​ថា សមរភូមិ​មួយ​នៅក្នុង​បរិយាកាស ដែល​មាន​ភ្លៀង​និង​ព្យុះ​នៅ​តំបន់ Verdun ទាហាន​កម្ពុជា​ជាច្រើន​ត្រូវ​បាន​សរសើរ​ថា​មាន​សេចក្តី​អង់អាច​ក្លាហាន​។
ទាហាន​កម្ពុជា​ម្នាក់​ឈ្មោះ ប៊ូ ត្រូវ​បាន​រងរបួស​ចំក្បាល ប៉ុន្តែ​មិន​ព្រម​ចាកចេញ​ពី​ការ​ប្រយុទ្ធ​ហើយ​បាន​ទទួល​នូវ​មេដាយ​អំពី​ភាព​ក្លាហាន​របស់​គាត់។ បើ​ទោះបី​ជា​ចំនួន​ទាហាន​កម្ពុជា ដែល​ស្លាប់​នៅក្នុង​ការ​បម្រើ​បារាំង​នៅក្នុង​សង្គ្រាម​នោះ​មិន​ត្រូវ​បាន​គេ​ដឹង​ក៏ដោយ ក៏​គេ​បាន​ប៉ាន់​ប្រមាណ​ថា ទាហាន​កម្ពុជា​ចំនួន​១១៥ ០០០ នាក់ ក្នុង​ចំណោម​ទាហាន​អាណានិគម​សរុប ៥៤៥ ០០០ នាក់​បាន​ស្លាប់​នៅក្នុង​សមរភូមិ​គឺ ២០​ភាគរយ​។ អ្នក​ដែល​បាន​ត្រឡប់​មក​ផ្ទះ​វិញ បាន​យក​ត្រឡប់​មក​ជាមួយ​នូវ​មេដាយ​និង​ប័ណ្ណសរសើរ និង​ប្រាក់​សោធន និង​ការ​លើកលែង​ពន្ធ និង​សម្បទាន​ដី​ដោយ​មិន​គិត​ថ្លៃ​និង​ការ​គាំពារ​សុខភាព​។
ឈ្មោះ​របស់​ពួកគេ​ត្រូវ​បាន​បំភ្លេច​ជាយូរ​មក​ហើយ ហើយ​សាច់រឿង​នៃ​ការ​ចូលរួម​របស់​កម្ពុជា​នៅក្នុង​«មហាសង្គ្រាម​នោះ​»​មិន​ត្រូវ​បាន​ធ្វើឲ្យ​សំខាន់​នៅក្នុង​ទំព័រ​សៀវភៅ​ប្រវត្តិសាស្រ្ត​មួយ​ចំនួន និង​នៅក្នុង​ប័ណ្ណសារ​ប្រវត្តិសាស្រ្ត​អាណានិគម​ទេ​។ កាលពី​ខែ​មុន ក្រុម​យុទ្ធជន​កម្ពុជា​និង​ទាហាន​បាន​ចូលរួម​ការ​ហែក្បួន​នៅ​ទិវា Bastille Day ក្នុង​ទីក្រុង​ប៉ារីស ដើម្បី​ប្រារព្ធ​ខួប​នៃ​សតវត្សរ៍​សង្គ្រាម​នោះ។ សង្គ្រាម​នោះ​ត្រូវ​បាន​គេ​ឲ្យ​តម្លៃ​ថា ជា​មិត្តភាព​រវាង​បារាំង​និង​ខ្មែរ​នៃ​ការ​បង្ហូរ​ឈាម​ក្នុង​សង្គ្រាម​និង​ចំពោះ​ការ​បម្រើ​បារាំង​ក្នុង​សម័យ​នោះ​៕ TKCharles Rollet

7 comments:

Kmenhwatt said...

It's just sad,Cambodians serving someone else war for many centuries now.In our recent memory Cambodians were serving Yuon & American's war as well,this last war Cambodia was NEUTRALITY but pulling into the war by an idoit King a yuon's sympathizer for yuon's PuzC!..

Will Cambodians learns from all these war,histories? Will they accept that they were serving someone else war? And stop helping to fight foreign's war,be neutral forever,,,,!

Anonymous said...

and another war is brewing in the horizon... the EU and the US controlled by the powerful bankers will do anything to stir up and provoke the bear [ russia ] to attack... same goes for china [ over the south sea ] war brings money to the bankers [ buying weapons, food/water/clothing/medecines for the soldiers , and the bankers which own most big corporations get to plunder the precious resources of the losing country like oil in iraq, lybia , minerals in afghanistan and gold in africa]and what did khmers soldiers get out that service/war which the french and english politicians started --- nothing except losing kampuchea krom to the viets.

Anonymous said...

Very interesting I never heard of Khmer men in World War I, when I was in school. I am proud about these Khmer people in the history of World War I in Europe. I am wondering how would khmer people in the next 100 years writing the history of Khmer CPP government in their books. I might wanna wait till then to read their books. Is it impossible dream!

Turboman

Anonymous said...

The fact is that -Drgunzet- is one of secret hidden Yuon/Vietcong agents hiding in Khmer Rouges uniforms while Pol Pot was toppled by evil hidden Yuon/Vietcong agents (including -Drgunzet-, we need to know who is the crazy -Drgunzet- is) during the Killing Fields from 1975 to 1979 and at the same time, Khmer Rouges soldiers (nationalists) were so busy to fight with Vietcong armies at the border of Cambodia and Southern Cambodia (South Vietnam) to get Southern Cambodia (Khmer Kampuchea Krom) back. As you know, real Khmer Rouges soldiers were different from Ah Hun Sen and his buddies (like Heng Samrin, Chea Sim, Keat Chhon, Hor Nam Hong, etc) who served and were brainwashed by his Hanoi masters and Ho Chi Minh. The Killing Fields was created initially by Hanoi masters (including Satan Ho Chi Minh) the ended up murdering a few millions of innocent Cambodian/Khmer people including children. Their Yuon/Vietnamese goal is reduced Cambodian population or to kill all Cambodian people including us before they tried to take the entire Cambodian land and tried to rename all Cambodian major cities, towns, provinces to be their ugliest Yuon/Vietcong names.

Luckily we stayed alive when the UN delegate tried to come inspect Cambodian between 1978 and 1979 as the Khmer relatives oversea including Sihanouk's family trees or cousins complained about their lost connections from Cambodia during the Killing Fields. After the evil hidden Yuon/Vietcong agents and their Yuon/Vietcong masters in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, they (secret Yuon/Vietcong agents hiding in Khmer Rouges uniforms), they (Yuon/Vietcong agents) rushed and hid in the forest and to Vietnam along with ah Hun Sen (who got shot in his eyes by real heroes Khmer Rouges soldiers who are not the killers, but have been accused and set up as the scapegoats), in order to change the uniforms from BLACK TO GREEN as you have seen in the films.

We need to thank the UN delegates who have done the good jobs to save us, but the f**king smart asses secret Yuon/Vietcong agents and their masters in Hanoi including Ho Chi Minh have been so clever by rushing to invade Cambodia in two weeks to rescue and fool the gullible Khmer victims of Killing Fields and foreigners that evil Vietcong and Hun Sen came rescue Khmer people from the Pol Pot. These were their propaganda, dirty tricks, shameful and hypocrite acts for evil Yuon/Vietcong agents and their masters from Hanoi including evil Ho Chi Minh.

I labeled -Drgunzet- as a secret Yuon/Vietcong agent among his evil Yuon/Vietcong agents hiding in Khmer Rouges uniforms.

I leave this for all reader to think carefully about the evil Yuon/Vietcong agents as they are in today along with Ah stupid and dumb Hun Sen and his brainwashed buddies in CPP government offices in Phnom Penh. They are wild animals who have destroyed and robbed our motherland and her natural resources to get rich. Now you have seen them are millionaires and billionaires who sever the Vietcong/Yuon's interests.

Anonymous said...

CORRECTION

The fact is that -Drgunzet- is one of secret hidden Yuon/Vietcong agents hiding in Khmer Rouges uniforms while Pol Pot was toppled by evil hidden Yuon/Vietcong agents (including -Drgunzet-, we need to know who is the crazy -Drgunzet- is) during the Killing Fields from 1975 to 1979 and at the same time, Khmer Rouges soldiers (nationalists) were so busy to fight with Vietcong armies at the border of Cambodia and Southern Cambodia (South Vietnam) to get Southern Cambodia (Khmer Kampuchea Krom) back. As you know, real Khmer Rouges soldiers were different from Ah Hun Sen and his buddies (like Heng Samrin, Chea Sim, Keat Chhon, Hor Nam Hong, etc) who served and were brainwashed by his Hanoi masters and Ho Chi Minh. The Killing Fields was created initially by Hanoi masters (including Satan Ho Chi Minh) THAT ended up murdering a few millions of innocent Cambodian/Khmer people including children. Their Yuon/Vietnamese goal is reduced Cambodian population or to kill all Cambodian people including us before they tried to take the entire Cambodian land and tried to rename all Cambodian major cities, towns, provinces to be their ugliest Yuon/Vietcong names.

Luckily we stayed alive when the UN delegate tried to come inspect Cambodian between 1978 and 1979 as the Khmer relatives oversea including Sihanouk's family trees or cousins complained about their lost connections from Cambodia during the Killing Fields. After the evil hidden Yuon/Vietcong agents and their Yuon/Vietcong masters in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, they (secret Yuon/Vietcong agents hiding in Khmer Rouges uniforms)HEARD ABOUT THE OFFICIAL VISITS OF UN DELEGATES OR CONVOYS TO CAMBODIA DURING THE KILLING FIELDS IN THE END OF 1978, they (Yuon/Vietcong agents) rushed and hid in the forest and to Vietnam along with ah Hun Sen (who got shot in his eyes by real heroes Khmer Rouges soldiers who are not the killers, but have been accused and set up as the scapegoats), in order to change the uniforms from BLACK TO GREEN as you have seen in the films.

We need to thank the UN delegates who have done the good jobs to save us, but the f**king smart asses secret Yuon/Vietcong agents and their masters in Hanoi including Ho Chi Minh have been so clever by rushing to invade Cambodia in two weeks to rescue and fool the gullible Khmer victims of Killing Fields and foreigners that evil Vietcong and Hun Sen came rescue Khmer people from the Pol Pot. These were their propaganda, dirty tricks, shameful and hypocrite acts for evil Yuon/Vietcong agents and their masters from Hanoi including evil Ho Chi Minh.

I labeled -Drgunzet- as a secret Yuon/Vietcong agent among his evil Yuon/Vietcong agents hiding in Khmer Rouges uniforms.

I leave this for all reader to think carefully about the evil Yuon/Vietcong agents as they are in today along with Ah stupid and dumb Hun Sen and his brainwashed buddies in CPP government offices in Phnom Penh. They are wild animals who have destroyed and robbed our motherland and her natural resources to get rich. Now you have seen them are millionaires and billionaires who sever the Vietcong/Yuon's interests.

Anonymous said...

An October 1918 letter from Baudoin to the family of a volunteer tirailleur named Nuon, from Prey Veng province, killed on July 28 on the Alsace front and awarded the Croix de Guerre, cites his courage.
“A brave tirailleur, who stayed brave under a violent bombardment. Killed in the accomplishment of his duty.”

----------------------

The French never said that they had to chain them to their heavy guns so they had no chance of escape. They had to keep on firing until they were killed.

Anonymous said...

Under French rule Cambodia never ever got development, all Cambodian money went to develop Vietnamese brigde, road, port, shcool.

The reason why Khmer Krom lost to Vietnam because French Vietnamize Khmer Krom by broght Vietnamese labours to Khmer Krom for produce rices for export then the Viet out number Khmer because French policy.