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p The reactions to the success of the United Front differed in various parts of the world. The Kampucheans’ true friends wished them victory with all their hearts. But there were those who only thought of how to make political capital out of the situation.

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p For three and a half years the world was dismayed by the brutal acts of the Pol Pot-Ieng Sary clique. But then the Americans suddenly began to express their concern about “certain violations of human rights in Kampuchea”. Had these only just come to light? Of course not. Previously the Americans had simply preferred to keep quiet, but once the Pnom Penh upper echelons began to loose their footing, they decided it would be a good idea to give them a kick and thus demonstrate their “principled stand" in the struggle for human rights.

p Exactly what this principled stand was worth soon became clear, however.

p “Act of aggression. . ..”

p “Vietnam seized Kampuchea... .”

p Since January 1979 such vociferous announcements have filled the newspapers and television screens of some countries. They grew increasingly clamorous as the United Front’s forces went on to victory. After the collapse of the regime, the propaganda burst reached its climax, and has not let up to this day.

p Talk about a funny combination of voices in this cacophonous choir! Those of the Peking leaders, West European journalists and American politicians.

p After the United Front’s victory, the USA “forgot” how it had condemned Pol Pot’s reprisals and did everything to whitewash him, distorting what had actually happened in Kampuchea. The US State Department acceeded to Maoist fabrications about “Vietnam’s aggression”. The same idea was put over on TV by former Secretary of State Kissinger. The American press draws an attractive image of the proPeking puppet regime, whome Vietnam was encouraged to attack by the Russians.

p Vietnam an invader? Wait a minute, gentlemen, surely all the indications are that it was the Khmers themselves, rather than anyone from outside, who rose against the Pol Pot regime. What is more, the uprising involved the entire people in a drive to protect the nation from extinction.

p How enthusiastically the people greeted their liberators! It was the same everywhere: in Kratieh and Swairieng, in Battambang and Pnom Penh. But perhaps it wasn’t the Khmers who threw flowers at the soldiers of the United 60 Front and embraced them? Perhaps it was Vietnamese or Russians dressed to look like Khmers?

p The wave of general hatred against the Pol Pot-Ieng Sary regime was so great that it collapsed as soon as the uprising took hold of the country. The Washington Post called the patriots’ victory one of the most rapid and amazing operations in modern history. Early in January, the flag of the United Front was raised over Pnom Penh. The former government retired to Peking, together with their Chinese advisors.

p It was as if Pnom Penh was reborn. There were crowds of people in the streets, and everything was clean. The rubbish that had filled the city was collected up by special youth brigades.

p The local authorities see to security and order, provide the population with foodstuffs and implements, and are restoring the economy.

p The new government has literally thousands of matters, both big and small, to deal with: healing the wounds inflicted by the former regime; restoring the ruined economy; laying roads and building bridges; opening factories, schools and hospitals; bringing back the monetary system.

The Kampucheans are sure that they will get over their difficulties, and are working full out to do so.