Sihanouk was a janitor?
Sihanouk was a janitor?
Ever typed in "Pol Pot" in wikileaks? Some interesting cables. One that made me laugh from 1977...
https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1977 ... 997_c.html
FINALLY, A FORMER KHMER ROUGE SOLDIER WHO DEFECTED TO THE RESISTANCE REPORTED SEEING PRINCE SIHANOUK WORKING AS A JANITOR IN A PHNOM PENH HOSPITAL.
https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1977 ... 997_c.html
FINALLY, A FORMER KHMER ROUGE SOLDIER WHO DEFECTED TO THE RESISTANCE REPORTED SEEING PRINCE SIHANOUK WORKING AS A JANITOR IN A PHNOM PENH HOSPITAL.
You do some interesting research barangPP!
If he could reappear in the Moon after his death, I have no doubt he could partake in custodial services if the mood took him.
I haven't put in any research time on him, but from what I saw, mercurial was an apt adjective. (I did meet his N. Korean bodyguard unit over a few days one time. They didn't seem a smiley lot.)
If he could reappear in the Moon after his death, I have no doubt he could partake in custodial services if the mood took him.
I haven't put in any research time on him, but from what I saw, mercurial was an apt adjective. (I did meet his N. Korean bodyguard unit over a few days one time. They didn't seem a smiley lot.)
- Lucky Lucan
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Interesting report on resistance groups.
As for Sihanouk, his resignation wasn't appreciated by Pol Pot who wanted him to remain as a respected figurehead. It's well known from his writings and other reports that he spent much of his remaining time in Democratic Kampuchea tending to a vegetable patch in the palace grounds and doing menial tasks.
That was most likely Tea Banh's group who were aligned with the Kampuchean Communists (Khmer Rouge) but defected in 1973 when a purge was initiated in their zone.A. KOH KONG/PURSAT SECTOR OF CAMBODIA, OPERATED FROM
THAILAND'S TRAT PROVINCE. THE KOH KONG SECTOR HAS 100
MEN, HALF OF WHOM ARE LOCATED SIX KILOMETERS WITHIN CAM-
BODIA AND HALF IN TRAT PROVINCE, THAILAND. EIGHTY OF THE
100 ARE FORMER KHMER ROUGE SOLDIERS WHO HAVE DEFECTED TO
THE RESISTANCE. AS IN ALL SECTORS, KOH KONG/PURSAT TROOPS
PRIMARILY CONDUCT RECONNAISANCE MISSIONS IN CAMBODIA, AL-
THOUGH RESISTANCE FORCES HAVE BLOWN UP ONE BRIDGE AND FIVE
RESISTANCE SOLDIERS HARASSED A CAMBODIAN MILITARY CAMP
CONTAINING ROUGHLY SIXTY KHMER ROUGE. THE TROOPS SUFFER FROM
MALARIA, EASILY CONTRACTED IN THE MOSQUITO-INFESTED ROUGH,
JUNGLE MOUNTAIN TERRAIN OF THE BORDER AREA OF KOH KONG.
As for Sihanouk, his resignation wasn't appreciated by Pol Pot who wanted him to remain as a respected figurehead. It's well known from his writings and other reports that he spent much of his remaining time in Democratic Kampuchea tending to a vegetable patch in the palace grounds and doing menial tasks.
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
Sorry unrelated to OP, but connected to LL's post.
Having visited the Pursat Thai border area perhaps 7 times, I'm curious about the fighting history there. On one trip, there was a huge pile of anti-tank mines beside the road, perhaps 30. Not sure exactly where they were found, but the pile was at a very minor military camp about 5 or 10km up above the big Tmar Da bridge into the Cardamoms. This was perhaps my 3rd or 4th trip over the mountains that way, so I was in retrospect worried by my earlier out-for-a-drive casual nonchalance. Also I really had to wonder what all those big mines were there for. Did the Vietnamese ever bring a large number of tanks over the mountains and down towards the border?
I know the K5 line went from near Pailin up through Poipet, O'Biechon, Being Trakoun and even (?) towards O'Samach but did it exist south of Pailin as well? Through Samlout, South Pursat and Koh Kong?
(I saw lots of war junk between Samlout and Tmar Da, along the border tracks, mostly rockets, mortars, and antipersonnel mines of all types, but very few anti-tank mines.)
Having visited the Pursat Thai border area perhaps 7 times, I'm curious about the fighting history there. On one trip, there was a huge pile of anti-tank mines beside the road, perhaps 30. Not sure exactly where they were found, but the pile was at a very minor military camp about 5 or 10km up above the big Tmar Da bridge into the Cardamoms. This was perhaps my 3rd or 4th trip over the mountains that way, so I was in retrospect worried by my earlier out-for-a-drive casual nonchalance. Also I really had to wonder what all those big mines were there for. Did the Vietnamese ever bring a large number of tanks over the mountains and down towards the border?
I know the K5 line went from near Pailin up through Poipet, O'Biechon, Being Trakoun and even (?) towards O'Samach but did it exist south of Pailin as well? Through Samlout, South Pursat and Koh Kong?
(I saw lots of war junk between Samlout and Tmar Da, along the border tracks, mostly rockets, mortars, and antipersonnel mines of all types, but very few anti-tank mines.)
It's interesting to look through the wikileaks cables from 1977 onwards as the US tried to figure out if Pol Pot was the same person as Saloth Sar.
Some of the October 1977 cables mention reports of defectors or refugees describing starvation and disease throughout the country.
Here's another snippet I found interesting from https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1977 ... 007_c.html
POL POT SAID AT 10/2 PEKING NEWS CONF THAT EVACUATION CAMBODIA'S CITIES AT END OF WAR IN '75 ORDERED TO BREAK UP "ENEMY SPY ORGANIZATIONS." CONTENDED EVACUATION PREVENTED ENEMIES INVADING COUNTRY/USING SABOTAGE, SECRET AGENTS. REPORTED BY NCNA, CONF ENDED POT OFFICIAL VISIT PEKING
Some of the October 1977 cables mention reports of defectors or refugees describing starvation and disease throughout the country.
Here's another snippet I found interesting from https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1977 ... 007_c.html
POL POT SAID AT 10/2 PEKING NEWS CONF THAT EVACUATION CAMBODIA'S CITIES AT END OF WAR IN '75 ORDERED TO BREAK UP "ENEMY SPY ORGANIZATIONS." CONTENDED EVACUATION PREVENTED ENEMIES INVADING COUNTRY/USING SABOTAGE, SECRET AGENTS. REPORTED BY NCNA, CONF ENDED POT OFFICIAL VISIT PEKING
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It went along nearly all of the border. There were Khmer Rouge camps straddling the border in Malai, Pailin, Samlot, Koh Kong.Guest9999 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 24, 2021 4:40 am
I know the K5 line went from near Pailin up through Poipet, O'Biechon, Being Trakoun and even (?) towards O'Samach but did it exist south of Pailin as well? Through Samlout, South Pursat and Koh Kong?
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
What stuck out on that map for me was Stung Treng airport - I've been up that way many times, never came across it; any more intrepid travelers seen it, else I'll add it to the "to do" list on my next foray.
Meum est propositum in taberna mori,
ut sint Guinness proxima morientis ori.
tunc cantabunt letius angelorum chori:
"Sit Deus propitius huic potatori."
ut sint Guinness proxima morientis ori.
tunc cantabunt letius angelorum chori:
"Sit Deus propitius huic potatori."
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There were airports near almost all the provincial capitals back in the day before the roads were improved.
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
Cheers LL for the map.
I guess CMAC, or the mine authority above them, must have fair records of all major battle grounds. Anyone know if they have regional minefield maps available online? Or from other demeaning orgs.? MAG, Halo, etc?
Back to modern times
I confess some of the found war junk cashes along the border track from Samlout to Tmar Da were clearly displays to show donors or journalists. While this is par for the course for most demining orgs, as well as allowing Journos and foreign politicians the chance to witness blowing up some big found bomb on field visits, it seemed odd in that area, because it seemed the track/road itself was still being demined by RCAF military deminers finding stuff almost daily just a few meters of road centreline as they smoothed it to barely passable with a bulldozer and a backhoe. I think the military did it themselves, and kept other organizations out, so they could hunt rosewood without hassles. There was no general logging there at that time plenty of huge jungle giants. (It is possible the war junk stashes were to deter non military loggers, or, rather, to deter Other military loggers. Certainly the little military camp at the SW end of the Tmar Da bridge often had a tense, highly strung feel. Probably logging, but I also wondered about some kind of drug production. Certainly The Tmar Da forrest is now long gone.)
About airports. The K. Cham and K. Chanang airfields are both very big and existed in DK times if not earlier. Neither is on that map, I guess because the Vietnamese didn't use them? (Note also the little airplane symbol on the map shows it was at that capital, but not it's actual location. E.G. Poenchentong)
I recall someone trying to assure me there was an old airfield at Hawaii Beach, Sihanoukville, but that seemed improbable. Anyone know if that was true?
I guess CMAC, or the mine authority above them, must have fair records of all major battle grounds. Anyone know if they have regional minefield maps available online? Or from other demeaning orgs.? MAG, Halo, etc?
Back to modern times
I confess some of the found war junk cashes along the border track from Samlout to Tmar Da were clearly displays to show donors or journalists. While this is par for the course for most demining orgs, as well as allowing Journos and foreign politicians the chance to witness blowing up some big found bomb on field visits, it seemed odd in that area, because it seemed the track/road itself was still being demined by RCAF military deminers finding stuff almost daily just a few meters of road centreline as they smoothed it to barely passable with a bulldozer and a backhoe. I think the military did it themselves, and kept other organizations out, so they could hunt rosewood without hassles. There was no general logging there at that time plenty of huge jungle giants. (It is possible the war junk stashes were to deter non military loggers, or, rather, to deter Other military loggers. Certainly the little military camp at the SW end of the Tmar Da bridge often had a tense, highly strung feel. Probably logging, but I also wondered about some kind of drug production. Certainly The Tmar Da forrest is now long gone.)
About airports. The K. Cham and K. Chanang airfields are both very big and existed in DK times if not earlier. Neither is on that map, I guess because the Vietnamese didn't use them? (Note also the little airplane symbol on the map shows it was at that capital, but not it's actual location. E.G. Poenchentong)
I recall someone trying to assure me there was an old airfield at Hawaii Beach, Sihanoukville, but that seemed improbable. Anyone know if that was true?
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There was no airfield, per se, that I recall, circa 1991, when I ran missions. We used to land Mi-17s at a heliport type place, complete with Soviet radar there on a large cement slab and bunker type complex. There was no runway for fixed wing around there.Guest9999 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 25, 2021 11:37 amCheers LL for the map.
I guess CMAC, or the mine authority above them, must have fair records of all major battle grounds. Anyone know if they have regional minefield maps available online? Or from other demeaning orgs.? MAG, Halo, etc?
Back to modern times
I confess some of the found war junk cashes along the border track from Samlout to Tmar Da were clearly displays to show donors or journalists. While this is par for the course for most demining orgs, as well as allowing Journos and foreign politicians the chance to witness blowing up some big found bomb on field visits, it seemed odd in that area, because it seemed the track/road itself was still being demined by RCAF military deminers finding stuff almost daily just a few meters of road centreline as they smoothed it to barely passable with a bulldozer and a backhoe. I think the military did it themselves, and kept other organizations out, so they could hunt rosewood without hassles. There was no general logging there at that time plenty of huge jungle giants. (It is possible the war junk stashes were to deter non military loggers, or, rather, to deter Other military loggers. Certainly the little military camp at the SW end of the Tmar Da bridge often had a tense, highly strung feel. Probably logging, but I also wondered about some kind of drug production. Certainly The Tmar Da forrest is now long gone.)
About airports. The K. Cham and K. Chanang airfields are both very big and existed in DK times if not earlier. Neither is on that map, I guess because the Vietnamese didn't use them? (Note also the little airplane symbol on the map shows it was at that capital, but not it's actual location. E.G. Poenchentong)
I recall someone trying to assure me there was an old airfield at Hawaii Beach, Sihanoukville, but that seemed improbable. Anyone know if that was true?
====================
Why are the gods such vicious cunts?
Where is the god of tits and wine?
Why are the gods such vicious cunts?
Where is the god of tits and wine?
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The Kampong Cham airfield was used in the civil war period (1970-75). The Chinese airport in Kampong Chhnang I'm not so sure about. I think it was only nearing completion when the Vietnamese invaded. It's been used on rare occasions in recent decades. The map is missing a lot of provincial airports.Guest9999 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 25, 2021 11:37 am
About airports. The K. Cham and K. Chanang airfields are both very big and existed in DK times if not earlier. Neither is on that map, I guess because the Vietnamese didn't use them? (Note also the little airplane symbol on the map shows it was at that capital, but not it's actual location. E.G. Poenchentong)
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
The old airport at the beach was in the little valley where the Snakehouse was.The one in Kampot became the landfill.Just like Kompong Thom and Samraong.The one in Stung Treng was usable the last time I was there 7 years ago.Someone { Chinese ?} had built a new tower and front gate.But it looked like they stopped before they finished.The strip in Kompong Cham is ROUGH ! It became a short cut for local traffic years ago.Most of the dirt runway at Kratie is still there.They built a big University on the North end.Haven't been to the Anlong Veng or Tbeng Meanchey strips in a few years but they both looked like they were finished.Kompong Spue had at least two strips but both are finished.Kompong Chhnang would make a perfect aircraft bone yard.With one meter deep concrete runway you could land just about any type flying.Battombang is very nice but they will tell you it's not an airport,it's a park.The old strip at Palin was covered by government building long ago.The old strip South of Banteay Chhmar is done.CMAC used to fly the payroll into there once a month.You can still see the numbers inbeded at the end of the old runway at Kompong Trach.Ratanakiri had a good laterite strip but DUSTY!The old strip in the town of Sen Monorom is gone but big plans for a new one South of town.Snoul and Memot used to have dirt strips to service the rubber companies.There was a dirt strip near the little town of Krakor just off road 5.The grass strip in Ko Kong was all grown up with tall grass the last time I was there.There are lots more but most are finished.Just like anywhere else in the world,the land is worth too much.
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Great post Eddie.
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
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