76-14-B2
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Cambodia III[edit]
Transcript[edit]This is my third commentary on the tragedy of Cambodia as told in John Barron and Anthony Paul's book, "Murder of a Gentle Land." I'll be right back. I've been reciting the story of what has happened to Cambodia since the Communists marched into the capital city two years ago. Today, I'll give the reasoning, if one can apply that word to genocide, behind the destruction of Cambodia's social system and the murder of so many of its people. At first glance it seems self-defeating for the Communists themselves to empty cities and towns, wipe out millions of people possessed of useful skills and to totally destroy the fabric of a society. In Phnom Penh, the university was turned into a banana farm and pigs rooted in the classrooms. Communist officials and, of course soldiers, are the only life in the once flourishing capital city. In short, Cambodian cities have been abolished. Interviewed in the paper Human Events Mr. Barron was asked, "What is the motivation and philosophy of the communist rulers?" Unquote. He replied that everything that has been done in Cambodia has been by orders of Angka Loeu. I think that's... I'm not sure I pronounced that correctly. But it means "The Organization On High" corresponding to the politburo in the U.S.S.R. It consists of about a dozen men and women who exercise all the power. They're from middle class families, educated as lawyers, teachers or economists. All are ardent communists wedded to theory. None ever worked with his or her hands and they spent their adult lives outside of Cambodia. They are ascetics, who believe in the ultimate revolutionary dream of completely destroying the existing order so that in the consequent vacuum they can create a pure and perfect society. And this is what they've set out to do without regard to human life or material cost. What a reminder of Lenin's line that, "If three-fourths of the world population had to die, it would be worth it if the remaining one-fourth were Communist." Those dozen purists moved more swiftly than any other revolutionaries, quote, "Toward the total obliteration of all that existed because in a matter of two or three weeks the past was eliminated." Unquote. There was a classless society. All were equal in the jungle and before the soldiers guns. There was no printed material, no money, no religion and everyone was performing the same work. Even courtship is licensed and to court without permission of the high twelve is punishable by death, as are extramarital affairs. Parents are forbidden to punish their children, nor can they order them to do anything, they can only ask. The children are encouraged to report their parents wrongdoing. It's pretty heady for a child to know he or she has the power of life or death over mother and father. They're taught their god is the organization on high, that their whole life, their every thought, their being must be consecrated to the organization. If they falter the wheel of history will grind them down. There are no schools as such anymore, but they're indoctrinated with a hatred for anything foreign, especially American. In the villages, a gong awakens the people at five o'clock in the morning. They work in the fields with only a noon break until evening and on moonlit nights they frequently put in three extra hours. There are no holidays, they work a seven day week and are only allowed two infractions of the rules. On the third, they disappear. Women have special privileges. Rhey aren't shot, their throats are cut. The Murder of a Gentle Land should be required reading. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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