Cambodia marks 40 years of Khmer Rouge ouster
Van Do & Tam Hieu – VOV correspondents in Cambodia -
(VOVWORLD) - Cambodia on Monday celebrated the 40th anniversary of the expulsion of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime. The event was attended by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techno Hun Sen, National Assembly President Heng Samrin, embassy representatives, and foreign guests, including Vietnamese Ambassador Vu Quang Minh.
 Prime Minister Hun Sen and National Assembly President Heng Samrin wave at the crowds in the celebration in Pnom Penh on January 7, 2018. (Photo: VNA) |
The genocide, led by Pol Pot, initiated a reign of terror in 1975 that left two million Cambodians dead from starvation, hard labor, torture and mass executions.
In his speech, Prime Minister Hun Sen attributed the victory on January 7, 1979, to the combined strength of the Cambodian people’s unity under the leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party and the timely, effective support of Vietnam’s volunteer soldiers.
Cambodia has seen numerous socio-economic achievements in the past 40 years. With an average GDP growth rate of 7% in recent years, Cambodia has evolved from a poor to lower-middle income country.
Van Do & Tam Hieu – VOV correspondents in Cambodia