Federation Republic of Vietcamlao: An Introduction

Introduction

Federal Republic of Vietcamlao recently appeared in a social network website named multiply.com posted by a Vietnamese called himself Phong. After that, we see this documents spread in many blogs such as ki-media.blogspot.com, cambodianbrightfuture.blogspot.com as well as Vietnamese website based in Montreal of Canada vietnamville.ca. Although those blogs/website sometime are not referral as an academic source, but they have played important role as the medium to bridge all people to debate political, social and economic issues.

The Vietcamlao plan is not considered a new plan if we review the history of Indochina Federation created by French colony. But the current Vietcamlao plan is significantly  illustrating the mindset of Vietnamese people and leaders. After reviewed the article and utilized online search engine effectively, I have found that the Vietnamese preamble at the beginning and the confederation article have been totally cut and pasted from other websites. Part of Vietnamese language at the beginning was translated from wikipedia's article focused on Federation. Part of the Confederation Article in English language was cut, pasted  and edited from another website. The inconsistency of the document illustrates the incomplete work of the author, or it is considered just part of author's leisure time spending on the internet. However, the mindset is really substantial for me to further study. More than this, the proposed capital city at Danang is geopolitically significant; the drawing flag and its meaning as well as the federation map, all are attractive to further study the thought, effort and political trend of Vietnamese people and leaders in glancing at their neighboring countries: Cambodia and Lao.

Vietcamlao Federal Republic flag, blue symbolizes the sea, red for courage and sacrifice to defend the country people, green for forests, plains, 5 stars for 5 represents primary state of North, Central, South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. (http://ttxphongck.multiply.com/journal/item/237/237)

Map of the Federal Republic of Vietcamlao with the capital city of Danang (http://ttxphongck.multiply.com/journal/item/237/237)

In searching for truth of this Vietcamlao plan and Vietnamese mindset, we will review some Cambodian books such as the "Westward Journey and the Indochina in 2000" by Noun Koeun, Cambodia and Indochina Federation by Chan Dara translated from French by Thong Ngoun and Pen Nearovi, and Border of Cambodia with former Indochina Federation countries, a thesis by Sarin Chhak. With this regard, we have many foreign books to read especially some online websites such as wikipedia.com to complimentarily add to our references.

Vietcamlao likely used in the first time for the public for the 2010 annual firework competition held in Danang. They named the firework team of Danang as Danang's Federal Republic Vietcamlao team appeared in the vietnamville.ca.   

2010 Firework Competition at Danang and the name of Vietcamlao Team (http://vietnamville.ca/article.3093)

Danang is considered the key geopolitical site for Vietnam. French navy firstly attacked and successful defeated Vietnamese troops at Danang which could be expanded to colonize this country entirely later. During the Vietnam war, American troops were importantly stationed at Danang to confront with Vietminh from the North. Danang is the middle connector between North and South and it has potential strategic point in expanding its defending as well as economic investing between the North and the South of Vietnam, Lao's ancient capital city of Luang Preah Bang, and Phnom Penh of Cambodia. Interestingly, that Vietnamese blogger still called Cambodia and Lao as their origin Nam Vang.

Capital: Da Nang City as the strategic location and en read more distance to the federal capital, about 600km air, extremely convenient en Strategies and distance to the federal capital, about 600km air, extremely Convenient.

HN - DN  605KM

SAIGON - DN  611KM

VIENTIANE - DANANG   607.09 KM

PHNOM PENH - Business - 601 KM
(http://ttxphongck.multiply.com/journal/item/237/237)

 Defending and economic development of Vietcamlao federal republic, the blog has significantly exhibited. The wide broad China sea are well stationed the heavy warship and Truong Son tunnel is well placed for the ground transportation between each state of the federation.

Lao Viet rail tunnel through the Truong Son (http://ttxphongck.multiply.com/journal/item/237/237)

East Sea Fleet to protect the territorial waters and island (http://ttxphongck.multiply.com/journal/item/237/237)

Aircraft carrier Navy Vietnam Cam federal Laos (VCL) (http://ttxphongck.multiply.com/journal/item/237/237)

Cambodian blogger geeks have effortlessly expressed their opinion. They are anonymous comments interesting to further perceive Khmer mindset. Responding to the fake or truth of the document, ki-media team placed their question "Vietcamlao Federation Republic dominated by Vietnam: a slick blueprint scheme?". However, more than 30 anonymous comments thrown at this question have majorly shown their worrisome concern. Among those comments, superpower and international political players linking to this plan were logically uttered.

China has no choice but to do everything in her power to prevent Indochina federation from becoming a reality for an obvious reason.

China's security will face greater challenge with the presence of Indochina federation at her doorstep because Vietnam has long historical animosity with China, and Vietnam will not, as it did in the seventies, hesitate to ally itself with Russia, America or any other Superpower in order to advance its Westward expansionist ambition and counter China's influence.

Because of that inherent security posture, no superpower has more interest to save Cambodia than China. Every Khmer, regardless of their political view, must understand that - China is our only way and hope to prevent Ho Chi Minh's dream from becoming a reality.

Long live to the Khmer Nation!

(http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2010/09/veitcamlao-federal-republic-dominated.html)

 Answering to the mass hysteria might be happened from this public information as a blog geek  named Khmer Young posited his analysis as following  that if we don't deeply weigh the flaws Cambodia has involved with Vietnam, we cannot get the useful conclusion and he laid out sixth analyzing factors such as:

1. The curiosity on current Cambodia-Vietnam relationship which are gradually heightened while Cambodian government pays less attention to the importance of Paris Peace Accord of 23 October 1991 but the government celebrated annually the day of 7 January 1979 when Vietnamese troops occupied Cambodia.
2. The supplemental border treaty enacted in 2005 to the addendum of previous treaties Vietnam and Cambodia had signed during Vietnamese troops occupation. It was controversial that many Khmer dissents were convicted and jailed.
3.  Absolute major law-makers of Cambodian People's Party in this mandate have gradually displayed its political monopoly as other political parties' members (opposition parties) have been easily distracted, or immunity lifted, or convicted by the court, or hidden themselves from the public because of fear of political reprisal. 
4.  Booming investment and trade between Cambodia and Vietnam has tremendously experienced trading deficit. It is not in equilibrium as Cambodian middle classes and farmers have hugely consumed Vietnamese goods and services.
5. During this decade, numerous exchange visits and agreements between Cambodia and Vietnam exceedingly surpassed other countries. This has placed doubts for Cambodian people towards that friendship acceleration, mutual assistance, and cooperation.
6. The big wall of barrier in Cambodia is that Cambodian people can see only the cultural renaissance, songs and entertainment, the absence of war, sky-crappers and urban sprawling, economic booming and visible border demarcation etc.

Sixth, Cambodia is concealed by cultural revival, war survival, nationalism and physical border demarcation to be blinded not to see the actual legal and political processes of achieving Confederation. (cambodianbrightfuture.blogspot.com)

Furious Cambodian dissents about the domination of Vietnam over Cambodia have appeared since the retreat of French colony and it has continuously embedded in their mind ever since. Many Cambodian scholars and authors have numerously written books and sometime created popular proverbs counter-strike the scheme of domination attempt of Vietnam. Of course, this domination behavior and furious mindset was rooted by the colonialism and it become an unstoppable legacy.

Cambodian people and their leaders are active than proactive, self-defensive than first striker; and they are peace-lovers until their enemies offer them a deal of "peace, security, economic development and many other incentives). It's common to see Cambodian politicians attacked each other by both verbal and physical. Cambodia politics didn't have much space for political maturity since the end of colonialism; and the aura of the cold war placed Cambodia into decades of civil war and many of their kins and brothers were mercilessly killed by their own hatred and ignorance. The arrival of current age of globalization and economic liberalization has not deposited Cambodia into a mature account. Many dissents and political opponents are still weary to show up and free themselves from the court system. 

This paper intends to demonstrate the feasible existence of Federation Republic of Vietcamlao though the author of this article has loosely made it up for the public stun. This study is part of the macro politics looking at the region broader than just worrying and protesting the border scheme, corruption, Khmer Krom and Khmer Leu ethnics, and land grabbing etc. Those are micro level which are also important but they are not that proactive premises. So, is it time for Cambodian people and their leaders to look at the foundation of Vietcamlao Federal Republic or not? Is it time to ask incumbent Kingdom of Cambodia, Lao People's Democrat Republic (LPDP), and Socialist Republic of Vietnam about this Federation plan or not? Cambodian people have to wait until time and trend will tell or not?

The puzzling questions rest on what is the credibility of Vietcamloa Federation Republic? What changes in public relations between Cambodia and Vietnam since the retreat of colonialism, the end of cold war and to the current overarching trend of global movements?

Further more, this study will foreseeably diffuse more participation of Cambodian people in political activities and elections. It is expected to empower social capital of Cambodia in regard political involvement such as political party, political campaign, elections, grassroots movements, freedom of expression and local governance.

The author has fully been aware of barriers to fully accomplish this study. Lacking of official papers of Vietcamlao Federal Republic, lacking of academic books regarding the diplomatic tie of Cambodia-Vietnam after the colonial period till now, and the sufficient use of public opinion, all are well accommodated in the agenda.