Phnom Penh (FN), Apr. 10 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen requested Joe Biden Administration to consider turning the debt that Cambodia owes the US during the 1970s war into a development aid, addressing in a special message on Saturday.

Cambodia has asked the U.S government to consider the above proposal, but there has no positive responses.

Samdech Hun Sen considered Cambodian debt in Lon Nol Regime in 1970 a dirty debt, which Cambodia was forced to buy US bombs and to shower on her people, causing countless deaths and injuries of Khmer people.

«Thinking about it, it was extremely painful for every Cambodian citizen,» he said.

The debt has now reached more than USD 600 million, including the interest.

According to Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC)’s report, US dropped approximately 2.8 million tons of bombs around Koki areas during the 1960s and 1970s, killing more than 500,000 people.

US bombs has threatened the lives of Cambodians as many chemical bombs were found in Svay Rieng, Mondulkiri and Tbong Khmum provinces.

From 1970-1975, the war killed over one million Cambodians and inflicted the most severe destruction to the country’s socio-economic infrastructure. On 17 April 1975, the regime of Khmer Republic fell. People hoped to have lived in peace to restart their livelihood. However, their hopes evaporated in the blink of an eye as they fell into a newer disaster – the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime.
=FRESH NEWS