The brutal reign of the Pol Pot regime from 1975 until early this year became synonymous with national genocide. as an estimated 3 million people (of Cambodias 1975 population of approximately 7 million) perished as part of the Khmer Rouges merciless pursuit of a genuine "socialist" state. The Vietnamese "liberation" of Cambodia. and the installation of the puppet Heng Samrin government. has only intensified the sufferings of a people whose curse it is to be viewed as mere pawns in a cynical power struggle in Southeast Asia. The most poignant manifestations of this horror are the hundreds of thousands of refugees housed in squalid camps along the ThaiCambodian border. victims of a conflict they little understand and for whom the specter of death from starvation or disease is ever imminent. No individual of conscience or government with a pretense of civility can remain indifferent in the face of such a monumental crime against humanity. The overriding moral imperative of responding generously to the basic human needs of the Cambodian refugees. including especially the provision of emergency shipments of food and medical supplies. must prevail over petty political considerations. While I strongly support the humanitarian efforts of the U.S. Government and private relief agencies. the magnitude of the tragedy compels a concerted multinational assistance program. Under the auspices of UNICEF and the International Red Cross. a commendable first step has been taken. despite Vietnams obstructionism in refusing to permit the transit of certain aid shipments as well as irregularities in the distribution of the assistance accepted. Among those whose efforts have been instrumental in focusing world attention on this problem has been Christians for Cambodia. an interdenominational association of individuals seeking to promote a coordinated humanitarian response. The selfless spirit which animates their work was recently demonstrated by a march in New York dedicated to fostering understanding of the Cambodian tragedy and appealing to the conscience of mankind for support in alleviating the refugees plight. Unfortunately. the enormity of the tragedy tends to obscure its appreciation in human terms. that is. with respezt to the levels of pain and misery inflicted on individuals and families. In order to increase my colleagues understandings of what the Cambodian horror really means.
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refugees