20 January 1979

Arriving in NY, Sihanouk tells reporters: “Cambodia is the victim of naked aggression & a
brutal invasion from Vietnam”, warns that the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge is an “international problem, which could result in Sino-Soviet war”.

Stopping over in Tokyo on his way to the @UN in NY, Prince Sihanouk gives a press conference saying he hopes to address the UN Security
Council session on Cambodia on behalf of the Khmer Rouge. “The KR only control Battambang & Siem Reap.”
https://t.co/7pG7AhVEdw

Jim Laurie covers Sihanouk’s speech in Beijing. Sihanouk says he did not approve of the extreme policies of Pol Pot but still considers him a patriot. He insists that he was kept in “total darkness” by the Khmer Rouge.
https://t.co/CHp3xYXFL0 https://t.co/aVGwz7Qsje

The men who now appear to be in charge in Cambodia, Heng Samrin & Chea Sim are Vietnam-trained Communist Party veterans “with virtually no experience in running a country”, writes @UPI. Chea Sim’s wife and six of his seven children were killed by the Khmer Rouge. https://t.co/oWHwsUhSQY