Letter: Vietnam's fight against Pol Pot

Sir: Richard Lloyd Parry's report (28 July), needs correcting. Hun Sen, [the so-called "second prime minister" of Cambodia], was not installed by Vietnam. Hun Sen was a member of the Khmer Rouge in the early days of its coming to power, but, seeing the murder of the people, broke away and led the opposition to Pol Pot and his policy.

The Khmer Rouge's attacks on the Cambodian people led to pursuing them to and across the border of Vietnam. Thousands fled to safety by that route, leading to further hardships to the people of Vietnam, whose devastating war with the US had just ended. It was the continuing crossing into Vietnam by the Khmer Rouge that finally led to the Vietnamese forces crossing into Cambodia to defend itself. In so doing the Vietnamese - who lost more than 23,000 soldiers - saved the people of Cambodia from extinction. Hun Sen's opposition forces joined with the Vietnamese in the battle to rid Cambodia of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge.

Richard Lloyd Parry's time would be better spent questioning the policy of those Western powers - including the UK - who armed and supplied Pol Pot and his forces before and during his reign of terror and who continued that support after his defeat.

LEN ALDIS

Britain-Vietnam Friendship Society

London E3