Tag: Cambodia stamp

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French Indochina 1945, Vichy fights on for French empire in IndoChina

This is a sort of weird story where a puppet government tries to hold on to an Empire when the homeland is lost. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.

The stamp today is a French Indo China issue from the period when it was being administered by the region of France that had some autonomy after German occupation. This government was centered in Vichy rather than Paris. They did hold sway in some French colonies including French Indo China. The admiral on the stamp was central to the French formalizing control of several areas of Vietnam and in honoring him they are making it pretty clear they intend to stay.

Todays issue is A45, a 5 cent stamp issued by French Indo China in 1945. The stamp features French Admiral Pierre de la Grandiere. It was part of a two stamp issue. According to the Scott Catalog, it is worth 35 cents in its much more common mint version.

When French Indo China was brought under the Vichy government, there was an effort to retain French control. France had gradually firmed up control over Indo China in the 19th century. The pretext of their arrival was to protect French Catholic missionaries. The missionaries were considered a threat to the feudal system still in place there. The Catholic concepts of monogamy were quite threatening to the courtesans and  the Catholic church did make some inroads in the area. The missionaries were of course a pretext to get the nose under the tent and Admiral Grandiere had his fleet and 300 Filipino troops loaned by the Spanish  to bully and coerce ever more land concessions from the local royals. It continually amazes me how much the European powers were able to do with so few resources. By the dawn of the 20th century, the territorial expansion had reached Siam.

Tonkinese Colonial troops with their French officers

Hoping to take advantage of the chaos of the Vichy takeover, Siam launched a war to retake earlier French seized territory. Their troops did well on the ground but Vichy sent the fleet to defeat the Siamese Navy and force Siam to give up there retaken land. Vichy had come to terms with Japan allowing port access but the French were still in charge in Indo China.

British designed, Japanese built Siamese battleship HTMS Tonburi that ran aground in battle with the Vichy French. It was later refloated and refurbished in Japan and still exists as a museum ship

It is this perspective with which to view todays stamp. By the time it was issued the Vichy government was over in France but out in the colonies they are still reminding of their presence, staking their claim and reminding of past conquerors like the Admiral. It seems the stamp is talking to everyone, Siam, stay out, to Japan, we can still run things whatever happens in Europe, to the Free French, on this don’t we agree, and to the Americans, forget stripping the French of their colonies post war. Japan was first to not listen to Vichy. They arraigned Laos to declare independence and then took the opportunity to take control in March 1945. In August, Chang Kai-sheck forces crossed the border to accept Japanese surrender. By now the Communist Viet Minh controlled much of the countryside and the new French government had to work hard to overcome American objections and now North Vietnamese and Cambodian independence.

Well my drink is empty. The Americans at the end of World War II  tried to make the French see that they did not have the right to stay as they had not made the place better during their rule. I wish the USA later had remembered their own advice to a friend. Come again for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting

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Cambodia 1997, Putting the Indo in Indo China with a Khmer Temple to Shiva

In the 1990s, Cambodia had their King back, see https://the-philatelist.com/2018/04/11/968-cambodia-the-human-rights-flame-burns-bright-at-least-on-the-stamp/   , and was ready to again lay claim to the old Khmer culture that went back 1100 years and built in stone. Interestingly this was the period that the Khmer Empire converted to Hinduism, that did not stick in the Buddhist country. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.

The 1000+ year old temples featured on the six stamps of this issue survived as they were of stone but had long been swallowed by the jungle until uncovered by French colonial era adventurers. That they are from a long gone empire is not important, that they honor God in a different way than modern Cambodians is not important, that they were rediscovered by the French is not important. The important thing is they show a history of people achieving art and engineering, a civilized people. As with this ancient stone complex remembered by Panama that I wrote up, see https://the-philatelist.com/2020/07/09/panama-1967-remembering-palenque-the-mayan-city-state-that-rose-out-of-the-jungle-under-pakal-the-great-and-his-mother-lady-beastie-only-for-the-jungle-to-reclaim/   , the stone construction was so important.

Todays stamp is A305, a 1500 Reil stamp issued by the Kingdom of Cambodia on April 13th, 1997. It was a 6 stamp issue in various denominations that came out in two groups of three and showed views of the Khmer Empire era stone temples. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 35 cents cancelled to order.

Bantea Srei Temple was dedicated in 969AD to the Hindu God Shiva. It was built at the time of the Khmer Hindu Empire at the directions of courtiers of King Rajendravaman II. It was built of red sandstone that it as amenable as wood to elaborate carving. It is slightly removed from the more famous Angkor Wat complex. At first it dedicated to both Vishnu and Shiva but 200 years later rededicated to just Shiva. The Temple returned to the jungle around 1400 AD. This was about the time the Khmer Empire converted to Buddhism and 100 years before it fell. The modern Cambodian name means “The Citadel of Women” relating to some of the stone murals.

Red Sandstone carvings at Bantea Srei Temple

Andre’ Malraux was an important man in early 20th century art and literary circles in Paris. He had explained Cubism style painting in a book that widened it’s audience. He was a great fan of T. H. Lawrence and longed to have similar adventures in the East. The discovery of Angkor Wat had endowed the then French Protectorate of Cambodia with exotic mystery. Malraux travelled there and rediscovered the Bantea Srei Temple. His travels in the East were fodder for several well received French books but all was not well. Back in Paris, he was arrested and convicted of looting some original statues from the complex he rediscovered. He argued to no avail that since the statues ended up in Paris museums it was hardly looting. France eventually forgave Andre’ Malraux, much later in life French President de Gaulle named him French Minister of Culture.

Andre’ Malraux in 1933 after he did his time.

The rediscovery has inevitably lead to the complex becoming a tourist attraction. The Cambodians have tried to stem relics disappearing by replacing them with modern copies. They also accepted Swiss aid to protect the site from being reclaimed again by the jungle by installing a drainage system.

Well my drink is empty. Come again on Monday when there will be another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.

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People’s Republic of Kampuchea 1984, Vietnam has things well in hand, relax and listen to some music

During the 1980s, Cambodia had two governments, the Pol Pot regime of Democratic Kampuchea was internationally recognized. On the ground and in the post offices though, Vietnam had conquered Cambodia. You might think after the genocide of Pol Pot, a Vietnamese takeover would be welcome. The USA and China were long tired of a militarily aggressive North Vietnam and Thailand surely did not want them on the border. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.

Vietnam had farmed out their stamps to Cuba so most of the stamp issues of their client state were fairly generic topical stamps on animals or Mercedes automobiles or international meetings of no relevance to Cambodia. Occasionally though there was an issue like this showing traditional Khmer musical instruments. The Pol Pot regime did not bother with stamps at all between 1975 and 1980.

Todays stamp is issue A120, a 10 cent stamp issued by the occupying Peoples Republic of Kampuchea on October 10th, 1984. Cambodia was known as Kampuchea between 1970 and 1990. It was a 7 stamp issue in various denominations. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents cancelled to order.

The Khmer Rouge had received help from North Vietnam during it’s long struggle against the pro western governments in Cambodia. After the last pro west government of Lon Nol fell in 1975, Pol Pot turned some of his attention to the government of North Vietnam. He believed it was their intent to turn Kampuchea into a client state. Members of the Khmer Rouge that had received training from Vietnam were purged. His military also became aggressive toward Vietnam. 24 hours after the fall of Saigon, Kampuchea attacked the island of Phu Quoc. All during Pol Pot’s regime there were numerous clashes with Vietnam. In this Kampuchea had Chinese support although officially all three countries were friendly.

In late 1978, Vietnam started their “Counteroffensive on the southwest border”. Vietnam invaded with over 150,000 soldiers and Kampuchea fought back with arms airlifted from China. Surprising both sides fought in a conventional set piece manner. Kampuchea fell in a few weeks and the Cambodians purged from the Khmer Rouge for their Vietnam ties assumed leadership in the new People’s Republic of Kampuchea. The world was just not having this. China fought a short unsuccessful war with Vietnam  and the Vietnam government was ostracized from all but the eastern bloc.

At the beginning of the 1990s, Vietnam had tired of the situation. Old Prince Sihanouk, see https://the-philatelist.com/2018/04/11/968-cambodia-the-human-rights-flame-burns-bright-at-least-on-the-stamp/ . came back to what was again the Cambodian Kingdom. There would be a coalition government with two Prime Ministers, one from the pro Vietnam party and one from the pro royalist. Left out was Pol Pot  who tried to reenergize his guerilla war. Instead he was captured and killed himself after a show trial and being sentenced to a long prison term.

The instrument on the stamp is a Sra Lai. You can hear one here, https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Sra+lai+musical+instrument&view=detail&mid=D86EFDB1DE8956744D89D86EFDB1DE8956744D89&FORM=VIRE    .

Well my drink is empty and I can see why the world in the 1980s just got tired of the area. Perhaps that was for the best allowing the Khmer people to work it out for themselves. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.

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1968 Cambodia, The human rights flame burns bright, at least on the stamp

A newspaper editor who opposes the government is stripped naked and beaten in the street by police in front of the central police station. The head of the police is asked by the national assembly if government opponents have the right to police protection. Indeed they do, he said, and by the way, here is a list of national assembly men we consider opponents. The censure measure is tabled and the ruling Prince later remarks that the national assembly should be nicer to the police. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.

The stamp today is from the important years of the UN. The UN was especially important in Cambodia. It was in UN conferences in the mid 50s that attempted to set the parameters of post colonial Cambodia. The stamps like this were issued all over the world by newly independent countries. In a way, it is sort of a rival to the British Commonwealth stamp issues. The UN issues are far more political and perhaps as a result have not developed the  same number of specialty collectors.

Todays stamp is issue A53. a 5 Reil stamp issued by the Kingdom of Cambodia on December 16th, 1968. It was part of a four stamp issue in various denominations celebrating Prince Sihanouk and the UN national human rights year in 1968. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 35 cents used.

The UN conferences specified the local King as ceremonial head of state of Cambodia and provided for the removal of French and Viet Minh communist foreign soldiers from the country. The machinations of King Sihanouk to consolidate power were interesting. He first abdicated in favor of his elderly father thereby becoming Prince. As Prince, Sihanouk then felt free to engage in politics. He set up the Sangkum as his political party that had the state behind it. The party included both left and right wing figures as a way to coopt both the left and the right. Sihanouk believed that if either the left or the right was allowed to rule, the first thing they would do is remove him as King, er Prince.

His rule was surprisingly socialist with the government taking over most business. This was done allegedly to insure the profits accrued to Cambodians rather than foreign exploiters. The reality was more of a spoils system rather like the Ferdinand Marcos regime in the Philippines. In foreign policy, there was much collaboration with Communists in North Vietnam and China.

Sihanouk was overthrown by a right wing former Prime Minister Lon Nol in 1970 and Sihanouk went into exile in China and later North Korea where Kim Il Sung built him a 40 room palace. When the Khmer Rouge overthrew Lon Nol, Sihanouk returned as head of state but was quickly put allegedly under house arrest in the palace. If this happened, it would seem to absolve him of his government’s genocide. He again was on his throne for a short while in the early 2000s as a ceremonial King.

His rule was not all political maneuverings. He directed over 50 films, some from his North Korean Palace in exile. He started a film festival in Phenom Penh where his films were the only nominees and winners. He also composed music and often traveled Cambodia with a full orchestra and local pop singers. He died in 2012 at age 90 and was given a full state funeral.

Well my drink is empty and so I will open up the conversation in the below comment section. The idea of one political party that coopts left and right to keep in charge an increasingly hereditary oligarchy sounds both ominous and plausible for the future. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.