Free, as in Phnom Penh

In honor of Prampi Makara, "At Home on the Mekong: Columns from living in Cambodia" is free today.
About 33 years ago Vietnamese forces, under the auspices of disaffected Khmer Rouge officers, liberated Phnom Penh from the Khmer Rouge. After less than a month of fighting, Pol Pot was once again living in the jungle and bulk of Cambodians were free of the terror of Angkar.

It wasn't a happy ending. The country was still under the control of communists, even if they were less zealous and murderous than Pol Pot's faction. Elections, no matter how flawed, were more than a decade away. Fighting would continue across Cambodia in fits and starts for another 20 years. It would be three decades before an international tribunal would try the leadership of the Khmer Rouge.

There, I've gone and depressed myself. Anyway, go get a free copy of the book!