Mandate ends, UN presence diminishes - Cambodia

UN Chronicle, Sept, 1994

The mandate of the United Nations Military Liaison Team in Cambodia, set up in November 1993 for a single six-month period under Security Council resolution 880 (1993), expired on 15 May 1994.

In a final report (S/1994/645) dated 31 May, the Secretary-General said the Phnom Penh-based mission, in accordance with its mandate, had primarily conducted liaison and reporting activities, following the departure of the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC)--a major UN operation that had overseen for 17 months Cambodia's march to democracy, including the May 1993 elections.

While the Liaison Team was in Cambodia, observation missions had been sent to camps for defectors from the National Army of Democratic Kampuchea (NADK) and to the Officer Training Academy of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), he reported.

The RCAF and NADK had continued to fight in the north and north-western parts of Cambodia, the Secretary-General reported. The RCAF had conducted a number of attacks on NADK strongholds at Anlong Veng and Pailin, temporarily capturing both and reportedly causing some 30,000 refugees to cross the border into Thailand.

Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on 28 March had appointed Benny Widyono as his representative for Cambodia for a period of six months, with three military officers drawn from the Liaison Team serving as his advisers. They would assist Mr. Widyono in fulfilling his mandate in accordance with the spirit and principles of the Paris Agreements. The presence of UN personnel contributed, in the Government's view, to a sense of security among the Cambodian people, the Secretary-General stated on 6 May.

King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia had informed the Secretary-General on 7 May (A/49/160-S/1994/570) and 25 May (A/49/167-S/1994/619) that the situation in the country had deteriorated to a dangerous degree, with increasingly violent and murderous military clashes also taking place.

"In vain, from my Beijing hospital bed and then since my return to Cambodia, I have launched many solemn appeals for a cease-fire and have proposed a round table for peace and national reconciliation in neutral territory from 2 to 7 May 1994", King Sihanouk said in his 7 May report.

Threat of partition?

The Royal Government of Cambodia had responded favourably to these proposals. The Khmer Rouge had confirmed its agreement in principle, but nevertheless set conditions, he continued. "In view of the limited powers vested in me by the Constitution, I feel that I have done the maximum to put an end to this conflict that has lasted too long ... and presents, once again, the grave threat of an actual partition of my country and its decline towards death as a state and a nation.

"These mounting perils ... prompt me to request your advice and opinion with regard to the provisions of the Paris Agreements and the special responsibilities of the United Nations in their implementation and application."

On 2 5 May, King Sihanouk reported he would preside from 2 7 to 3 0 May over an inter-Cambodian round table, to be attended by: Chea Sim, President of the National Assembly; Norodom Ranariddh, First Prime Minister of the Royal Government; Hun Sen, Second Prime Minister; and Khieu Samphan, head of the Party of Democratic Kampuchea.

Cambodia was divided into two parts: one composed of Government zones and the other of autonomous Khmer Rouge zones, the King stated. There seemed as yet no solution to end this fatal de facto partition. "However, I must obtain from the Khmer leaders of the two belligerent parties an unconditional and lasting cease-fire throughout the territory of Cambodia."

While the Government was prepared to agree to a cease-fire, the Khmer Rouge had remained silent. "Unfortunately, no one can make the Khmer Rouge do what they refuse to do. This is a problem which, in the long term, threatens the very existence of Cambodia. I am greatly saddened by it and overcome by despair", King Sihanouk concluded.

The UN Centre for Human Rights reported on 31 May (A/C. 5/48/78) that it was assisting the Government in elaborating and implementing national laws involving human rights issues. Specialized training on the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, fair trial and other human rights aspects of the administration of justice would be organized by the Centre. Training of prosecutors would be undertaken.