Newsletter:
Cambodia in review
A publication of the Royal Embassy of
Cambodia to the United States
January 1st, 1998
Vol. III No 23
New Year Message From The Ambassador
On the occasion of the universal New Year 1998, the staff of the Royal Embassy of Cambodia
in Washington, D.C., joins me in extending best wishes for a Happy New Year to all
Cambodian compatriots, our American friends, and the readers of the Embassy Newsletter. It
is a great pleasure for us to join together with you in celebrating the arrival of the new
year.
Cambodia, which is still a very young democratic nation, cannot avoid ups and downs in its efforts to build a democratic system and to develop an economy that will ensure peace, democracy, and prosperity for all Cambodian people. The event of July, in which the Royal Government was forced to use military measures against the anarchical forces in order to ensure peace, stability, and social order, does not mean Cambodia has derailed from its democratic path. The ability to hold free and fair election in 1998 will confirm the case.
The new year arrives while some encouraging signs for free and fair election are emerging. The commitment of the government to holding free and fair election, the guarantee for the safe return of all politicians, and the assistance provided by the United Nations have brought about good results. The return of politicians, the separate meetings between Second Prime Minister Hun Sen and leader of opposition party Sam Rainsy and an advance team of the exiled politicians have given ground for the establishment of national reconciliation for the sake of peace, free and fair election, and national interests.
The two key laws needed to pave the way for holding free and fair election--the political party law and the election law--have been adopted by the National Assembly. The first meeting of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy convened and the formation of the Constitutional Council will follow in the very near future.
But much remains to be done to prepare for the polls, including forming a National Electoral Commission, registering voters, and setting up polling stations. In order to give more time for the election preparations, the National Assembly has recently decided to delay the election date, which was originally set for May 23, to July 26, 1998. The government really wanted the election on May 23, but the ability to hold free and fair election is more important than the election date.
With good signs at the beginning of the new year, a free and fair election is very likely to take place in Cambodia this year.
Var Huoth
Cambodia Delays Election To July 26
The Cambodia's National Assembly voted on December 19, 1997 to postpone the country's general election to July 26, 1998. The delay is due to the need for extra time to prepare for the polls.
The election date, which was originally set for May 23, 1998, was part of the election law that the National Assembly approved on December 19 after six weeks of debate. Both the new election date and the election law were approved by an overwhelming majority of members of parliament.
Co-Minister of Interior Sar Kheng, who is in charge of organizing the election, said the government wanted to hold the polls on time but it was technically impossible for it to prepare for the vote by May.
Cambodia Signs Treaty To Ban APL
On December 3, 1997, during the Treaty-Signing Ceremony for the Global Ban on Anti-Personnel Landmines in Ottawa, Canada from December 2-4,1997, H.E.Mr. Ung Huot, First Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia signed a Treaty to ban the production, use, stockpiling, and export or transfer of anti-personnel landmines.
Present at the ceremony were H.E.Mr. Ieng Mouly, Chairman of the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) and Minister of Information, H.E.Mr. Var Huoth, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the United States, H.E.Mr. Suy Mong Leang, Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E.Mr. Sam Sotha, National Director of CMAC and other officials of the Foreign Ministry.
Speaking before the Signing Ceremony, H.E.Mr. Ung Huot said that Cambodia supports all initiatives leading to the total ban of anti-personnel landmines. After two decades of warfare, the estimated number of mines still active in rural areas of Cambodia is from 4 to 6 million, not to mention an exploded ordnance from the Vietnam War. The effects in terms of human resources and socio-economic opportunities lost are so overwhelming that we have to appeal for international help.
"Under the leadership of our King, His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk, The Royal Government of Cambodia is working with all our capacity to rid the country of landmines ----and thank to the generous assistance provided by the international community, the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC) has been able to work to reduce this immense problem through the use of some new technologies and improved methods of demining, but much remains to be done," continued H.E.Mr. Ung Huot.
H.E.Mr. Ung Huot stressed that there is a political will in Cambodia to end the use of
landmines. The Cambodian legislation on the landmine ban , which was approved by the
Council of Ministers the week before, will soon be passed by the National Assembly. The
CMAC under the new draft law will accept additional authority to implement the provisions
of the ban. The draft law clearly prohibits the military use of landmines.
He concluded by emphasizing that for a country like Cambodia, being among the world's least developed countries, continued financial and technical assistance of the international community remains essential to the mine clearance efforts if we are to rid ourselves of this silent and indiscriminate killer.
It is worth noting that Cambodia is among the 125 countries that signed the treaty.
Cambodian First PM Reaffirms Free And
Fair Election
At the invitation of the Government of Canada, H.E.Mr.Ung Huot, First Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, led a delegation of the Royal Government of Cambodia to attend the Treaty-Signing Conference for the Global Ban on Anti-Personnel Landmines in Ottawa, Canada from December 2-4, 1997.
During his stay in Ottawa, H.E.Mr. Ung Huot paid a courtesy call to The Honorable Jean Chretien, Prime Minister of Canada. H.E.Mr. Ung Huot expressed, on behalf of the Royal Government and the people of Cambodia, his profound gratitude to the Government and the people of Canada for their strong and continued support for Cambodia, and highly appreciated the eminent and leading role that Canada played to eliminate landmines. In his reply to H.E.Mr. Ung Huot, The Honorable Jean Chretien reaffirmed the continued assistance to the people of Cambodia and expressed hope that Cambodia would make continued headway in the rebuilding of Cambodia.
H.E.Mr. Ung Huot also exchanged views with the French Foreign Minister, the Japanese Foreign Minister and the Australian Foreign Minister on the situation in Cambodia and the commitment of the Royal Government of Cambodia to hold the free and fair elections in May next year.
Cambodian Government Approves Landmine Bill
The Royal Government of Cambodia approved on November 28, 1997 a draft law that prohibits the use, production, possession, and trade of all kinds of antipersonnel landmines and calls for the destruction of mine stockpiles within one year. The bill was then submitted to the National Assembly for adoption.
The draft law imposes penalties of a jail term of one month to one year, or a fine of
$3,200 to $16,000 ( 1 million to 5 million riels), or both for anyone who possesses
antipersonnel landmines
with intention to use them.
The legislation also calls for one to five years imprisonment or a fine of $16,000 to
$32,000 (5 to 10 million riels), or both for anyone who uses
antipersonnel landmines against others.
A punishment of five to ten years jail or a fine of $32,000 to $64,000 (10 to 20 million riels), or both, will be applied on any person who produces, trades, imports or exports mines.
Cambodian Mine Victim Accepts Nobel Prize
Tun Channareth, a 37-year old Cambodian landmine victim had the honor to accept this year's Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the International Campaign to Ban Landmine (ICBL).
In October 1997, the Nobel Peace Prize was jointly awarded to ICBL, an organization comprising 1,000 NGOs and humanitarian organizations in 60 countries, and its American coordinator, Jody Williams.
Tun Channareth, after losing his legs in a landmine explosion on the Thai-Cambodian border in 1982, had become an activist for a total and immediate ban on anti-personnel mines. He launched an appeal to the Khmer Rouge guerrillas to stop the use of mines. In 1995, he met with Pope John Paul II, King Juan Carlos of Spain, and Irish President Mary Robinson. He spoke at the UN conferences in Geneva and Vienna when he presented 1.7 million signatures calling for a total ban on landmines. He also traveled to Mozambique, one of the countries worst hit by landmines. In September, he was an official member of the ICBL delegation in Oslo, which prepared the Ottawa treaty.
Hundreds of peoples including many Cambodian landmine victims held a candle-light march in Phnom Penh, on December 10 as Channareth accepted the Nobel Peace Prize.
The marchers, led by four Buddhist monks and included many foreign aid workers as well as Cambodian mine victims, gathered at the Independence Monument to celebrate the awarding of the Prize to the ICBL.
Second PM Hun Sen Welcomes Returning Exiles
On December 2, 1997, Second Prime Minister Hun Sen received in audience at his residence outside the capital an advance team of the self-exiled politicians.
After a two-hour meeting, Second Prime Minister Hun Sen said that the meeting had not been for formal talks but was merely a chance to welcome back the returning exiles. He also told them the country was safe for them to return to resume their political activity.
"This was not a negotiating meeting but a welcoming meeting for those who worry about returning," the second prime minister told reporters, adding the returning exiles had not discussed Prince Ranariddh.
"The meeting was very successful and Hun Sen welcomed us," said Prince Sisowath Sirirath, leader of the advance team, adding, "We were very happy to see him here".
He also said the advance team's goal was to bring back all of the resistance members who fled the country following the July events.
Sam Rainsy Says Will Cooperate With Government
On December 8, 1997, Second Prime Minister Hun Sen received in audience at his residence outside Phnom Penh capital leader of the Khmer Nation Party Sam Rainsy.
"I am very happy that I had the chance to talk with Hun Sen," said Sam Rainsy after the long three-hour meeting.
"We agreed that the national interest is the main issue even though I am part of the opposition," he said.
"I committed myself to cooperating with those who have power without considering party politics for the sake of the national interests," he continued, adding that "three hours was not sufficient to discuss all the issues".
Mr. Sam Rainsy also thanked Samdech Hun Sen for authorizing a peace march he held on December 7.
The Supreme Council Of The Magistracy Convenes
The Supreme Council of the Magistracy, which is a body, charged with judicial reform and
oversight, as well as the appointment of judges and prosecutors, held its first meeting on
December 3, 1997 and appointed 42 new judges.
"The Council will not serve political parties but rather the regulation of judges and protect judges from violence," Under-Secretary of State for Justice, H.E. Mrs. Li Vuch Leang, told reporters after the meeting.
The first meeting of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy marks the entry into function of this key judicial body and will open the way for the establishment of the Constitutional Council. Both the Supreme Council of the Magistracy and the Constitutional Council are the required legal frameworks to secure a free and fair election as well as to strengthen the state ruled by laws.
Cambodia To Conduct Nationwide Census
The Royal Government of Cambodia announced on December 10, 1997 its plans to conduct a
nationwide census for statistical purposes from March 3-12 of next year. It will be the
first census since 1962 and the government would use all means at its disposal to reach
even the most remote areas.
"In order to reach the entire population of Cambodia, enumerators in some areas
will have to use unusual means of transportation such as boats, ox-carts or even
elephants," the government said in a statement.
The census, which receives technical and financial support from the United Nations
Population Funds, would use 25,000 enumerators and 8,000 supervisors who will visit the
households and homeless to ask the people about their ages, occupations, education, and
daily life.
"We will be trying to count absolutely everyone in the country--that is the goal of the Ministry of Planning," said Sebastrien Drans, a UN population advisor to the census.
US Assistant Secretary Of State Visits Cambodia
US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor John Shattuck visited Cambodia from December 6-8, 1997.
In his meetings with Cambodian leaders, Assistant Secretary Shattuck expressed the US government wishes to see the improvement of the security climate, the punishment of the human rights violators, the implementation of a cease-fire to help guarantee free and fair election, and the safe return and participation of all Cambodian politicians in the election before providing additional assistance to the electoral process. He also spoke against the participation of the Khmer Rouge in political life of the country.
Second Prime Minister Hun Sen told Assistant Secretary Shattuck that the Royal Government of Cambodia was working toward securing free and fair election and would cooperate with the international community included the United States in doing so.
Assistant Secretary Shattuck welcomed some positive signs such as the return of exiled
politicians, the government's guarantees of their safety and the authorization of an
opposition rally. "It is essential that the momentum…be continued," he
added.