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PRESS RELEASE

LETTER OF TWO CAMBODIAN PRIME MINISTERS
TO UN SECRETARY GENERAL
(January 27, 1998)

Here follows is the letter dated January 27, 1998 of H.E. Ung Huot and H.E. Samdech Hun Sen, Cambodian First and Second Prime Minister, addressed to H.E. Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations:

Your Excellency:

Today, we would like on behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia to report to you the real progress made in the investigation of the extrajudicial killings, which occurred during and after the fighting in Cambodia in July 1997. We are happy to announce that four individuals named in the Memorandum of your Special Representative, Thomas Hammaberg of 21 August 1997 as having been murdered are, in fact, alive and well at this very moment.

Among those erroneously listed in the UN Memorandum to the Royal Government of Cambodia are:

1. Lt.Col. Chao Keang: An officer in the Bureau of Research and Intelligence, Mr. Hammaberg reported his status as "confirmed arrest / confirmed execution". According to the UN Official, Chao Keang "had a bullet hole in the right temple, was handcuffed and blindfolded". Today, Lt.Col. Chao Keang is living in Cambodia.

In addition, a number of those listed as "missing" after the events of July have been confirmed as still living in Cambodia or having left the country and now have returned. In this category are the following:

2. Major So Lay Sok: An officer in the Department of Logistics of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, Mr. Hammaberg reported him arrested near the house of General Nhiek Bun Chhay and as having "been missing since". Today, Major So Lay Sok is living in Cambodia.

3. Major Chin Vannak: An officer working in the Department of Logistics of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, he also was reported as having been arrested and missing. Today, Major Chin Vannak is living in Cambodia.

Even more surprising is the fact that the UN officials apparently have known that some of those who were listed as "missing" in the 21 August Memorandum had left the country. For example, in the list submitted to Cambodian Authorities by the UNHCR dated 16 January 1998 and signed by Mr. Nellie Chan, Head of Liaison Office of UNHCR in Cambodia, of those officials in self-imposed exile who wished to return is the name of Mr. Ung Sim, a FUNCINPEC Provincial Deputy Governor. Mr. Ung Sim is listed in the report as having been missing since his alleged arrest by the soldiers of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

At the time that the 21 August 1997 Memorandum was written, we do not know if the UN officials knew that this Deputy Governor had left the country. But they certainly knew at some point thereafter. And to the best of our knowledge, these UN officials have never admitted that he had been located, safe and sound, and was not a victim of some criminal activities. The lack of effort to clarify the record puzzles us. We would hope that the UN would want to clarify the misleading information that it keeps disseminating which deeply hurts the image of Cambodia, in general, and the Royal Government of Cambodia, in particular.

Although we are pleased to bring the good news of the location of these men to your attention, we respectfully point out that the report issued in August last year like other human rights' reports concerning the situation in Cambodia, contain erroneous or misleading information.

Your Excellency should rest assured that the Royal Government of Cambodia remains committed to investigating the events of mid-July in order to bring the perpetrators of criminal actions to justice. The decision of the Royal Government is unchanged: we will prosecute those guilty of wrongdoing. In this regard, the role of the UN Human Rights Center in Cambodia could play a valuable role. The law enforcement officials of the Royal Government need reliable information and hard evidence. If the UN officials have such information or evidence, they should provide it to the concerned governmental authorities.

However, the UN officials here must have a cooperative and neutral attitude and not pursue political agendas. Unfortunately, the cases cited above raise questions as to whether there political interests being served, given the manner in which their reports and memoranda are researched, written and released. Much of what has been reported to date has distorted the reality of the situation in Cambodia. Without denying that we have problems, as any country does, we expect a higher standard on the part of the UN officials so that their words and actions do not damage the long-term interests of Cambodia. It is not responsible when one exaggerates the facts, or fails to correct the record when one knows the truth.

The Royal Government of Cambodia has neither the problems with UN Human Rights Center in Cambodia nor the intention of closing down its office here. But we do hold the UN responsible for its words and actions, and will hold UN officials to a high standard of behavior.

Please be assured, Your Excellency, of our highest consideration.

PRESS RELEASE

LETTER OF TWO CAMBODIAN PRIME MINISTERS
TO UN SECRETARY GENERAL AND UN HIGH
COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
(January 20, 1998)

Here follows is the letter sent by H.E. Ung Huot and H.E. Samdech Hun Sen, respectively First and Second Prime Minister, to H.E. Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, and H.E. Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Copies of this letter were also sent to President and members of the Security Council, as well as all Permanent Representatives in New York and Geneva.

Your Excellencies,

We have the honor to refer to the incident which occurred at Phnom Penh airport on Monday 5, January in which human rights officers of the United Nations were trying to protect an individual, Col. Chao Sakhon, who was convicted by the courts of law of Cambodia, and to escort him unlawfully out of the country. In the process of doing so, the said officers of the UN Center for Human Rights manhandled members of the legitimate police of the Royal Government of Cambodia who were doing their duty as law enforcing officers.

We must strongly protest the illegitimate and arrogant behavior of these UN officials who have gone far beyond the mandate of the local Center for Human Rights and have grossly interfered in the internal process of the judiciary and law enforcing mechanism of a sovereign state which is totally unacceptable. If left unchallenged, this incident will create a very dangerous precedent, not only for Cambodia, but also for other sister countries where any illegitimate action would come under the protection of Human Rights group. May we draw your kind attention to the following:

a. When, after UNTAC left, the UN Center for Human Rights was established in Cambodia, it was made very clear by the Commission for Human Rights in Geneva that its only mandate was to engage in technical cooperation activities on human rights. Only one officer was allowed to do monitoring work within the context of supporting the activities of the Special Representative for Human Rights (not Special Rapporteur) for Cambodia.

b. This principle was reaffirmed and upheld by H.E. Mark Goulding, the Special Envoy of the then Secretary General, when he visited Phnom Penh in May 1995 and successfully negotiated an agreement with the Royal Government for the continuation of the operations of the Center for Human Rights in Phnom Penh.

c. Even UNTAC's Civil Police, which had far broader mandate than the Center for Human Rights, was only mandated to monitor the work of the police of the State of Cambodia, and did not have the jurisdiction to interfere in Cambodia's internal judiciary and legal processes. Now that the sovereignty of Cambodia had been restored and Cambodia is one of the 185 member states of the United Nations, the uncivilized behavior of these officers of the Center for Human Rights and their illicit actions on 5 January 1998 clearly and grossly violated their mandate.

d. Last year, on 22 October 1997 we, the Co-Prime Ministers of the Royal Government of Cambodia wrote to Your Excellency the Secretary General of the United Nations, expressing our readiness for the United Nations to monitor the sage return of those members of the National Assembly and other political leaders and their freedom to engage in political activities.

e. This function has been coordinated by H.E. Mr. Lakhan Mehrotra, the Representative of the Secretary General in Cambodia who coordinates the UN monitors specified under d) above.

f. The actions of the officers of the Center for Human Rights clearly violated all the above principles, even if they have also been given the additional responsibilities as monitors of the safe return of exiled politicians because:

• i- Colonel Chao Sakhon, who had been arrested on charge of drug trafficking, was not a returning exiled politician. He was trying to get out of the country with help and under the protection of Human Rights officers while still facing a second charge of which he was convicted by the legitimate court of Cambodia.
• ii- The work of monitor means to monitor the activities of the legitimate police in a sovereign country and does not include the physical interference in the process of law and order being carried out. This did not even occur during the UNTAC period and is tantamount to the UN officials abusing their mandate, protecting and smuggling out of the country in a UN marked vehicle a well known criminal and waging their own psychological warfare against the Royal Government of Cambodia. This has not been sanctioned by the Security Council and is a clear violation of international law.

In view of the above, we demand that the officers concerned be severely reprimanded and be replaced by other officers unless they apologize to the superior of the police officers who were on duty at the said encounter at Pochengtong Airport.

In a related matter, we heard that Prince Ranariddh, who is to stand trial for illegal arms smuggling and colluding with the Khmer Rouge outlaws, an international terrorist group according to the US law, is trying to return to Cambodia under the protection of H.E. the High Commissioner for Human Rights. May we remind you that the monitoring of returning exiled politicians does not include protection of people who were officially accused of crimes against the Royal Government as such action would constitute a gross interference in the judiciary process of Cambodia and a gross violation of the UN charter.

Your prompt action to correct the above would be highly appreciated not only by Cambodia, but also by the other member states as well.

May we avail ourselves of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellencies all our best wishes of great success in your noble task and the assurances of our highest consideration.

PRESS RELEASE

A COMPLETE CEASEFIRE
AND THE RETURN TO THE PRIOR-FRAMEWORK
(Statement by Samdech Hun Sen on January 6, 1998)

On January 6, 1998, H.E. Samdech Hun Sen, Second Prime Minister and co-Commander in Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, issued a statement outlining the Royal Government of Cambodia's positions for the establishment of a complete ceasefire in the country. Here follows an unofficial translation by the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Washington, DC:

The armed clashes in Phnom Penh capital and its suburb, which were a result of orders issued by Prince Norodom Ranariddh at the dawn of July 5, 1997 to fight the Royal Government forces, caused great damage in both human lives and property. The action of Prince Norodom Ranariddh have resulted in the current abnormal situation in some places along the Cambodian-Thai border, where the fighting between the Royal Government forces and the extremist forces in collaboration with the Anlong Veng Khmer Rouge is still going on.

In order to reach a complete ceasefire and the return to the prior-framework, Prince Norodom Ranariddh must:

1. Rescind orders to fight the Royal Government forces issued at the dawn of July 5, 1997;
2. Revoke illegal appointments of chief and deputy chief of staff and others which were made against Cambodian laws and violated the right of H.M. the King to decide. These appointments confirmed the continuation of the fighting orders, which aim at creating autonomous areas and thereby divides Cambodia into two states and two armies;
3. Stop all forms of relationship with the outlawed Khmer Rouge, who have sent their troops to attack the Royal Government forces under the cover of Ranariddh's forces.

The concrete steps to accomplish a ceasefire are as follows:

The armed forces that ally with the extremists must:

1. Completely cease the fighting, inform the Royal Government of their positions, the number of their armed forces, and amount of weapons, and ammunitions;
2. Not mobilize their armed forces, not change their positions, not advance their troops;
3. Get rid of Khmer Rouge forces.

As for its part, the Royal Government will accept the return of anyone whose name is on the military list prior to the July 1997 events by maintaining their ranks and positions as before.

The Royal Government forces will take no actions against any area where the above-mentioned three criteria are met.

A great number of civilian officials, as well as military members, have so far returned and have benefited from these just and serious promises by the Royal Government of Cambodia.

The Royal Government will maintain these positions as the preface for a complete cease-fire and the return to the prior framework in the spirit of national reconciliation and for the sake of peace, stability, and national development.

Press Release

Chinese aid to Cambodia

In the last few weeks, there are several misinformation and exaggeration regarding the Chinese aid to Cambodia. The Royal Embassy of Cambodia to the United States wishes to clarify as follows:

With reference to the friendly and close relationships between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Government of the People's Republic of China, Cambodia and China signed an agreement in January 1994 to strengthen and develop the bilateral cooperation between the two countries in several fields.

As part of the agreement, China accepted to the request of Cambodia for the purchase of 186 vehicles from China. Samdech Hun Sen, Second Prime Minister, said when presiding over the delivery ceremony at Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh on December 9, 1997 that this delivery was the fruitful development of relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. He also accentuated that the People's Republic of China firmly treasured the principle of peaceful coexistence, respecting Cambodia's independence and sovereignty and not interfering in the internal affairs of Cambodia.

It should be noted that the purchase of 186 trucks and jeeps is part and parcel of a 40-year interest-free loan worth $8.6 million provided by China to buy two aircraft and renovate the former facilities aided by China before the war and the sports complex in Phnom Penh.

Any information contrary to the above is unfounded and unsubstantiated.

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