PRESS CONFERENCE BY FOREIGN MINISTER OF CAMBODIA

30 September 1996

Press Briefing

19960930 FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY

At a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon, Cambodia's Foreign Minister, Ung Huot, told correspondents that the defection of one of the leaders of the Khmer Rouge, Ieng Sary, to the Cambodian Government would mean that the Khmer Rouge's forces would be diminished and weakened and the "little war" with those forces would cease. The Cambodian Government was confident that by 1997 Cambodia would experience "100 per cent peace".

Reporting on a meeting he had had with Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali at noon today, Minister Ung Huot said he had thanked the Secretary-General on behalf of His Majesty, Norodom Sihanouk, and the Cambodian people and Government. The Cambodian people appreciated United Nations support and involvement in organizing the country's 1993 elections which had restored the Kingdom of Cambodia, the monarchy, and democracy, and had also brought respect for human rights back to the country. The continued United Nations involvement in development activity in Cambodia, along with the efforts of Cambodians, would put the country on the road to democracy and prosperity.

The Minister said he had briefed the Secretary-General on the latest developments in the country regarding the defection of Ieng Sary. Although negotiations were continuing, Mr. Sary had been granted amnesty by King Sihanouk. Cambodians were now looking forward to "100 per cent peace in the country more than anything else". Without peace, Cambodia's redevelopment and prosperity could not be achieved. Although the latest developments were controversial, he said his Government appreciated the understanding shown by the United Nations, the United States and Australia, among others, who understood the Cambodian Government's position on the matter.

A correspondent asked what was the nature of the amnesty granted to Mr. Ieng Sary -- was it extended to forgiveness for his alleged crimes during the years of Khmer Rouge's rule and would he have to face trial for any of the crimes committed in Cambodia in the 1970s? Did the Government believe in Mr. Sang's culpability in those crimes?

Minister Ung Huot said the amnesty granted by King Sihanouk referred to the judgements passed on Ieng Sary, in absentia, by the Cambodian State in 1979 when he was condemned to death. However, the King's position was that the amnesty had been given at the request of the present Government with the support of more than two-thirds of the Cambodian National Assembly. In granting the amnesty, the King had stated very clearly that if, in the future, an international court wished to prosecute Ieng Sary and others for genocide and other crimes committed against humanity, the King would not object.

Asked if the Khmer Rouge was still a real threat to Cambodia, Minister Ung Huot said it continued to be only "a little threat" to the country. After the 1993 elections, Cambodians enjoyed peace and the cooperation and support from the international community to rebuild the country. However, that peace could be considered to be only 95 per cent. The remaining 5 per cent was the result of the refusal of the Khmer Rouge to participate in elections. They had launched a campaign claiming that the elections would result in Cambodia being taken over by Viet Nam. The Minister added that the current government had nothing to do with Viet Nam, except for developing friendly relations. It was also pursuing the joining of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year.

Asked if the latest reports that the Khmer Rouge leader, Pol Pot, had died in June this year were credible and if, after Mr. Ieng Sary's defection, the high-ranking leadership of the Khmer Rouge would be depleted, the Minister said that Pol Pot was still alive, although he was ill. Ieng Sary had defected from Pol Pot because the Khmer Rouge leader had again tried "to use the same trick as the period 1975 to 1979" -- promoting a "rough kind of communism", which included the confiscation of private property and consumer goods. He had tried to pursue those same policies in the region controlled by Mr. Ieng Sary near the Thai border. However, Pol Pot was still in command in the region of Ang Long Veng, along with a number of some of his strongest and toughest supporters.

A correspondent asked about the present condition of Angkor -- an ancient complex of 299 temples which has been designated a world heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Minister said it had been subjected to some destruction, pillage, and mutilation during the war. The Government had received assistance from UNESCO regarding the zoning of Angkor to ensure its protection. Bilateral assistance had been received from Japan, Indonesia and France to restore parts of the complex. UNESCO estimated that its complete restoration would take about 100 years. However, tourism in the area had increased tremendously, at the rate of about 250,000 visitors per year. The expected increase of tourists to about 1 million per year by the year 2000 meant that the Government would have to build the necessary infrastructure to accommodate such an influx. It must ensure that tourism did not adversely affect the site's environment.

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