Newsgroups: bit.listserv.seasia-l
Date:         Fri, 22 Jan 1993 11:57:12 -0500
From:         Nhan Tran <tran@PEORA.SDC.CCUR.COM>
Subject:      CAM: Sihanouk grants UN forces new powers

01/18

CAMBODIA'S PRINCE SIHANOUK GRANTS U.N. FORCES ...

BANGKOK (JAN. 18) IPS - The U.N. peacekeeping force in Cambodia is pinning its
hopes on its new judicial powers to curb escalating violence in the country and
help create a neutral political environment for the May general elections.
   Acts of intimidation and armed attacks, mostly on members of opposition
parties, are terrorizing Cambodians and U.N. officials fear this will disrupt
the current voter registration.
   Prince Norodom Sihanouk, head of Cambodia's Supreme National Council, has
threatened to stop cooperating with the U.N. peacekeepers unless they take
action against the offenders. Most of the victims have been members of his
royalist FUNCINPEC party.
   The violence has greatly eroded the credibility of the U.N. Transitional
Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), prompting it to set up a special prosecutor's
office and court system to try persons suspected of perpetrating the attacks.
   "There are too many unsolved cases of political violence, and with our
mandate to control public security, the United Nations' credibility was at
stake," said Dennis McNamara, who heads UNTAC's human rights division.
   So far, UNTAC has been unable to identify or prosecute the offenders, who
could either be members of the Phnom Penh government party, or Khmer Rouge
guerrillas who have refused to lay down their arms as required by the 1991 Paris
peace pact.
   "UNTAC will follow up on all acts of political violence within the existing
administrative structures under whose jurisdiction a crime has occurred," UNTAC
spokesman Eric Falt said in Phnom Penh.
   If the authorities concerned ignore the crime, they themselves would be held
accountable, said Falt. "UNTAC is determined to identify those responsible for
the attacks and bring them to justice," he added.
   Under the newly-formed judicial system, UNTAC provides a witness protection
program and guarantees suspects the right to a defence in court. U.N.
peacekeepers will also have the power to arrest officials who block
investigations.
   Some Cambodians complain that UNTAC has been reluctant to act against Phnom
Penh officials for fear of provoking their anger.
   "The Phnom Penh government controls the infrastructure nationwide. UNTAC
needs their help if they are to successfully hold the elections," said a
Bangkok-based Asian diplomat.
   The victims of political violence have been mostly Cambodian, but a recent
assault on a building housing electoral officials in the north-western province
of Siem Reap killed two U.N. staff and injured two others.
   Analysts say that given the continuing distrust among the rival Cambodian
factions and the flagrant ceasefire violations, UNTAC rule of law may be
difficult to enforce.
   "We are dealing with people, both the rulers and the ruled, who have lived by
violence for a long time," said one analyst.
   Phnom Penh officials have also blocked UNTAC efforts to deal with the
responsible authorities in the provinces of Battambang and Siem Reap, where most
of the political attacks took place.
   "Cambodian officials do not have to be responsible for security in their
areas or the actions of their subordinates, as in other countries, because
Cambodia is in a unique war situation and trying to cope with the return of
thousands of refugees from border camps," a government spokesperson said.
   UNTAC's new powers will be tested when it confronts Siem Reap Governor Ung
Sami, who is being held responsible for attacks against opposition party workers
and offices in his province.
   Sihanouk's son, Norodom Ranariddh, who heads the royalist FUNCINPEC party,
claims 20 of his workers have been killed since November and accuses the
governor of involvement in the attacks.
   Analysts say UNTAC will also have to look into racist killings of Vietnamese
civilians by the Khmer Rouge. The guerrilla group has killed more than 20 ethnic
Vietnamese, including women and children, since U.N. peacekeepers arrived in the
country.
   The Khmer Rouge claim the Vietnamese, mostly farmers fleeing the dismal
poverty of their own country, are part of the Vietnamese forces intent on
colonizing Cambodia.
   "Tragically, in this case, Cambodians from other political parties tend to
agree with the Khmer Rouge, and will do little to cooperate with UNTAC in
addressing this problem," said one analyst.
   Meanwhile, U.N. soldiers and civilian police have stepped up patrols in 13
provinces where political violence continues unabated despite UNTAC's
announcement of a newly-formed judicial system.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU