Hun Sen agrees to ASEAN suggestions<\/p>\n
By Santi WE Soekanto<\/p>\n
PHNOM PENH (JP): ASEAN took a step forward in its mission to
\nhelp restore political stability in Cambodia yesterday when First
\nPrime Minister Hun Sen agreed to some of its suggestions.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, who is
\nleading the ASEAN mission to Cambodia, flew here yesterday and
\nmet for three hours with Hun Sen, who agreed on the need for all
\narmed hostility to end.<\/p>\n
Hun Sen also agreed on the need to guarantee the safe return
\nof members of ousted First Prime Minister Prince Norodom
\nRanariddh's royalist party FUNCINPEC who fled abroad during
\nseveral days of fighting after Ranariddh was ousted.<\/p>\n
"We suggested the politicians be given the chance to return
\nsafely without fear of persecution or intimidation," Alatas said.
\n"Hun Sen agreed that this was not only desirable but also
\nnecessary."<\/p>\n
Hun Sen also agreed that Cambodia's general election,
\nscheduled for May next year, "would have meaning only when all
\npolitical forces and political parties in Cambodia participated
\nfreely".<\/p>\n
But there was no reference as to whether this meant Ranariddh
\ncould also return from his exile and contest the general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
The ASEAN ministers refused to comment specifically on this.<\/p>\n
Alatas, accompanied by the Philippines' foreign minister
\nDomingo L. Siazon Jr. and Thailand's foreign minister Prachuab
\nChaiyasarn, said Hun Sen told them that he had ordered all units
\nto halt further war.<\/p>\n
But Hun Sen also asked the ministers to tell Ranariddh that he
\nalso had to put an end to all fighting and "cease the political
\nand military collaboration with the outlawed Khmer Rouge".<\/p>\n
Hun Sen ousted Ranariddh earlier last month. The political
\ntakeover ended a delicate coalition balance and months of
\nbickering between the two premiers.<\/p>\n
The turmoil prompted ASEAN to delay Cambodia's admission into
\nthe group.<\/p>\n
ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines,
\nMalaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Before yesterday's meeting, Hun Sen issued an aide memoir
\nsaying that "one important contribution ASEAN could offer is not
\nto encourage any new war in Cambodia".<\/p>\n
Therefore, "the royal government deems it necessary that
\nNorodom Ranariddh ceases immediately his war activities by
\nputting an end to all fighting against the government ... and by
\nending political and military collaboration with the outlawed
\nKhmer Rouge."<\/p>\n
Hun Sen welcomed ASEAN's mediation gesture but said "the
\nreturn to a normal situation in Cambodia and the reopening of the
\nNational Assembly session shows that Cambodia has sufficient
\ncapacity to solve its internal problems by itself".<\/p>\n
The second prime minister pledged his government would
\nconcentrate on preparing for and organizing an election on May
\n23, 1998.<\/p>\n
Cambodia has "confidence in its capacity as a sovereign
\ncountry to make preparations to hold and supervise elections by
\nitself," he said.<\/p>\n
"At the same time, we welcome international observers and the
\ncoordinating role to be played by the United Nations through the
\nSpecial Representative of the Secretary General to Phnom Penh,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Credible<\/p>\n
Alatas said ASEAN told Hun Sen that in order for the general
\nelection to proceed "there will have to be a well-run government,
\na coalition government, as both sides have agreed to as the
\nresult of the 1993 elections."<\/p>\n
"I think there was agreement, concurrence on the side of Hun
\nSen, with our view that it would be to the advantage of the prime
\nminister himself if the coalition government could be seen as a
\ncredible one," he said.<\/p>\n
This credibility should be achieved with the safe return of
\nFUNCINPEC faction members, Alatas said.<\/p>\n
Hun Sen said in the meeting he had persuaded those who fled
\noverseas to return.<\/p>\n
The ministers then asked Hun Sen to make an announcement "at
\nthe highest level," promising FUNCINPEC members a safe return and
\nfree political participation.<\/p>\n
Alatas refused to explain what Ranariddh's role would be
\nshould he return.<\/p>\n
"It's difficult for us to reveal certain things before we have
\nthe opportunity to contact Ranariddh and convey to him some of
\nHun Sen's views," he said.<\/p>\n
The delegation has yet to fix a date and venue to report to
\nother ASEAN ministers on the mission.<\/p>",
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