Cambodian clashes near Siem Reap

Cambodian clashes near Siem Reap

PHNOM PENH (Agencies): Rival Cambodian forces clashed
yesterday as fighters loyal to ousted First Prime Minister Prince
Norodom Ranariddh pushed towards Siem Reap, near the famed Angkor
Wat temple complex.

Powerful Second Prime Minister Hun Sen, who toppled Ranariddh
at the weekend to seize control of the government, sent
reinforcements to the area west of Siem Reap, a tourist town 250
kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh.

There had been intermittent clashes in the area over the last
few days but more sustained fighting broke out at daybreak
yesterday.

"This afternoon the government side sent troops and ammunition
from Kompong Cham to confront the other side," said a military
official loyal to Hun Sen. "Now the other side is trying to move
forward into Siem Reap."

Residents in Siem Reap said they could hear shelling. The
town, which is under the control of Hun Sen's forces, was quiet
but tense, they said.

Cambodia's unwieldy coalition government collapsed in violence
Saturday when Hun Sen's forces moved in on Ranariddh's men in the
capital. Ranariddh had left the country the previous day.

Hun Sen declared Ranariddh's expulsion Sunday as his forces
pushed Ranariddh's men from their bases in and around the city.

Many members of Ranariddh's FUNCINPEC party have left the
country while others remain in hiding in the capital. But other
FUNCINPEC members began moves yesterday to find a replacement for
Ranariddh as first prime minister.

After claiming outright victory Hun Sen said he was not aiming
to take over the coalition government, but called for FUNCINPEC
candidates to step forward for the post of first premier.

Tea Chamrath and former resistance commander Toan Chhay, who
heads a FUNCINPEC splinter group, are the two favorites to
replace Prince Ranariddh because of their military experience.

"I still respect Prince Ranariddh, he is my boss and I am not
betraying him," Tea Chamrath said.

The international community dealt Hun Sen his second serious
diplomatic blow in two days when the United States yesterday
announced a temporary halt in its US$35 million aid program to
Cambodia.

After a 30-day review, programs that support his regime
directly or indirectly will not be resumed.

Japan and Germany have already cut aid. Foreign Minister
Alexander Downer of Australia said his country would consider
cuts to send Hun Sen a message to meet the terms of the Paris
peace process, which led to the 1993 elections and the coalition
his coup shattered.

In all, at least US$150 million worth of vital projects will
stop following the suspension of aid.

In a show of bravado belying a desperate economic plight,
Cambodian leaders dismissed the cutoffs.

"In the past, we were also subjected to an economic embargo,"
said Khieu Kanharith, Hun Sen's secretary of state for
information. "We will not die, and development will continue
though it might be slow."

Despite the tough talk, cutting aid to Cambodia will have a
crippling effect on the country, which relies on foreign
assistance for more than half its national budget.

Cooler heads were already tallying up the effects.
Public Works Ministry spokesman Meas Samith said the government
and country could "absolutely not" survive serious aid cutoffs.

"We have been facing a lot of problems for a long time
already, including financial constraints and a shortfall in
paying civil servants," Meas Samith said.

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