Deep concern expressed over implementation of Paris Agreements in Cambodia.

PDK refuses to cooperate in some areas

The Security Council on 21 July expressed deep concern at the difficulties met by the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) in implementing the October 1991 Paris Agreements on a comprehensive political settlement of the Cambodia conflict, and underlined that all signatories to the Agreements were bound by all their obligations.

The Council strongly deplored the continuing refusal by one of the parties to the Agreements - the Party of Democratic Kampuchea (PDK) - to permit the deployment of all UNTAC components to areas under PDK control. It demanded that PDK permit without delay such deployment and implement fully phase II of the cease-fire plan, which calls for cantonment and demobilization of all forces.

Because of PDK's refusal to take part in the regroupment and cantonment process which began on 13 June and was to have been completed by 11 July, "barely 5 percent of the estimated 200,000 soldiers had been cantoned by that date", UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali reported on 14 July. In the meantime, UNTAC's military and civilian deployment had been proceeding, and a total of 50,000 refugees and displaced persons had been repatriated.

In unanimously adopting resolution 766 (1992), the Council also reaffirmed the international community's commitment to a process under which UNTAC - the most-expensive peace-keeping operation in UN history with over 18,000 personnel already deployed in the field - could verify the departure of all foreign forces and ensure the full implementation of the Agreements. It also demanded that all parties respect the peaceful nature of the UNTAC mission and ensure the safety and security of all UN personnel.

The Council approved efforts of Mr. Boutros-Ghali and his Special Representative, Yasushi Akashi, to continue to implement the Agreements despite the difficulties; invited them to accelerate the deployment of UNTAC's civilian components; and asked them to ensure that international assistance in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Cambodia would only benefit the parties fulfilling their obligations under the Agreement and cooperating fully with UNTAC.

The Council deplored the continuing cease-fire violations and urged all parties to cease all hostilities, cooperate with UNTAC in marking all minefields, and refrain from any deployment, movement or other action intended to extend the territory they control or which might lead to renewed fighting. States, in particular neighbouring countries, were urged to provide assistance to ensure the Agreements' effective implementation.

PDK: non-cooperation

The Secretary-General noted in his 14 July report (S/24286) that phase II of the cease-fire had begun on 13 June. PDK, he said, had failed to take measures incumbent upon it for the proper implementation of the Agreements and the UNTAC mandate. Notwithstanding that development, he had asked his Special Representative to press forward with the process of regroupment and cantonment of forces of the four Cambodian parties wherever possible.

PDK had not taken steps to honour its assurances, refusing to canton any of its forces and failing to grant UNTAC free and unrestricted access, to mark minefields in the zones it controlled and to refrain from further violations of the cease-fire.

Instead, PDK had made its own interpretations of the Agreements' provisions relating to verification of withdrawal and non-return of foreign forces, and to the role and powers of the Supreme National Council (SNC). PDK had asserted that those provisions had not been implemented and that until they were, it was not in a position to proceed with the other provisions' implementation.

(The Security Council has declared that the SNC is "the unique legitimate body and source of authority in which, throughout the transitional period, the sovereignty, independence and unity of Cambodia are enshrined".)

Informal proposal

Mr. Boutros-Ghali said an informal proposal for discussion had been drawn up at the Ministerial Conference on the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Cambodia, held in Tokyo on 22 June. It included measures designed to meet some PDK concerns and facilitate its participation in fully implementing the Agreements.

Three of the four Cambodian parties had accepted to proposal. PDK, instead, introduced its own proposals regarding the role and powers of the SNC and administrative structures in the zone under the control of the Cambodian People's Party. Those proposals had again been put forward at subsequent meetings, despite steps taken by UNTAC to meet PDK concerns, particularly by strengthening its verification mechanisms to follow up on any evidence of the presence of foreign forces or the provision of outside military assistance, and by giving top priority to the recruitment and deployment of its civil administration staff to exercise direct control over existing administrative structures in the fields of foreign affairs, national defence, finance, public security and information, as well as its supervision in other areas.

The Secretary-General reported that PDK had called for the dissolution of the main institutions and structures established by the Cambodian People's Party in the zone under its control. However, he pointed out, it was clearly understood in the Agreements that UNTAC should exercise control through the "existing administrative structures" of each of the four Cambodian parties, and that Phnom Penh authorities formed part of those "existing administrative structures", which could not be abolished or dismantled.

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UNTAC denied access

UNTAC had been denied access to operate in zoned controlled by PDK, the Secretary-General reported. In civil administration, while three of the parties had submitted lists of their laws for UNTAC review, PDK had failed to do so.

The three parties had also shown willingness to participate in the regroupment and cantonment process, but PDK had not. PDK also failed to respond to repeated requests to comply with the 12 points listed by the Special Representative to ensure implementation of the Agreements, or to accept the proposal of discussion. As a result, UNTAC's ability to adhere to the timetable set by the Council had been seriously compromised.

UNTAC's efforts to continue with the regroupment and cantonment process, with the cooperation of only three of the parties, could not go on indefinitely, Mr. Boutros Ghali observed. Any further delay in full implementation by all parties of the essential aspect was likely to affect UNTAC's ability to organize and conduct elections on schedule, and could ultimately jeopardize the whole peace process. He urged the Cambodian parties to carry out their obligations relating to phase II of the cease-fire.

On 7 August, the Security Council agreed with the Secretary-General's proposal to add Japan to the list of countries contributing military personnel to UNTAC. Those countries are: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, France, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russian Federation, Senegal, Thailand, Tunisia, United Kingdom and Uruguay.

The SNC met in Phnom Penh on 23 July, under the chairmanship of Prince Norodom Sihanouk and in the presence of Special Representative Akashi.

The SNC agreed to Mr. Akashi's proposal to establish a technical advisory committee on the management and sustainable exploitation of natural resources.

Mr. Akashi said UNTAC was determined to investigate any allegations regarding the presence of foreign troops, advisers and military personnel.

Mr. Akashi appealed to Cambodians to show tolerance and understanding, and urged all Cambodian authorities to refrain from taking any action which might result in racial unrest.

On 1 July, Mr. Akashi announced that UNTAC's civil administration component had entered its active phase. UNTAC had opened provincial offices throughout Cambodia and appointed Directors in 20 provinces.

UNTAC would exercise direct control over five areas: foreign affairs, national defence, finance, public security and information. Among other areas to be supervised by UNTAC were: public health, education, agriculture, sea and river fishing, transport, communication and postal administration, distribution and production of energy, waterways, transport, tourism and public monuments, mines and general administration.

UNTAC would also begin reviewing laws and regulations of the various administrations to verify whether they were compatible with the Agreements' letter, objectives and purposes.

On 13 August, Mr. Akashi signed the UN Electoral Law for Cambodia, 1992, the content of which was determined in consultation with the SNC.

De-mining, refugees

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Handicap International, a non-governmental organization, on 8 July launched a major de-mining initiative aimed at releasing hundreds of hectares of housing land for returning refugees in Cambodia.

On 28 August, it was announced that more than 100,000 Cambodian refugees and displaced persons had been repatriated from Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, marking an important milestone in the voluntary return programme begun five months earlier by UNHCR.

A ceremony hosted by UNHCR and chaired by Prince Sihanouk and Mr. Akashi was held when a train - the "Sisophon Express" - arrived from the Thai border with some 1,200 returnees aboard. While nearly 250,000 refugees remained in camps outside the country, the rate of repatriation had been rising steadily since the first returnees crossed the Thai-Cambodian border on 30 March and was expected to increase even more when the rains ended in November.