asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will support the present peace negotiations in Kampuchea to establish a coalition Government around Prince Sihanouk and excluding the Khmer Rouge.
Written Answers. - Kampuchean Peace Negotiations.
62.
The recent dialogue between the parties directly involved in the Cambodia problem and other concerned countries has given rise to hopes that prospects for a negotiated settlement have improved. In this connection the process begun at the Jakarta informal meeting which was facilitated by the Government of Indonesia acting for ASEAN and which took place last July is an encouraging step towards a political solution of the conflict. This meeting brought together in an informal way all the parties to the Cambodian conflict. We support the constructive efforts made by ASEAN aimed at enabling the Cambodian people freely to decide their own future. Nothing short of internationally supervised general and free elections can satisfy the genuine aspirations of the Cambodian people for self-determination and independence.
We also support the central role that Prince Sihanouk is playing in the search for a negotiated political settlement. It is clear that he will have an essential role in a new independent, democratic, neutral and non-aligned Cambodia. However, while we support his efforts at national reconciliation among all Cambodians we would consider that any proposal such as Prince Sihanouk has made for a quadripartite coalition Government comprising the four Cambodian factions including the Khmer Rouge will be looked at with the greatest reservations. The past record of the Khmer Roughe is so appalling that absolutely firm assurances that they will not dominate a coalition Government will be required. While in the context of the current dialogue it is premature to speculate on the form of any political solution that may be arrived at, this is a consideration that will have to be kept in mind very firmly.