Vol. 414 No. 5
10 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the extremely hostile reception given by the people of Cambodia to returned Khmer Rouge leaders such as Khieu Samphan; and if he will outline his Department's assessment of the implications of this development for the Cambodian peace plan.
51 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the role Ireland will play in the democratisation of Cambodia; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 51 together.
I have seen reports of the incidents to which the Deputies refer, which must reflect the depth of feeling and anger of Cambodians at the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge.
Under the comprehensive political settlement of the Cambodian conflict, which has been endorsed by the UN Security Council, a Supreme National Council was established as the unique legitimate body and source of authority in which throughout the transitional period the sovereignty, independence and unity of Cambodia are enshrined. The Supreme National Council bring together the four Cambodian parties and is therefore essential for the successful implementation of the peace process.
After the incidents referred to, the supreme national council met in Pattaya, Thailand, on 3 December and agreed security arrangements to permit the council to meet in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, at an early date. These arrangements were endorsed by the representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Prince Sihanouk, as President of the Supreme National Council, has also undertaken to make the SNC Secretariat operational as soon as possible. While the events of 27 November, therefore, looked as if they might jeopardise the functioning of the SNC and consequently of the peace plan for Cambodia, this danger was averted.
Ireland has consistently supported the UN plan for Cambodia embodied in the Comprehensive Political Settlement which was signed by all parties to the conflict in Paris on 23 October 1991. The holding of free and fair elections under international supervision is a central element of the settlement. Ireland is already contributing to this process in a practical way by sending two military personnel as part of the United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC). It is expected that the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), which will oversee the election process, will be established early next year. Ireland would consider sympathetically any request from the UN inviting us to participate in this operation.
Would the Minister agree that the Cambodian peace plan in effect is an imposed plan; that the involvement of the Khmer Rouge in the Supreme National Council is the same as if the allies, in 1945, had established a Coalition Government in Germany and had included Hitler, Dr. Mengele, Goebbels and so on; that it is perfectly understandable that the people of Cambodia, who have been the victims of the Pol Pot genocide, would react very angrily to these people being involved in the Government of their country? Is the Minister concerned about its implications for the peace plan and for the understandable unwillingness of the people of Cambodia to accept the involvement of the Khmer Rouge?
Deputy Gilmore probably would be best advised not to forget that the particular comprehensive political settlement about which we are talking has been endorsed by the United Nations Security Council.
I accept what the Minister says, that the peace plan, whatever its background, has been accepted by all as constituting the only way forward in Cambodia. But given that every adult Cambodian alive remembers vividly the killing fields of the Khmer Rouge would the Minister give the House a commitment that he will do what he can to ensure that Pol Pot, and the leaders in those killing fields, will not be to the forefront in negotiating peace in Cambodia? Would the Minister not agree that there is a grave risk of the United Nations role being discredited if people like Pol Pot are presented to the people in an election? I agree with Deputy Gilmore that it would be the equivalent of asking the United Nations to support the return of Idi Amin to Uganda.
I share the sentiments expressed by Deputy Owen here today and have the same concerns, which I know are shared by the Government. The Deputy can rest assured that we will make our views known and ensure that our concerns are taken on board.
The Minister has said on many occasions in this House that he is giving consideration to the sending of an Irish observer mission to Cambodia. Has he come to a conclusion on this point? Will he now agree to the sending of such a mission? My second question is in relation to his reply in which he mentioned the forthcoming elections in Cambodia. Would he agree that there is need for an observer mission to arrive there before the electoral process begins, for example, to deal with the forced enlistment from refugee camps, the marching back of people from camps to certain areas for the purposes of rigging the electoral register and so on? Would he not agree that the most useful exercise for him and the Government would be to decide once and for all to send an observer mission to examine these matters which are pre-electoral? Would he agree that it will be too late to send some people when the formal election has been announced?
A number of our EC partners have done so.
In this House before, in the course of discussions on this issue, I have been asked whether I would consider sending a fact-finding mission to Cambodia in view of the important developments taking place there. I am satified with the information on Cambodia, which I continue to receive from a variety of sources. Therefore, I feel that a fact-finding mission would not be called for at present. But if I felt there was need for one or that we would benefit therefrom. I would certainly give the matter further consideration.
Would the Minister agree that Pol Pot and his scoundrels were responsible for wholesale genocide? Would he say what steps our Government are taking to have these people brought to justice and tried for their crimes?
On many occasions in the past, when we discussed the Cambodian issue, as the records of the House will show, I have roundly and strongly condemned the regime there who were responsible for genocide of such frightening proportions. Therefore, it would be my fervent wish and desire that they would never again be given any position of authority in that country.
That disposes of questions for today.
