Vol. 441 No. 6
69 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the activities and role of the Khmer Rouge at present in Cambodia; if he has satisfied himself that the people of Cambodia enjoy a free and democratic society; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The people of Cambodia are enjoying a free and democratic society for the first time in many years. The elections held in Cambodia in May of last year were judged by international observers to have been held in a free and fair manner.
The Khmer Rouge attempted to disrupt those elections but nonetheless almost 90 per cent of the Cambodian people cast their votes. The Khmer Rouge is continuing to oppose the Cambodian Government but it is clearly rejected by the vast majority of the Cambodian people and there have been reported defections from its ranks to the Government side.
