Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 7 Nov 1991

Vol. 412 No. 3

Adjournment Debate. - Cambodian Peace Initiative.

Mr. M. Higgins

The Minister, speaking to the House on the previous occasion when we raised the issue of Cambodia, acknowledged the interest of the Irish people in the tragic situation in Cambodia. At that time he said there had been about 80 communications with the Department on the matter but I believe that several thousands of people have written letters to Members of this House and to the Department expressing their concern about the tragic events in Cambodia. My reason for raising this matter again is very simply that the signing of the United Nations initiated peace treaty in Paris on 23 October has not solved the problems of Cambodia. I do not think the Minister is under any misapprehension concening that. There are, however, a number of very specific points on which I would like him to express an opinion.

First, it seems to me that the case for an Irish mission to Cambodia is unanswerable. The complexity of the problems which follow on from the implementation of the much needed peace initiative requires first hand information. On the previous occasion the Minister said that he found that he was adequately briefed by his fellow members of the EC, by UN agencies, and by non-governmental organisations among others. I suggest there is a case for an Irish mission and if one wants to see the justification for it one need only reflect on the strategy being taken by other countries, other than ourselves who have sent missions. I urge the Minister to make up his mind now to agree to send one.

There is a disturbing reality involved as well. While in the formal provisions for peace guarantees from the candidates in terms of both their personal participation and the manifestos that would be used in such an election are a formal requirement, the reality is as described by John Pilger in the London Independent immediately following the signing of the Paris agreement. He makes the point that even in Site Eight, which is a model camp, the Khmer Rouge have been seen entering the camp with arms. It has been established also internationally not only by Mr. Pilger but by other journalists that members of the camp are being coerced to move to zones where they can be of most electoral support to the Khmer Rouge. In addition, of course, there is nothing like the orderly return to their homelands of the people who have been occupying the camps. The figure for injuries, even death, of the people travelling over mine-filled roads is about 1,000 per month. I suggest that the formal guarantees are insufficient and the conditions that have been made are difficult to fulfil. What one is facing in reality — and this is the third point I wish to make — is the crippling of aid because of the budgetary cuts in the specific United Nations body responsible for aid to the camps and a shortage of aid and adequate assistance with the logistics of delivering the aid within Cambodia. For example, the collapse of the Russian aid will create the greatest distress for the entire Cambodian population. I would like the Minister to reply to that point.

As further evidence, the refugees in Site Eight had elected their own civilian leaders but they have been thrown out and replaced by those who were considered more loyal to the Khmer Rouge. What one sees, therefore, is a quiet reorganisation of those who have been involved directly or indirectly in genocide and clear preparation by them to return demand and hold power. There is complete misconstruction of the movement of people to civilian areas. It has been suggested, for example, that the people in welcoming the peace process have decided to return home to get ready for the elections. However, what is happening is quiet regular coercion.

In his response I would like the Minister to concentrate his remarks on (a) my request that a mission be sent to Cambodia and (b) on the question of how the Irish Government view the implementation of the peace accord in the coming weeks which are crucial.

Mr. Calleary

I am happy to be afforded this opportunity to address the House on the recent very important developments with regard to Cambodia. I should like to tell Deputy Higgins that, of course, I will put his view that an Irish mission visit Cambodia to the Minister but, as he will appreciate, I cannot give him an answer to that.

As the House will be aware, agreements on a comprehensive political settlement of the Cambodia conflict were signed in Paris on 23 October 1991, and entered into force with immediate effect. These agreements were signed by all the parties to the Cambodian conflict as well as by 18 other countries, including the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, who initiated the negotiation process with the elaboration of a framework agreement in August 1990. This framework was endorsed by the Security Council in its Resolution 668 of 20 September 1990 and acclaimed by the General Assembly on 15 October 1990 as the basis for a comprehensive political settlement.

We have always firmly believed that a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement would have to be based on the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia. We have also insisted on the absolute right of the Cambodian people to determine their own destiny, free from outside interference, and that the exercise of this right should be based on the holding of internationally-supervised free and fair elections. And, of course, we have consistently stated that any settlement should ensure that the people of Cambodia are never again subjected to the inhuman and barbarous policies which they endured under the Pol Pot regime.

In the Government's view, the settlement which has now been signed embodies the principles which I have just outlined. We have welcomed it. The settlement has also been welcomed by the international community generally. It has received the full support of the UN Security Council in its Resolution 718, adopted unanimously on 31 October. As Deputies are aware, we have always wanted to see a strong role for the United Nations in any settlement. I am pleased that an enhanced role has now been given to the United Nations and I believe it has sufficient powers and authority to carry out its mandate.

Central to the settlement is the right of the Cambodian people to determine their own political future through internationally-supervised free and fair elections. The United Nations has a special role in this respect. It will have responsibility for ensuring a neutral political environment in which such elections can take place.

In order to ensure this, the proposed United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) will have under its direct supervision or control all those administrative agencies, bodies and offices which could directly influence the outcome of elections. It will be responsible for confirming that political parties and candidates meet established criteria in order to qualify for participation in the election. That may help to allay some of the fears expressed by Deputy Higgins. The United Nations will also have responsibility for certifying the results of the elections.

The world was justifiably shocked by the outrages perpetrated on the Cambodian people by the Pol Pot regime. The Irish people over the years have made known, as Deputy Higgins quite rightly said, their depth of feeling at these horrors. From the beginning, therefore, the fundamental objective of the international community has been to achieve a settlement ensuring that there would be no return to the genocidal policies and practices of the past.

The principles for a new constitution for Cambodia are explicit and categorical on the protection of human rights and on the fundamental values on which the new constitutional order will rest. In particular, they provide for a declaration of fundamental rights consistent with the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant international instruments. The United Nations Human Rights Commission will also continue to monitor the human rights situation in Cambodia.

As a further guarantee, the agreements grant signatories the right to call upon the competent organs of the UN in the event of violations of any of the obligations under the agreements, including serious human rights violations, to take such steps as are appropriate for their prevention and suppression. In effect, this gives the international community a permanent role in the monitoring and protection of human rights in Cambodia.

I appreciate that people in Ireland may nonetheless have concerns about the participation of the Khmer Rouge in the settlement. I understand these concerns. However, those involved in the long and difficult process of negotiation, and these include the permanent members of the UN Security Council, believe that to have excluded any one of the parties would have undermined the prospect of a comprehensive political settlement. Furthermore, to have excluded any party would also have seriously compromised any settlement reached. This was recognised by the Cambodian parties themselves.

As part of the settlement it was agreed that there should be a Supreme National Council (SNC), a body which would enshrine the sovereignty, independence and unity of Cambodia during the transitional period. The parties agreed that the Supreme National Council should reflect all opinion in Cambodia and should represent Cambodia in international fora. In this capacity a Supreme National Council General Assembly has been accepted at the current session of the UN General Assembly as representing Cambodia.

The settlement deserves the fullest possible moral and political support of the international community and the Government are considering what steps they might take in assisting in this regard.

Ireland has been formally requested by the UN Secretary-General to participate in the United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC) and I am pleased to announce that the Government have agreed to provide two members of the Defence Forces to serve with this mission.

Furthermore, I believe that a crucial factor in assisting the peace process will be the reconstruction and development of Cambodia. We are therefore urgently examining with our partners in the Community how best we can respond to the immediate and longer term needs of Cambodia.

I can assure Deputy Higgins that the Government will remain vigilant to ensure that the settlement is fully implemented, so that the Cambodian people can look forward to a secure, peaceful and democratic future, and begin to rebuild their country.