« Back to Provision

Disarmament – 1992

The United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) was to have completed the regrouping and cantonment stage within four weeks following the start of phase II of the disarmament process on June 13, 1992 – hence by July 11. The process was expected to disarm and demobilize 70% of the country’s estimated 200,000 soldiers. As of July 10, of the estimated 200,000 troops, the numbers of cantoned troops were as follows: CPAF, 9,003; ANKI, 3,187; KPNLAF, 1,322. However, reflecting PDK’s position of non-cooperation, no NADK troops were cantoned.² UNTAC suspended the disarmament of armed groups in Cambodia as the Khmer Rouge had refused to disarm.³

2. “Cambodia – UNTAC Background,” United Nations, accessed July 19, 2010, http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/untacbackgr2.html#two.[/…“As for the cantonment process, which had begun in June with the declaration of phase II, some 55,000 troops of the three participating factions, or approximately a quarter of the estimated total number of troops, entered the cantonment sites and handed over their weapons. This process, however, had to be suspended, due to the non-compliance by PDK and the deterioration of the military situation. Some 40,000 cantoned troops were subsequently released on agricultural leave, subject to recall by UNTAC” (United Nations).¹Ibid.
3. “UNTAC suspends disarmament in Cambodia, Report From Japan,” United Nations, October 22,1992.