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UN Peacekeeping Force: Framework for a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict

Implementations

UN Peacekeeping Force – 1991

The Secretary-General recommended that the Security Council authorize the United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC) to become operational as soon as the Paris Agreement was signed in October 1991. The Security Council, in its Resolution 717 (1991) of October 16, 1991, authorized UNAMIC as recommended by the Secretary-General. UNAMIC became operational on November 9, 1991 when Mr. A.H.S. Ataul Karim (Bangladesh) assumed his functions as Chief Liaison Officer of UNAMIC in Phnom Penh. Brigadier-General Michel Loridon (France), Senior Military Liaison Officer, assumed command of the military elements of UNAMIC on 12 November and, on the same day, an air operations unit contributed by France arrived in Phnom Penh. UNAMIC was designed to be absorbed into United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) once UNTAC was established. UNAMIC’s initial authorized strength was 116 military personnel (50 military liaison officers, 20 mine-awareness personnel, 40 military support personnel); there was also provision for approximately 75 international and 75 local civilian support staff.¹

“Cambodia: UNAMIC Facts and Figures,” accessed July 22, 2010, http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/unamicfacts.html.

UN Peacekeeping Force – 1992

Once the mission began, however, it quickly became apparent that there was an urgent need for a major de-mining effort. To this end the Security Council passed Resolution 728 (1992) on 8 January 1992, which expanded the size of the military personnel to 1,090.²

On 9 May 1992, UNTAC announced phase II of the ceasefire – the cantonment, disarming and demobilization phase. UNTAC did not receive cooperation from PKD.³ “In June, the Khmer Rouge refused to disarm or allow UN peacekeeping troops on the territory they controlled. KR argued that they did not want to disarm because there still were Vietnamese forces in the country. In mid-July the KR seized six villages and attacked UN helicopters. The UN Security Council at several occasions (S/RES/766 in July, S/RES/783 in October) demanded that KR comply with phase II of the Paris Agreement. On 30 November, the Security Council adopted resolution S/RES/792 imposing a trade embargo on areas under KR control. On 2 December six UN soldiers were held capture for two days by KR accused of spying.”⁴

A maximum of 15,991 troops were deployed⁵ (1) to verify the withdrawal and non-return of all categories of foreign forces and their arms and equipment; (2) to supervise the ceasefire and related measures including regroupment, cantonment, disarming and demobilization; (3) to control weapons, including monitoring the cessation of outside military assistance; and (4) to assist in mine-clearing, including training and mine awareness programs. The Secretary-General recommended that the military component be fully deployed by the end of May 1992 and that the regrouping and cantonment process, as well as demobilization of at least 70 per cent of the cantoned forces, be achieved by the end of September 1992.⁶

In September 1992, the UN Secretary General announced that UNTAC had successfully marshaled 52,292 Cambodian troops into cantonment and confiscated 50,000 weapons. This included 42,368 troops from the Cambodian People’s Armed Force; 3,445 from National Army of Independent Kampuchea; and 6,497 from Khmer People’s National Liberation Armed Force.⁷ “Information provided by the Cambodian parties to the military survey mission sent by the Secretary-General in November – December 1991 indicated total forces of over 200,000 deployed in some 650 separate locations. In addition, militias totaling some 250,000 operated in almost all villages. These forces were armed with over 350,000 weapons and some 80 million rounds of ammunition.”⁸

“Details/Information for Canadian Forces (CF) Operation MARQUIS,” accessed July 22, 2010, http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/od-bdo/di-ri-eng.asp?IntlOpId=25…

On 19 February 1992, the Secretary-General submitted the implementation plan for UNTAC as well as an indication of administrative and financial aspects to the Security Council. By resolution 745 (1992) of 28 February, the Security Council established UNTAC for a period not to exceed 18 months. All the responsibilities of UNAMIC were resumed by UNTAC.¹“Cambodia: UNAMIC Background,” accessed July 22, 2010, http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/unamicbackgr.html.
“Cambodia-UNTAC Background,” accessed July 19, 2010, http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/untacbackgr2.html#two.
“Khmer Rouge Frees 6 U.N. Soldiers in Cambodia, The New York Times, December 5, 1992, accessed July 19, 2010, http://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/05/world/khmer-rouge-frees-6-un-soldiers-….
“Cambodia- UNTAC Facts and Figures,” accessed July 22, 2010, http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/untacfacts.html.
“Cambodia-UNTAC Background.”
“Second progress Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia,” United Nations, (S/24578), September 21, 1992.
“Cambodia-UNTAC Background.”
“Second progress Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia,” United Nations, (S/24578), September 21, 1992.

UN Peacekeeping Force – 1993

The mission was unsuccessful in its attempt to disarm the Khmer Rouge and bring them into the democratic process. The Khmer also did not participate in the elections, claiming that they would not do so because Vietnamese troops were still inside Cambodia. However, UNTAC verified that there were no Vietnamese troops inside Cambodia. Except for this allegation and violation of ceasefire by Khmers, the UNTAC maintained reasonable peace and security in other areas and providing security throughout the electoral process. Nearly all of the United Nations military forces, police and civilians left Cambodia by November 15, 1993 after completing their mandate. The estimated costs of the operation were $1.6 billion.¹

“Cambodia: UNTAC- Facts and Figures.”