A/35/PV.40 General Assembly

Once again the As- sembly is debating the fate of Democratic Kampuchea, a country once endowed with natural bounty, a coun- try priding itself on its rich cultural traditions which formed a part of the Asian heritage. The fact that we are still seized ofthat item is sad testimony to the world community's lack of success in its efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of a crisis whose speedy resolu- tion is of the utmost importance to peace in South- East Asia and the whole world. 2. We have read with dismay of the grim situation portrayed by the Secretary-General in his report submitted in response toGeneral Assembly resolu- tion 34/22. That report amply demonstrates that, despite the earnest and serious efforts ofthe Secretary- General and the international community, a political solution of the Kampuchean situation is yet to be found. The Secretary-General said, inter alia, that the report of his Special Representative, Mr. Perez de Cueliar ..... confirmed the gravity of the problems in the area, particularly along the Thai-Kampuchean border, and the seriousness of the political and military factors that had compounded the appalling human suffering being endured by the Kampuchean people." [A/35/501, para. 5.] It is evident that the situation in Democratic Kampu- chea has deteriorated further since the report was prepared in November 1979. 3. The position of Bangladesh is governed by its firm commitment and adherence to the principles and pur- poses of the Charter of the United Nations and the principles and objectives of the non-aligned movement, which require member States to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of other States and to renounce the use of force or the threat of force against the territorial integrity, national sovereignty and political independence of any State and to settle their disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that peace,

Last year, at its thirty- fourth session, the General Assembly adopted a resolution on this item. Resolution 34/22 provided a framework for the peaceful political settlement of the Kampuchean situation in conformity with the prin- ciples of the Charter of the United Nations. The resolution also dealt with the humanitarian aspects of the problem. 7. Unfortunately, however, we are not making any ,progress. What is more, the events of last June were very disturbing, as the fighting at that time spilled over into Thailand; this constituted a serious threat to the peace and stability of the South-East Asian: region as a whole and the world at large. In addition, Viet Nam has increased the number of its troops in Kampuchea, Over and above this, the human suffering 771 A/35/PV.40 NE'W YORK con~e.nin~ of an international confer~nce invoiving among the ~ountries whic~ carry out .that campaig.n participation of the concerned parties and other or applaud It are those which at one time gave their interested parties as early as possible isan essential sU~PQrt, directly or indirectly, to a, military adventure step toward that end. We are all aware of the fact whicb..subsequently set the whole of Indo-China that, in the absence of any political settlement, the including Kampuchea, in flames; and, secondly, that entire humanitarian operation will lose its effective- efforts are being made to present the situation of ness: We therefore deem it absolutely necessary that Ka~puc~ea in. a f~lse light and to lead the United at this session we should arrive at a decision regarding Nations m a direction that runs counter to the spirit the date, venue and agenda of such a conference. If and the letter of the Charter. allowed to run on, the dispute may have far-reaching 14. It is in the light of these two basic facts that we consequences. have to approach the subject before us today. In the 9. My delegation has noted with admiration the course of the previoussessionof the GeneralAssembly earnestness of the efforts exerted ~y the Secretary- we stat~d our disagreement-with the tenor of the draft- General to create a congenial climate for negotiations resolution that became General Assembly resolution which could lead to a politicalsolutionof the problem. 34/22. At that time we pointed out, inter alia, that we The Secretary-General's report [A/35/501], however, co~ld n~t ,share the theory of two administrations, makes amply clear the seriousness of the political ~hICh, m the language of that resolution, is implicit and military factors" which have consequently I~ the formula "all parties to the conflict". We also compounded the human suffering of the Kampuchean dlsag.reed on the need to. find a so-called political people. We sincerely hope, however, that the Secre- solution to settle the question of Kampuchea. . tary-Ge~eral will conti~ue his efforts. My delegation IS. Our position is very clear and it has not changed pledges Its support to his search for a peaceful settle- since last year. The true political situation in that ment of the dispute. country has become more and more clear since the 10. Last year when I made a statement on this item ( overthrow of the Pol Pot clique. It is the resurrection I explained the concern of my country regarding the of K~mpuchea that is the guarantee of the sovereignty conflict in Kampuchea. To us the principle of non- and m~ep~ndenc.e of the country and of the self- interference in the internal affairs of another country determinat" » of Its people. Those who use the slogan is very sacred. Once this principleis violated the basic of free elec.. lr advocate the withdrawal of foreign rule of behaviour amongStates is broken and the terri- troops from Aampuchea are turning their backs on the torial integrity and sovereignty of another State is at Kampuchean reality, closin, their eyes, .consciously stake. In Kampuchea, a powerful neighbour has or unconsciously, to the disastrous hentage of the contemptuously violated the sovereigntyand indepen- overthrown Government, to the total destruction of dence of a country and established a puppet regime the stru~tu~es of ~hmer society and of the economic through massive armed intervention, denying to the and social bfe of tne country. Ka!"puchean peopl~ their i?a~ien~ble right ~o decide 16. Recently, from this same rostrum, we have heard ~heJr own. des~my. Vlet Nam sJustificationofIts armed statements intendedto refreshour memoriesinthefield mterve!1tJon m Kampuchea IS unacceptable to my of physical science. We have been told that a vacuum dele~t1on. In our opinion, no excuse on the ground of can exist for only a short time since it will inevitably sec~nty or other reason couldjustify armed aggression be filled by other elements. We might ask whether agamst another State. this I.aw is also applicable in the case of Kampuchea 11. DraftresolutionA/3S/L.2/Rev.1 proposes several and If so, what ~Iement.s would fill the void left by practical measures, including a seven-pointprogramme the troops of a nelghboua:ang ~ountry prematurely with- to be negotiated at an international conference with the draw.n. In th~ presen~ situation of a country ravaged aim of facilitating the withdrawalof Vietnameseforces and ~mpovenshed, With a population decimated and within a specific time-frame. The draft resolution depa:aved.of its professionals, with the continuance of provides additionallyfor interim measures to make the. foreign aid and encouragement to the Pol Pot fanatics. international relief operations more effective and for protected and supported by China, and in conditions the rehahilitation of displaced Kampucheans in safe of o~n or tacit collusion on the part of certain neigh- areas. These interim measures will surely go a long ~ounng and other countries, it is almost certain that way in reducing tensions along the Thai-Kampuchean It would be the clique of the so-called Democratic border. Kampuchea that, by means of terror and violence. 2 . . would impose its will once again and drag the country I •. FlDall~, the draft gives ~ cent~al role to the back into the stone age. United Nations that my delegation believes should be acceptable to all of us. 17. Letthose that advocate the applicationofthe laws A • • of physics in South-East Asia tell us oJ·ite openly 13. Mr. RAl..Z (!lunp?,) (mterpretatlOn !r?m whether this is what they want, that azternative, French):_My delegation believes that m the question because, after all, it is the daily life of people that hid~ the true situation in Kampuchea and'disguise the 22. I do not need to dwell on the triteness of those real needs. arguments, since the world press and the documents 18. We say that the situation in that country is ire- of international organizations have already roundly versible, that it is inconceivable that another 'such refuted' them, but what are a matter of concern are period of suffering and death should be experienced the motives of certain Members of the United Nations in that ancestral land. The United Nations must do which are maintaining and even exacerbating the all in its power to put an end once and for all to such tension in the region. They do so in order to justify a possibility. their political line, their basic hostility to the changes 19. The convening of an international conference to that have taken place in Indo-China, and their inter- find a political solution to the Kampuchean problem ference in the purely domestic affairs of Kampuchea would mean that the neighbour would be requested and other countries of the region. to put the house in order, in the absence of the 23. We believe that draft resolution A/35/L.2/Rev.1 tenants. How can such an approach be seriously liesfour-square withinthis lineof reasoning, and there- considered without taking into account the fact-to fore my delegation is not going to support it. continue my own metaphor-s-thatit is precisely thanks 24. Mr. KOMATINA (Yugoslavia): Mr. President, to the new tenants that the terrible disorder left by the the Federal Secretary for Foreign Affairs has already previous tenants isbeingcleaned up, the filth removed, congratulated you on your election. It gives me great the walls repainted, the doors put back, the roof pleasure to convey to you my personal wishes for the repaired and the place made fit again for man and his full success of your mission. civilization. The conference contemplated in draft resolution A/35/L.2/Rev.1 would only sow confusion 25. At the outset I should like to extend our profound and, what is more, it would place side by side with the condolences to the delegation of friendly Algeria on victims of barbarism those who have committed those the catastrophic earthquake that devastated the city unheard-of atrocities now known to all. of El Asnam. My country deeply sympathizes with the Algerianpeople, even more as it also has been the 20. The very fact that today we are discussing all victimof a natural catastrophe. As in the past, we will these questions concerning Kampuchea, that we are lend full support and assistance to mitigate the effects talking about finding a solution for the different of this disaster. problems, assistance to refugees and so on, is in itself an aberration, because it is useless for us to seek in 26. The dominant view prevailing in the general this hall the representatives of the Phnom Penh debate that has just ended was that the international Government, the representatives of those who are situation had seriously deteriorated. At the same time, conducting the internal and external affairs of the there was widespreaddissatisfaction withunfavourable country in this Assembly; they' are not here. We can developments in the world and uncertainties arising deplore the sorry part played by the United Nations therefrom. It was emphasized, in particular, that a few days ago, but this will in no way change the actions involvingthe use offorce were becomingmore basic facts. The discussion of this item of the agenda and more frequent; that the process 'of detente was in itself constitutes inadmissible interference in the subjected to serious trials and was in some aspects in internal affairsofthe People's Republicof Kampuchea, a state of crisis; and that key international issues and any decisions that might be taken on the subject were not being solved. The main foci of crisis in the in any forum would not have any political or moral world were either exacerbated or merged into new value whatsoever. crises disturbing ever broader areas of the world. All that posed a direct threat to the independence and 21. Wedo not believe that it is by such a conference, security of a growing number of countries, especially convened or rather imposed on us in inharmonious non-aligned and developing countries. conditions, that we should try to make progress in finding common ground for the restoration of peace 27. Regrettably, we have not been able to conclude and confidence in South-East. Asia, but rather by that there is any immediate likelihoodof any initiative initiating a genuine and constructive dialogue among being taken for improving this situation, particularly the countries of the region. Repeatedly the Indo- not by the protagonists in these adverse developments. Chinese countries, separately and together, have sub- 28. The situation in Kampuchea is no exception. mitted specific proposals, asking for the signing of Actually, no substantial progress has been made since treaties of non-aggression and a demilitarized zone the adoption of resolution 34/22 at the thirty-fourth on the borders between Kampuchea and Thailand, and session of the General Assembly towards the imple- these proposals could have set in motion a process mentation of that resolution's provisions. The Secre- that would, we believe, have led to normalization tary-General also noted in his report that it had not ofinter-State relations in the regionand the withdrawal been possible to find a basis for an agreed solution. of foreign troops at present stationed in Kampuchea. On the contrary, the war against the people of Kampu- Why, then, were those proposals rejected? We might chea, as a result of foreign intervention is continuing tend to believe that certain circles need to maintain with a massive use of force. The crisis in the region tension on the border between those two countries in of South-East Asia is assuming an ever more global order to make use of it for their own purposes. To character; it is becoming ever more deeply rooted,

The delega- tion of the Byelorussian SSR, like the delegations of many States Members of the United Nations, staunchly adheres to the position of principle that the inclusion in this session's agenda of an item on the so-called"situation in Kampuchea" without the agree- ment of, and in fact against the will of, the Kampu- chean people and the sole legitimate Government of that country, the People's Revolutionary Council, is nothing but a direct violation of the principle of non- imperi~ism and experienced all the horrors ofbarbaric bombings carried out from foreign military bases on the territory of neighbouring countries in South-East Asia which are now trying to pass themselves off as "friends" of the Kampuchean people. 48. Then there was aperiod of obscurantism, the obscurantism of the Pol Pot regime, certain of the c~eans~a mockery of the very meaning of human rights. The very idea of human rights being allied with that sort of "signature" would be a blot on the prestige of the United Nations and could only undermine the faith' of peoples in the renuine defence of their basic right~by the United Nations. 52. From its very first days the genocidal despotic regime encountered the decisive resistance of t': ~ people ofKampuchea. Beginning with certain uprisings in various 'regions of the country and in army detach- ments, the' people's struggle against the usurpers, quickly grew into a mass movement which formed itself into the National United Front for the Salvation of Kampuchea, uniting the genuinely patriotic and democratic forces of the country. 53. On 7 January 1979, as a result of military opera- tions by the Kampuchean patriots under the guidance of the National .United Front for the Salvation of I ~ • 5..·. The People's Revolutionary Council that was set up in the very first days, relying on the all-round sup- port of the Kampuchean people and expressing that people's will, took under its control the whole territory of'lthe country and saw to the effective conduct of all.internal and external affairs through the people's organs of government it established. 55., The establishment of the People's Republic of Kampuchea solved one of the main questions: the exercise by the people of their right to life and to a nation and a State. That is patently borne out by the concrete results ofthe creative activities ofthe People's Revolutionary Council, supported by the absolute majority of the people of Kampuchea. Overcoming the unprecedented misery suffered by that country as a result of almost four years of domination by the total genocide and terror of the PolPot legime, the Kampu- chean people have created in less than two years the basic conditions and guarantees for the all-round renascence of the country, for democratic and full- blooded development. The institutions that have been established are now functioning successfully in the country. The industrial enterprises have been restored. Agricultural production is developing. Organs of national education and public health have been established. The national culture is being carefully restored. The recent decision by the People's Revo- lutionary Council of Kampuchea to hold elections next veal' for the highest State bodies shows even more forcefully the irreversibility of the process of sta- bilization of the situation in the People's Republic of Kampuchea, whose people have once and for all defined their future by choosing their own path to development. Mr. Sarre (Senegal), Vice-President, took the Chair. 56. The peaceful, creative work of the Kampuchean people, headed by the People's Revolutionary Council, has become a principal factor in defining the foreign policy of the People's Republic of Kampuchea. The People's Revolutionary Council of Kampuchea staunchly and consistently advocates friendship and co-operation with all neighbouring countries, peace and stability in South-East Asia and international peace and security, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Notwithstanding all the machinations of the enemies of the People's Republic of Kampuchea, its prestige in international affairs is growing relentlessly. 57. All the radical changes that have taken place in less than two years in the fate and in the standard of living of the Kampuchean people and of their home- land can be disregarded and misunderstood only by those who do not want to see those changes, who continue to, view Kampuchea as a possible proving ground for their experiments and as a bridge-head for expansion in South-East Asia. 58. But it should be clear to every-one that regardless of whether or not the changes that have taken place in Kampuchea are to the liking of certain persons, 60. Enormously important tasks confront the Government of the People's Republic of Kampuchea in providing for the vital needs of the people' and further normalizing the development and functioning of the economy. To solve those problems the country requires foreign assistance and co-operation, and is prepared to accept that assistance and co-operation on a bilateralor multilateralbasis, withoutan)' political conditions. 61. As is well known, the Soviet Union and other countries of the socialist community have given enormous effective assistance to the Kampuchean people; that fact is mentioned in official documents of the Economic and Social Council, the United Nations, UNICEF and other organs. 62. It is not the present situation in the People's Republic of Kampuchea that is a threat to peace and stability in South-East Asia. Rather, it is the unceasing attempts by the imperialist forces and the Peking hegemonists to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kampuchean people, exerting to that end pressure on certain countries of South-East Asia. 63. It is not the "refugee problem" that is ofconcern to those who initiated the consideration of this item on the so-called ..situation in Kampuchea". Rather, it is the continued illusory dreams about the possibility of gathering up and using the remnants of the Pol Pot gang against the reviving Kampuchean people. 64. It is not the granting of effective humanitarian assistance to the Kampuchean people, which has lived through a nightmarish period of mass terror and extermination, that is the concern of certain repre- sentatives who have donned the garb of "well- wishers". Rather, their concern is to seek loopholes by which to penetrate the country. 6.5. The statements by some representatives of certain countries sound almost gloatingly blasphe- mous: they talk about the difficulties that still exist in Kampuchea while, at the same time, they give sup- port to the nations which protect the well-flattened bandits of the country and do not recognize and are reluctant to have any contacts at all with the Govern- ment of the People's Republic of Kampuchea. 66. Draft resolution A/3S/L.2/Rev.l reeks of the arrogant self-assurance of a mentor. My delegation does not intend to go into detail about the obviously tendentious provisions of that draft resolution, which serves the interests of the imperialists and the hege- monists. 67. I would merely emphasize that this text has been drafted in obvious opposition to the interests of the people of Kampuchea, which have now found freedom, and is another attempt to interfere, under the cover of the United Nations flag, in the internal affairs of the People's Republic of Kampuchea. 70. The entire Polish people is following with the greatest interest, and is firmly supporting and showing solidarity for, the policies of the Government of the People's Republic of Kampuchea aiming at nanonal renaissance, reconstruction, peace, non-alignment and ~ood-neighbourly relations. 71. In the opinion of the Polish delegation, tireless and active work for the cause of peace and for the strengthening of security and stability in South- East Asia should be the common denominator of all efforts by the international community as represented in the United Nations. Guided by that very objective, the achievement of which is in the interest of all the countries of the region and in the interest of all the peoples of the world, the Polish delegation whole- heartedly supported the request of the Socialist Re- public of Viet Nam to include the ~'Question of peace, stability ar.rl co-operation in South-East Asia" [item //9] in the agenda of the Assembly's current session. Simultaneously, we wish to emphasize strongly that in our considered opinion the inclusion of the so-called situation in Kampuchea as an item of our llgenda cannot but ill serve the aforesaid noble objective. It actually creates an opportunity for those who ceaselessly support the Pol Pot-Ieng Sari clique and provide it with money, arms and ammunition, to interfere in the internal affairs of a sovereign State, the People's Republicof Kampuchea, in flaarant viola- tion of the Charter of the United Nations. 72. The achievements of the policy of reconstnaction pursued by the People's Revolutionary Council in the political and administrative sphere, in regard to the national economy, as wellas in the social, educational and cultural fields, provide the best testimony to the permanent progress made in stabilizing the situation in Kampuchea. 73. Sufficeit to mention the establishment ofall-level organs of people's administration in all provinces and districts; the democratic freedoms now enjoyed by all 74. The broad and rapid development of public education and the restoration of national.cultural life constitute notable achievements of particular im- portance for the newly reborn country, especially since the criminal designs of the Pol Pot-Ieng Sary regime were aimed first and fcremost.ar the total physical elimination of the intelligentsia and the destruction ofthe national heritage and the educational system. 75. Today the 1 million students attend,ing schools in the People's Republic of Kampuchea, the revitaliza- tion of the institutions of higher learning like the Medical Academy, the opening of new colleges, the protection of national art and architectural treasures like-the Angkor temples, the reopening of the Phnom Penh museum, are all vivid illustrations of what has been accomplished by the people's authorities within a relatively short yet extremely eventful time. 76. It must be realized at the same time that the revival and transformation of the country, which for four years had been the site ofthe dreadful and inhuman experiment carried out by the genocidal regime, is not an easy task. The Government of the People's Republic of,Kampuchea has had to face numerous difficulties and obstacles. Manyofthose , unfortunately, have been raised by its neighbours, to say nothing ofthe constant hegemonistic pressures and attempts by the forces of international reaction to which Kampucheais exposed. 77. The socialist States were the first to render fraternal and effective assistance to the people and Government of Kampuchea. Poland has not stood aloof from that noble undertaking. Our help includes food, medicines, medical instruments, clothing consumer goods and ambulances. There are also Polish medical personnel working in Kampuchea. The Government of Poland and numerous non-govern- mental organizations, such as the Polish Red Cross, the Polish Committee of Solidarity with the Peoples ofAsia and Africa and youth organizations are actively involved in the programme of assistance to Kam- puchea. 78. The achievements in the country's reconstruction have contributed significantly to the strengthening of the position of the People's Republic of KamJfuchea in the international forum. Its Political prestige and international standing are growing constantly, in spite of the efforts of those who do not remain idle even within the United Nations. 79. The far-reaching changes which have taken place in Indo-China, in Viet Nam, Laos and Kampu- chea are irreversible. Indeed, they are in full con- formity with the real interests of the respective peo- ples, with their profound aspirations to and striving for peace, security, stability and co-operation among all nations of the region. theiF~ealintentions vis-a-vis the people ofKampuchea. The'ir"acceptance and implementation would be in the vit~!interest of all countries of the region and in the inter~~t of all nations in the world. r ; ~ \ : 81. ,Mr. CORADIN (Haiti) (interpretation from French): From 14 November 1979, when the General Assembly adopted resolution 34/22, until today, the situation in Kampuchea has not changed a great deal except that international assistance has become greater and the humanitarian operations set up by the United Nations system are being carried out more effectively. But there is still a war ravaging Kampuchea. There is still a civilian population fleeing from Kampuchea and seeking refuge in Thailand. The problem therefore remains unchanged. 82. What is the nature of the problem? At the end of December 1978 Vietnamese troops crossed the frontier and took up positions in Kampuchea. The reason given was that the Government of that country had been overthrown by a people's revolution and that the people had asked Viet Nam for military assis- tance to stabilize the revolution. Then that Govern- ment was forced to flee its capital and to dig in the hinterland, where it was carrying out a war of re- sistance. 83. The situation thus at first appeared to be rather complicated, since it reflected the antagonism of the sovereign States disputing among themselves domina- tion over spheres of influence, with each State playing according to its own rules. 84. It is obvious that the United Nations, which does not pretend to be a super-State but rather a ap- propriate instrument for the resolution of conflicts, is not always in a position to prevent war since war is the very consequence ofthe balance ofpower which could give it a global dimension. However, there are grounds for hoping that the Organization will continue to play its role and in the long term find effective solutions, if not. to solve the problems posed by the maintenance of international peace and security, at least to prevent their being exacerbated. Moreover it is to the Charter that the international community turns whenever it is a question of interpreting de facto situations or deciding on rules to be applied to resolve them. The Charter has such legislative author- ity that it is an easy matter to find among the principles set forth therein the elements necessary for the evalua- tion of conflicts. 85. As far as Kampuchea .is concerned, those ele- ments are established by successive violations of such fundamental principles of the Charter as those con- cerning non-interference in the domestic affairs of other States; sovereignty and territorial integrity; the right of peoples to self-determination and indepen- dence; the non-use of force in international relations; the obligation to settle disputes by peaceful means. Those principles impose an obligation on each State " ... appealed to all States to refrain from any inter- ference in the internal affairs of Kampuchea in order to enable its people to decide their own future and destiny free from outside interference, subversion or coercion, and to respect scrupulously the sover- eignty, territorial integrity and independence of Kampuchea" [A/35/501, para. 3]. 87. That report showed that the recommendations contained in resolution 34/22 were not followed. The mandate of the Secretary-General had not been ful- filled because the forces confronting one another refused to comply with the decisions of the General Assembly. Confronted with a situation that is dete- riorating and that continues to be a threat to peace in South-East Asia, II group of 26 States saw fit to present draft resolution A/35/L.2/Rev.l. The recom- mendations in resolution 34/22 are reaffirmed therein, and that concerning the convening of an international conference on Kampuchea was reinforced by becoming a decision of the General Assembly. 88. The draft, we believe, constitutes a decisive step towards a political settlement of the conflict by'calling for an international conference, with the participation of the conflicting parties and other parties concerned, to negotiate the withdrawal of foreign troops from Kampuchea, the observance of human rights and the organization, under the auspices ofthe United Nations, offree elections that would allow the people of'Kampu- chea to choose their legitimate representatives. In operative paragraph S, the draft resolution offers ways and means of reducing the tension along the Thai- Kampuchean border by stationing a group of United Nations observers there. 89. My delegation believes that this draft resolution contains the basic elements for a just and practical solution. It has, moreover, been submitted at a time when the situation is seriously deteriorating an threatens to spread over the entire region.

The problem of Kampuchea which we are discussing is one of the burning issues that qdite justifiably gives rise to serious concern. In light of the events that have taken place successively in Kampu- chea, the people of that country are still finding themselves in very difficult circumstances and are still prevented from normalizing the situation, recon- structing their country, and resuming a normal eco- nomic, cultural and social life. The difficult situation in Kampucheaand in the neighbouring region of Indo- china and South-East Asia makes it an active centre of tension that might well threaten peace and stability in the region and all over the world. 92. A simple and objective analysis of the complex situation in Kampuchea reveals clearly that its roots go beyond the.events of the end of 1978. The tragedy suffered by the Kampuchean people is above all the result of the aggressive activities and the plots and intrigues deployed on a wide scale by the American imperialists, the Soviet socio-imperialists and the Chinese socio-imperialists. 93. At the beginning of the 19108 the American imperialists, having suffered an abject rout in their barbarous aggression against the Vietnamese people, carried out another crime by spreading the flames of war over the territory of peaceful Kampu- chea. Stubbornly pursuing their strategy of escalating the aggression in Indochina, the United States of America at the time invaded Kampuchea with its military forces and arrogantly declared that it was punishing that country for the assistance that its people and Government had given the people and the partisans, of Viet Nam, who were fighting against the American forces of occupation in South Viet Nam and their paid puppets. 94. The people of Kampuchea thus had to ressort to arms and carry out a long struggle for nationallibera- tion. They had to lose a great deal of blood and make enormous sacrifices to regain their independence and national sovereignty. While those people were dedi- cated to a struggle of national liberation against the American aggressors and their agents, other enemies fell upon them and attacked their cause. The Soviet socio-imperialists made common cause with the puppet regime that the United States of America had set up in Phnom Penh and tried to sabotage the strugle for . the national liberation of Kampuchea in order' to bargain from a position of greater strength with the American imperialists. Moreover, both life and the facts have proved that th«~ Chinese socio-imperialists were already at that time themselves working to stab the people of Kampuchea in the back. They manip- ulated the Pol Pot clique and trained it to be a servile eat's paw for later use in attaining their chauvinistic and hegemonistic objectives in Indochina. 100. The Soviet socio-imperialists exerted and con- tinue to exert every effort in order to penetrate even 114. No pretext, moral, political or otherwise, car. justify the occupation of a sovereign country by another. We admit that the fallen regime in Demo- cratic Kampuchea hardly distinguished itself by its respect for the human rights of its own people, but we disapprove of intervention which claims that it is necessary to suppress that regime by force and to occupy its territory, in violation of the recognized international rules and practices. being orchestrated at this very moment by the super- Powers against these peoples. The Albanian delega- tion continues to believe that it is imperative to put an end to all imperialist interference in Indo-China so that the necessary conditions will be met for setting the problem of Kampuchea on course towards a solution. The People's Socialist Republic of Albania supports the right of all peoples of Indo-China to live in freedom and independence. We are in favour of respect for the full sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kampuchea and we totally oppose any foreign intervention, whatever its source, in the domestic affairs of that country. No State is authorized to violate the sovereignty of that country or to dictate to the Khmer people the kind of government it should set up or the road it should follow towards develop- ment. Any act that tends to impose on the Kampu- chean people solutions that are incompatible with its rights or national interests or any decision adopted otherwise than by its freely expressed will is unac- ceptable and constitutes a violation of the inalienable right of peoples to self-determination. Every people can and should exercise its right to self-determination in keeping with its own national aspirations and not according to the blueprints or models that are foisted on it from outside. 109. The people ofKampuchea is a valiant and peace- loving people with long historical and cultural tradi- tions. Despite the harsh and difficult conditions in which it is living because of imperialist intervention in its country, it is in a position to solve its problems independently and alone if it is left in peace and freedom to plan and carry out its own destiny. 110. Mr. LESSIR (Tunisia) (interpretation from French): The General Assembly has resumed its dis- cussion on an item which has been of abiding concern to the world for almost two years. I am referring to the situation in Kampuchea. Resolution 34/22,adopted by this Assembly on 14 November 1979, has, unfor- tunately, remained a dead letter, and there is nothing to indicate that we are nearing a solution ofthe Kampu- chean tragedy in accordance with the principles and decisions of our Organization. Does this mean that we are impugning the authority of the United Nations or that the tangled web of events in that part of the world has rendered truth so indiscernible? 112. The General Assembly cannot endorse the violation of the principles of respect for the national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States, non-intervention and non-interference in the internal affairs of States and the non-use or threat of force. 113. These principles, in which my country staunchly believes, constitute, in our opinion, the foundation for peace, security and co-operation among States. 115. My country vehemently opposes the use of force in international relations and any attacks on the integrity and sovereignty of a country, because it believes that the "right is might" theory only leads in the eno to catastrophe. By condoning a single pre- cedent, one runs the risk of its becoming common practice, unless the international community strongly opposes it. The result would be that the weak and poorcountries would in the long run be the 10gic;!1 victims, 116. Just as we, in Tunisia, are devoted to strength- ening our relations of friendship and co-operation with the countries ofSouth-East Asia, we are equally aware of our duty to express our unswerving devotion to the principles of the Charter. 117. In order better to prevent the establishment of a cycle of violence and war, we must once more reiterate our respect for the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations that I have just cited. Tunisia has done so in the past and it does so again today by supporting draft resolution A/35/ L.2/Rev.l.

The Czechoslovak delegation cate- gorically opposes the fact that the General Assembly is once more examining the so-called situation in Kampuchea, L this is contrary to the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations Charter, according to which interference in the internal affairs ofsovereign States is explicitly and clearly excluded. There is no doubt that the situation in Kampuchea is the internal affair of the people of that country and of its sole legal representative, the People's Revolutionary Council of Kampuchea. The obvious illegality of this discussion arises in particular from the fact that it is taking place without the participation of the legitimate representatives ofthe Kampuchean people. They Were not allowed to attend and their protests were not taken into consideration, contrary to the rules of intema- tionallaw. than 200,000 Vietnamese troops. 127. Like all freedom-loving countries, Papua New Guinea looks to the day when peace and harmony willreturn to Kampuchea. Such peace can be achieved only ifthe cause of the unfortunate situation in Kampu- chea is removed. We believe that the continued presence of Vietnamese troops on Kampuchean 'soil is a stumbling-block to the normalization of the situa- tion. Until the Vietnameseforces withdraw the conflict islikelyto continue. The withdrawal ofthe Vietnamese forces can take place with honour if the proposals in draft resolution A/35/L.2/Rev.l are accepted and implemented. 128. Papua New Guinea is a sponsor of that draft. We believe it contains some very important principles, principles that all countries that love peace andjustice respect. In our view tnose principles would lead to a just and lasting peace in Kampuchea. 129. First of all, the draft resolution advocates the bringing together at a conference ofallparties involved in the conflict. That is vital; it would encourage genuine exchanges of views in an atmosphere of good- will; it would help to bridge any misunderstandings and misconceptions. Such a conference would not be an imposition on anyone; nor would it be an inter- ference in the internal affairs of another country. It would be a genuine attempt by the civilized world to resolve a situation that has already involved the international community in one way or another. Viet Nam is involved, and so is Thailand, the United Nations, and others. Besides, the conference is envisaged as includingrepresentatives of the so-called People's Republic of Kampuchea and Democratic Kampuchea. Thus representatives of the various fac- tions in Kampuchea would be participants. Their participation would depend largely on themselves. The decision would be theirs. Even so, lasting peace could not be achieved by boycotting or avoiding discussion of the issues among themselves. 130. This is a golden opportunity for reason to prevail. Bringing together the conflicting parties does not necessarily mean the recognition of one or another of the groups as the sole and legitimate Government of Kampuchea. That is a decision that can only be made by the people of Kampuchea. 131. Another important principle reflected in the draft resolution is that solutions to the situation in Kampu- chea must be entered into by agreement of the con- flicting parties. It is clear that the proposed con- ference will not take any decisions without such agreement: that is very important to the success of the implementation of any decision that is taken. Again, no party will'be forced to accept a decision in which it did not participate. In fact, the vital factors for peace and stability in Kampuchea cannot be brought about without the agreement of the parties concerned. The withdrawal of Vietnamese troops cannot be achieved without the agreement of the Vietnamese, 137. The imperialists-the obvious puppeteers in this Grand Guignolshow-are motivated by their primitive hatred for revolution, and by their profound rancour and powerlessness at the historic victory of Viet Nam, indomit~~le peop1e,s. . .·.ported by a foreign Power, tries to divert, confuse or 138. Behind this sham, I repeat, is craven hatred for suppress them. heroic Viet Nam, whose fighting people set the seal, 148. Cuba has full confidence in Viet Nam, in the on human dignity, defending with their lives the lives . purity ofits revolution and in the extraordinary r'\libre of all peoples. of its people, proved in a thousand years of struggle. 139. This is what those who are attempting to paint 149. Similarly, Cuba has full confidence in the Viet Nam as an aggressor and falsely to accuse it leaders of the People's Republic of Kampuchea and in of intervention in Kampuchea cannot forgive. the justice of their cause. For this reason, we have no 140. Who are the prosecutors of this shameful compunction in contributing, albeit it modestly, to the "lawsuit"? Does Yankee imperialism-e-which has consolidation of the new Cambodian homeland, free shed the blood of the peoples not only of Indo-China, from oppression, genocide and torture. but also on both sides of the ocean-have any right 150. The situation in Kampuchea is the exclusive to call Viet Nam's conduct into question? Do the concern of the Kampuchean people, and nothing can renegades of the former Great Helmsman, who tried change that, no matter how powerful the forces or to teach "lessons" to the Pf Jple of Ho Chi Minh influence used. and are now striving to brush up on their market 151. The People's Revolutionary Councilis achieving economy in the Coca-colonialedition? Or do those who enormous success in the restoration of peaceful life in meekly lent their territories to the imperialist war the country, with the assistance of the socialist eom- machine thus serving as spring-boards and pawns for munity and international organizations. Great progress the aggression against the peoples of Indo-China? has been made in restoring the national economy, Or-the greatest shame of all-do the followers of ravaged by war and the destructive fury of Pol Pot; Pol Pot, who are seated in this Assembly in mockery education is returning to normal, as are working condi- of the world, dare point the accusing finger? tions and family life. Counter-revolutionary bands 141. No, the blood of the peoples of Indo-China is seek and obtain refuge in neighbouring countries but choking those gentlemen! those operating within the country are defeated every 142. I do not doubt that there are today those who, ~:6~~~ the midst of these many difficulties, hope is in good faith, think that they are defending the right of peoples and naively join in the efforts of these self- 152. However, this process will not be crowned with proclaimed "saviours" of Kampuchea. victory, at least in the near future, while Kampuchea's enemies continue to offer asylum to the Pol Pot gangs, 143. But facts are more stubborn than the more or lending them all manner of support, helping them to less empty rhetoric of the international organizations. carry out, directly and with foreign military assistance, And the facts prove clearly that Viet Nam was and is all sorts of provocations against the People's the faithful defender of the Indo-Chinese revolution. Government. The history of the last 30 years shows this clearly. But it was the war of national salvation of the recent 153. The peoples of South-East Asia have the right decades that, above all, gave. the most vigorous to live in peace within secure borders and on the basis impetus to the liberation ottne Indo-China peninsula. of mutual respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is only the imperialists, the 144. No one can any longer be misled: the revolu- reactionaries and the hegemonic clique in Peking that tions ofLaos, Kampuchea and Viet Nam have a single, are engaged in sowingdiscord, rejecting the reasonable socialist character; their ideologies and aspirations offers made by the peoples of Indo-China of negotiated have common roots; their historic future is one, as and peaceful solutions. has been the commitment of the revolutionary parties 154. Let no one have any doubts: peaceful coexis- of all three countries. tence among the States of South-East Asia will never 145. Despite the terrible battle it was waging be achieved if it is to be based on the sacrifice of the against imperialist aggression, Viet Nam redoubled its revolution in Indo-China, Kampuchea will never again assistance to the revolutionaries in Laos and Kampu- be the exclusive hunting ground of operetta princes, chea, thus contributing to the people's victory in both remote-control cliques or a traitorous bourgeoisie. countries. 155. My delegation favours true understanding among the peoples of South-East Asia on the basis of mutually acceptable conditions. In this connexion, we wish to declare our unambiguous opposition to the so-called international conference on Kampuchea which some would convene without the participation of the sole legitimate representative of the Cambodian people: the People's Revolutionary Council of Kampuchea. 156. The United Nations must do nothing whatsoever to encourage the holding of that conference without 146. Later, the Pol Pot-Ieng Sary clique, a mere robot of the Peking band then in office, repaid that generous assistance with aggression. Those who rose up in Kampuchea against that sorry handful of mur- derers were the 3 million men, women and children exterminated by Pol Pot; they were the symbol otthe dignity ofthe Cambodian people. How could Viet Nam withhold its assistance from its comrades-in-arms? How could it not respond to the aggression fomented in Peking by the new mandarins? which supposedly is in physical control ofthe country , is the lawful Government of Kampuchea. But those who take this line ignore the illegal manner in which that regime came in,to existence and the circumstances now surrounding its presence in those areas which happen to be under its so-called physical control at the present time. The fact of the matter is that the Heng Samrin regime was imposed on the Kampuchean people and is kept in power by foreign military inter- vention. That being so, according to international law it has no legitimate right to rule Kampuchea, and is therefore no more than a puppet regime. 161. The argument is also put forward that the Pol Pot regime committed intolerable atrocities against the Kampuchean people, for which it deserved to be overthrown, having forfeited its right to rule that country because of its dismal human rights record. This would be perfectly normal had that regime been overthrown by the Kampuchean people themselves. Alas, this was not the case, nor, I am convinced, was it the sole reason for jhe tragedy which befell the Kampuchean people. If indeed the human rights record of Governments were to be taken as the sole criterion for recognition by the international community and membership of the United Nations, then many Govern- ments which are represented here today would have no place amongst us. 162. But the question is not one of the human rights record of this or that regime, however laudable such a qualification would be were it to be used as a yard- stick for membership of this world Organization. The question is whether it is permissible for one or more 1~3. We are all well aware that this is not the only instance in recent times where the Government of a small country has been ousted by foreign military intervention. Indeed, the tragic case of Afahanistan is still fresh in our minds. Those two instances taken together represent an ominous trend hI international relations and a dangerous precedent for the security and even the existence of small countries. 164. It is self-evident therefore that this dangerous trend should be brought to a halt before other nations fall victim to the strategic interests of the new forces of expansionism. Respect for the principles of the Charter regarding territorial integrity, sovereignty and national independence must be reaffirmed and the rights of every people must be respected. This is a sacred right for each and every people and no other country should permit itself to exercise that right for them. The plight and sufferingsofthe Kampuchean people must be brought to an end and their sovereignty and national independence must be restored. Mr. von Wechmar (Federal Republic of Germany), resumed the Chair. 165. In that regard, mydelegation wishesto commend the . efforts of our Secretary-General for having mobilized, in implementation ofUnited Nations resolu- tions, humanitarian relief aid to alleviate the sufferings ofthe Kampuchean people and for havingused hisgood offices in order to contribute to a peaceful solution of the question of Kampuchea and related political problems. It is to be regretted that, although the Secretary-General's efforts have met with success in the field of relief aid, the political situation in the area continues to represent a source of great danger to international peace and security. 166. It is therefore incumbent upon this Assembly to renew its endeavours in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. In that regard my delegation joined the member coun- tries of the Association of South-East Asian Nations [ASEAN] in the sponsorship of draft resolution A/35/ L.2/Rev.l. We support the convening of an interna- tional conference with a view to negotiating the with- drawal of foreign troops from Kampuchea, the obser- vance of the fundamental principles ofhuman rights in Kampuchea, the non-interference by outside Powers in the internal affairs of Kampuchea and the holding of free elections in Kampuchea under the auspices of the United Nations. The attainment of those just goals would in our view greatly contribute to the peace and security of the region of South-East Asia as a whole. 167. Mr. MISHRA (India): Since our independence, we in India have had very friendly relations with the countries ofSouth-East Asia. Those relations are based 176. My country, the. People's Republic of Congo, hopes that the countnes of South-East Asia, that troubled region of the world, will once again find the path of dialogue in peace, concord and under- standing amongst all the peoples of that region. 177. Draft resolution A/35/L.2/Rev.l, now before the Assembly, does not meet the concerns of the delegation of the People's Republic of Congo. That is why it willbe difficultfor our delegation to support it.

In view of the lateness of the hour, we shall hear the remaining speakers on this item on Tuesday afternoon 21 October, prior to the vote on the draft resolution before the Assembly. The report of the Fifth Committee on the financialimplica- tions of that draft resolution is expected to be avail- able by Tuesday afternoon. The meeting rose at / ./5 p.m,