A/35/PV.44 General Assembly

This afternoon the General Assembly will consider first the reports of the Fifth Committee on subitems (a) to (e) of agenda item 17, entitled ••Appointments to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and other appointments" . Pursuant to rule 66 ofthe rules ofprocedure, it was decided not to discuss the reports of the Fifth Com- mittee. 2. The PRESIDENT: The positions of delegations with respect to the recommendations contained in the reports of the Fifth Committee to the Assembly are reflected in the relevant summary records of the Com- mittee. 3. The first report under agenda item 17 (a) relates to the vacancies in the membership of.the Advisory Com- mittee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions [A/35/49/). In paragraph Sof its report, the Fifth Com- mittee recommends to the General Assembly the appointment of the following persons for a three-year term beginningon 1January 1981: Mr. Henrik Amneus, Mr. Michel Brochard, Mr. Ernesto Garrido, Mr. Sumi- hiro Kuyama, Mr. Tang Jianwen and Mr. Norman Williams. May I take it that the General Assembly decides to adopt that recommendation? It was so decided (decision 35/307). 4. The PRESIDENT: We now turn to the report on agenda item 17 (b) which relates to vacancies in the Committee on Contributions [A/35/492]. The Fifth Committee decided, without proceeding to a vote, to recommend that the General Assembly should appoint the following persons as members of the Committee on Contributions for a three-year term beginning on 1January 1981: Mr. Heliode Burgos-Cabal, Mr. Leon- cio Fernandez Maroto, Mr. Lance Joseph, Mr. Japhet G. Kiti, Mr. Rachied Lahlou and Mr. AtilioN. Molteni. The Committee's recommendation is contained in paragraph 4 of its report. May I take it that the General Assembly adopts that recommendation? It was so decided (decision 35/308). S. The PRESIDENT: I now invite members to turn their attention to the report of the Fifth Committee on agenda item 17(c), dealing with a vacancy in the membership of the Board of Auditors [A/35/493]. The Fifth Committee decided without a vote to recommend the appointment of the Comptroller and Auditar- General of Bangladesh as a member of the Board of Auditors for a three-year term beginning on 1 July 1981. The Committee's recommendation is contained in paragraph 4 of its report. May I take it that the A/3S/PV.44 My,fdelegation's'position of principle is the followibg. ": b ' , ' 12. First, the current debate 'on the situation in Kampuchea, just like the debate last year which ,gave birt~ to General Assembly resolution 34/22 of 14 No- vem~~ 1979,is a flagrant violation ofthe provisions of Article 2, paragraph 7 of the Charter of the United Nations, provisions which I should like once again to bring to the attention ofthe defenders or grave-diggers of the principles and purposes of our Organization. They read as follows: 13. Secondly, the problem of Kampuchea-if there is one-is for the people of Kampuchea itself to solve and no one else, especially not the United Nations, in view of the aforementioned provisions of Article 2, paragraph 7 of the Charter, has the right to solve it in place of the people of Kampuchea, least of all without the presence and the active participation ofthe legal and authentic representative of the people of Kampuchea, the People's Revolutionary Council of Kampuchea,

As members are aware, agenda item 123 is for consideration directly in plenary meetings. On the basis of representations made to me by several delegations, and as a result ofconsultations I have conducted in this regard, it is my intention to set up an informal consultative group, under my chairmanship, prior to the Assembly's consideration of the item, which has been tentatively scheduled for 17 November. 9., It is my earnest hope that we shall, at the end of the thirty-fifth session of the General Assembly, be able to record general agreement on the launching of globid negotiations. . 15. Having said that, my delegation would like to take this opportunity to give its full support to the contents of the telegram addressed to the Secretary- General of the United Nations from Mr. Hun Sen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of Kampuchea [A/35/536,.annex], which is a genuine State meeting all the criteria of international law relating to the concept of a State, whereas so-called Democratic Kampuchea, led by the genocidal gang of Pol Pot and Ieng Sary which was, moreover, over- thrown and driven out by the heroic people of Kampu- chea on 7 January 1979, only exists on paper. AGENDA ITEM ZZ -The situation in l{ampuchea: report of the Secretary-General (concluded)* 16. Therefore, these sinister representatives, who are only a handful of individuals supported by the United

I should like to inform mem- bers that the following countries have become sponsors of draft resolution A/3S/L.2/Rev.l: Belgium, Niger, Upper Volta and Zaire [A/35/L.2/Rev.I/Add./]. 11. Mr.SOURINHO (Lao People's Democratic Republic) (interpretatlonfrom French): Before turning to the substance of the question now under considera- tion, I should like to reiterate my delegation's un- States and its friends, despite their professions of good or bad faith with regard to the monstrous crimes committed by that gang ofindividuals, and particularly by the leaders in Peking who have succeeded in mis- leading the members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations [ASEAN] and in pushing the reactio- naries of the extreme right in Thailand's governing circles to adopt a position of open confrontation with Kampuchea, Laos and Viet Nam, represent no one but themselves. "Nothing" in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any State..,". 20. Thus, objective and impartial international public opinion must ask itself what these' true or false de- fenders of the right of the people of Kampuchea to self-determination and of peace and stability in South- East Asia were doing when the people of Kampuchea and the other peoples of Indochina were being sub- jected to intensive bombing by American B-52 air- craft, when the imperialist war ofaggression was at its height, setting the entire Indo-chinese peninsulaaflame and putting it to the sword, thereby threatening even more seriously than at present the peace and stability of that part of the world. 21. In this connexion, the representative of Viet Nam, in his statement before this Assembly at its 36th meeting, has already-given a detailed description of the position of each of those countries, and for that reason I shall not repeat it, but I should like none the less to endorse unreservedly, the highly pertinent words of the representative of Viet Nam. 22. Although it is a small country, the Lao People's Democratic Republic has never been afraid to speak the truth, particularly when some among us here are so blatantly attempting to twist it, either to serve their own interests or the interests of the group of States to which they belong or to serve the expansionists and imperialists in the hope of obtaining from them in return some political or economic advantages. It is a question of the truth about the situation in Kampa- chea and the state of tension that prevails in South- East Asia. 27. Furthermore, there are many other similar eye- witness reports by high officials of such international organizations as UNICEF and ti)e International Com- mitteeofthe Red Cross, whichoPerate in Kampuchea. 28. On the basis of those solid, irrefutable reports, I would ask the preceding speakers at this rostrum who contended that war was raginginside Kampuchea and SO. My delegation is not trying to give lessons to anyone, but I should like to stress the fact that the poli<:yofthe:poor simpleton who, when it was raining, jumped into a pond to avoid getting wet, is not the' most appropriate policy to apply in the case before us or in other similar cases' that occur elsewhere. 51. It is for this reason that we are deeply convinced that the joint declarations by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the three countries of Indo-China on 5 January .1980 in Phnom Penh and on 18 July 1980 at Vientian~ could.clear the way to a solution accept- able to both groups of countries, through dialogue, not through.confrontation. As far as we are concerned, we have no intent.on ofimposingour views on Thailand or the other ASEAN countries but, by the same token, logic forces us not to bow to demands that do not meet or guarantee our own interests and security. 51 've appreciate fully the worth of the Secretary- Ge~."'ia1's exercise Qf his good offices between Viet Nam and Thailand, which led to a meeting between the Ministers for Foreign of the two countries at United Nations Headquarters on 1 October last, and we trust. that. that dialogue will continue and will ultimately lead· to, fruitful· results for the benefit of peace and stability in South-East Asia and elsewhere in the world. 53. As far as draft resolution A/35/L.2/Rev.l is concerned, my delegation would like to make the following comments. ' 54. First, this draft resolution does not reflect the true situation in Kampuchea and in the whole of South-Bast Asia, primarily as far as the cause oftension in that part of the world is concerned. SS. Secondly, it is nota factor likely to bring closer together the differing views 'of those primarily con- cerned and interested in the situation. Quite the contrary: in operative paragraph 2, it has introduced a new element by suggesting the convening of an international conference on Kampuchea. That initia- tive at this stage is an escalation by the sponsors of the draft amendment of their interference in the domestic atTairs of the people of Kampuchea. 62. We have said no to the pleas of Viet Nam and we call for the removal of its forces from Kampuchea to allow the people of that sad country to manage their own affairs. We spent many years calling for the people of Viet Nam to be left alone to manage their own affairs, and Viet Nam cannot expect us to do less for the people of Kampuchea. We opposed external forces in Viet Nam, and we cannot now turn round and say it is all right for the Vietnamese forces to overthrow Governments they do not like in the area and occupy other countries in a new form of im- perialism. 63. Viet Nam has tried to conceal its deplorable role in the Kampuchean case by constantly singing the song of the evils of the Pol Pot regime. We say yes, the Pol Pot regime was a shameful disaster for the people of Kampuchea, but the existence of that evil does not correct or overcome the evil of the Viet Nam invasion ofKampuchea. Viet Nam has broken the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations by committing aggression against Kampuchea. The song of diversion rises to a tragic extreme when the repre- sentative of Viet Nam compares the situation in 84. We, the countries of ASEAN, contemplate the sorry state of VietNam at home and abroad with no pleasure. We should like to see Viet Nam become a strong, prosperous and non-aligned country, for such a Viet Nam would be an asset. to South-East Asia. We should like Viet Nam to resume its interrupted mission to rebuild its economy and to channel the talents and energies of its people to the task of development. We, the ASEAN countries, should like to help in such efforts. We should also like to see the process of confidence building in South-East Asia, begun in 1975 and interrupted by Viet Narn's invasion ofKampuchea, beginanew. Allthese develop- ments are possible only if we can negotiate an accept- able political solution to the conflict in Kampuchea. We ask Viet Nam to eschew the path of force and to come to the conference table. We appeal earnestly and in good faith to Viet Nam to accept our proposal. We ask all Members of the United Nations to help us persuade Viet Nam to come to the conference table by voting for our draft resolution.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this item. I shall now call upon those representatives who wish to speak in explanation of vote before the voting. May I remind members that, in accordance with General Assembly decision 34/401, explanations of vote should not exceed 10 minutes.

LC1~t week my delegation cast its vote in favour of the acceptance of the credentials of the delegation of Democratic Kampuchea. In casting that vote we made our posi- tion sufficiently clear, but we refrained from inter- vening in the debate because many of the reasons we would have urged in support of our position had been cogently argued by a number of delegations that voted as we' did. As several delegations repeatedly emphasized, acceptance of Democratic Kampuchea's credentials carried with it no endorsement of the Pol Pot Government, whose record of violence against its own people is, to say the least, a sordid chapter in Kampuchea's tragic contemporary history. 94. Why is it that apologists and opponents alike attempted to put the greatest possibledistance between themselves and the victim of that aggression, the Pol Pot regime, in explaining their position in this council of nations? 102. The draft resolution is once again imposing consideration of the item entitled "The situation in Kampuchea" in violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the sovereign rights of a Member State. In the opinion of my delegation, the adoption of such a draft resolution will not help in bringing about th~se appeals thatfto!" the mome';lt when.I~depende~t 108. :While loudly proclaiming respect for the Viet Nam saw.the hght ofday I~ 1945!althou~h It Charter, they want to use the United Nations to im- was n~t at the time a Memb.er of the Un~ted ~atlons, pose a solution contrary to the principles of the !he Vietnamese people sacriflced the b.es~. of Its sons Charter and international law, which is extremely m the defenc~ of the .purposes and pndfl!lles. of the dangerous for the cause of detente, peace, stability Charter, particularly !ho~~ concerning the nght of and co-operation in South-East Asia and throughout peoples.to self-determination.and the maintenance of the world. In the present circumstances, we believe internationat peace and secunty. ,. that the United Nations should encourage neither the 104. We must deplore the fact, on the other hand, forces.threatening Vier Nam, Laos. and ~ampuch~a that the United Nations did not adopt towards the With war nor one group of countnes to Impose Its people of Viet Naman attitude in accordance with the viewpoi';lt and its solutions on another group of South- purposes. and principles of the Charter'that it was East ASian countries. co~mittedto ~erv~. Viet Namhas s,!rvived only thanks 109. Should the General Assembly adopt the ASEAN to Its determlOa!lon. to. fight for Its own existence, draft resolution, eo-sponsored by countries that have thanks to th~ solidarity m c~mbat~( the people of the caused so much mourning and suffering to the peoples three countnes of Indo-.Chma ~nd thank~ to the ap- of the three Indo-Chinese countries, the United proval, sup~rt and mternatlonal. a~slstance we Nations, in my delegation's view, would be failing in re.celved, part~cularly from the. socialist vand other its duty to preserve peace and security in South-East fnendlyc~untnes,.whether or not they were Members Asia and to contribute to better understanding in the of the United Nations, For that we are ever grateful. negotiation among the South-East Asian countries for 105. At present, those same countries that failed.in the restorati~n ofpeace and stabili~y and the promotion their bloodthirsty efforts to subject and dominate Viet of co-operation among the countnes of the region. Na!'1,Kamp,llcbe~, a~d Laos. by force ?farms are 110. The representative of Singapore has just men- trying t~ ~se the United ~ataons for .their o~n ends tioned a number of events that occurred in Kampu- by.submlttmgdraft resolut~on A/3S/L.2/Rev.110 <?rder chea towards the end of 1978 in order to justify his !O Impose upon ~~a solutlo~ c~ntrary to the national theory orthe-so-called Vietnamese invasion ofKampu- mterests. and .legitimate aspirations of the peoples of chea. Unfortunately, that representative wilfully ludo-China and, therefore, contrary to the purposes omitted certain other basic events that had occurred and prinCiple~ofthe Charter and intern.ational ~a~. before and during that time in Kampuchea. They T.hey are trymg !O confuse, the sacred nght of m~l- included the presence at the time in Kampuchea of Vidual and~ollectlve self-def~nce o~the th~ee cou';ltnes 20,000 Chinese advisers and technicians who dictated of ~do-ChlDa to ens'!re thel~ surv~v~l With the mt~r- domestic and foreign policy to their Pol Pot-Ieng Sary vennon ~nd aggressl<?n oflmpe~ahsm and ·Pe~mg flunkeys and directed the widespread aggression of hegem~Dlsm. They Wish to depnve u~ of the right the Pol Pot army, which consisted of 19 divisions collectively. to de~end ourselves 8:t a time.when not commanded by Chinese advisers, on the south-west only does t~e Chinese t~reat weigh. he~vdy on the frontier of Viet Nam from April. 1977 to December three countnes ofI.ndo-Chma, but alsoChmese troops, 1978. That wilful omission by the representative of contr8:ry to the lymg statement of ther~presentatlve Singapore has revealed to us his ulterior motives in of C.hma on 15 October last before t.hls· Assemb~y, his interpretation of the situation in Kampuchea and continue to occupy the Hoang Sa archipelago of V~et demonstrates that his lamentations concerning my Nam and many other parts of our temtory along ItS country are only crocodile tears. northern frontier. At the very time when its repre- . sentatives .were se~king to justify. their aggressive Ill. The draft resolution submitted by the ASEAN policies against Vi~t Nam, Chinese troops, on 15 Octo- c~untries calls for a series of !'1~asuresto be adop!ed ber last, unleashed a large-scale attack over three With regard to Kampuchea, particularly the convenmg consecutive days-the biggest since February 1979- of an international conference, which should lead to in the Xin Man district, a frontier province of Ha negotiations on problems relating to the sovereignty Tuyen, where for seven hours they bombed several of the People's Republic of Kampuchea. Everyone localities, inclu.ding its main·town, causing great loss knows that the People's Revolutionary .Council of of human lives and material possessions. The ag- Kampuchea, the only legal representative of the gressors continue even. ~oday to occupy certain points Kampuchean people, has firmly,. rejected the idea of of this frontier ,iistrict and are in the process of such a conference for the simple reason that the con- building up their forces to the rear of these points. vening of such a conference by the United Nations Z The delepdon of Mexico subsequently informed the Secre- tariat that it wished to have its vote recorded as an abstention. The deleption of Nicarqua subsequently informed the Secre- tariat that it wished to have its vote recorded as having been against the draft resolution. 143. As. for humanitarian assistance and the situa- tion along the Thai-Kampuchean border, I have nothing to add. I merely quoted articles. I do not challenge the factual content or have any doubt about the good intentions of the person who drafted the document to which he referred and which is now before the General Assembly; I merely wanted to provide additional information to complement that document. This information is not something that I have invented; it is the testimony ofobservers, special envoys, international organizations that are operating on the spot. In my statement I never suggested that Thailand had not co-operated with the international organizations in channelling international humanitarian assistance to the civilian population of Kampuchea. I simply mentioned the aid channelled by land from Thailand. I made no mention of the aid transported by aircraft from Bangkok to Phnom Penh.

Before we adjourn I should like to remind members that, beginning tomorrow morning, the Assembly will consider agenda item 119, entitled "Question of peace, stability and co-operation in South-East Asia". It is my intention to announce tomorrow morning that the list of speakers in the debate on that item will be closed at 5 p.m, so that we can determine how many plenary meetings will be needed. So far very few names have been inscribed on the list. Therefore, I urge those who wish to participate in the debate to inscribe their names on the list as soon as possible.