A/38/PV.37 General Assembly

Ten years ago, when the Bahamas became a Member of the United Nations, its representatives w~'~e confronted with problems existing in what is now known as Kampuchea. My delegation heretofore has been reluctant to intervene in the debate on this item, simply because the confusion surrmmding the matter was so monumental that it was impossible to determine who were the victims and who the oppressors. We simply listened and tried to determine the state of affairs. It was clear that the issue was polarized, and it was only normal that concerned delegations were mainly interested in disseminating data to substantiate their personal positions. 2. My delegation's participation is based on humani- tarian concerns. I do not intend to talk about past atroc- ities or injustices, nor am I qualified to deal with the legal ramifications of invasion, interference, border disputes and so forth. Of course. I realize that these are all very pertinent to the issue, but since there are representatives who are more qualified than I am to expound on these ideas I need not confuse the issue with conjectures. 3. It is clear to my delegation that the situation in Kam- puchea is falling rapidly into that category of United Nations issues which are not termed perennial. Develop- ments over the past three years, however, seem to indicate that the situation iil Kampuchea could be sp&red that fate if we made a concerted effort to bring the opposing sides to an agreement that would not merely satisfy individual or national interests, but, more significantly, promote peace and stability in that very troubled area. 4. We may begin first to look more closely at those resolutions, adopted since 1979, in which a growing num- ber of sponsors highlight the basic elements of the prob- lem and make recommendations as to what oould be done to alleviate the suffering. While total implementation has not followed on these resolutions, it is clear that the majority of States cannot accept an extension of war, where families are forced to fight against and destroy each other; that men, women and children should be deprived offood, education and health facilities; that neighbouring States should be burdened by refugees who must flee thdr country in order to survive; that a continuation of power rivalry should be perpetuated by outside interference; that there should be a further mass exodus of nationals from their homeland; that innocent people should become pawns in the hands of those whose principal concern is self-aggrandizement; or that territorial integrity and human dignity should be violated. 5. My delegation has studied many data on the situa- tion, including the report of the Secretary-General on the NEW YORK situation in Kampuchea [A/38/513]. It is evident that the Secretary-General and the Ad Hoc Committee of the International Conference on Kampuchea have carried out extensive and heartening consultations which show agree- ment that dialogue must continue among all parties con- cerned. The encouraging signs reflected in this report could be increased, in my delegation's estimation, if all troops were withdrawn and if additional contributions could be given in order to assist the UNHCR and neigh- bouring States in setting up programmes for rehabilitation and resettlement. As an adjul'ict to the foregoing, the international community should be prepared to support the efforts of the members of the Association of South- East Asian Nations [ASEAN) in negotiating with all parties concerned with a view to enforcing the Charter ofthe United Nations with respect to territorial integrity, self-determination and independence, free from outside interferellcc. Support for the Coalition Government could also be a step in the light direction. 6. My delegatian feels that in many respects draft res- olution A/38/L.2 projects such a framework and could serve a~ a sound basis for meanintIful results. If we, as Member States, renege on this obligation, we can be certain not only that the situation in Kampuchea will become a perennial issue, but that many more innocent lives will be destroyed. 7. My delegation feels that no single measure is fool- proof and th~t, as ~s often the case, both sides haye just cause for theIr actions. We need, therefore, to Sift the information presented to us and to determine which factors would better enhance the mandate of the peoples of the United Nations to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. 8. Mr. WOOLCOTT (Australia): Australia fully shares the deep concerns ofits regional neighbours at the tragic situatio~ which continues to face the people of Cam- bodia, a concern which was eloquently expressed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, Mr. Romulo, when he opened this debate yesterday at the 35th meeting. 9. Because of this deep concern, Australia supports draft resolution A/38/L.2 on the situation in Cambodia, which was circulated by the member countries of ASEAN -Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand-and is now before the Assembly. The Cam- bodian situation carries disturbing implications for peace- ful relations among all the countries of the South-East Asian region. 10. Australia has for many years given high priority to the development of the close and co-operative relation- ship wt.lch we now enjoy with the ASEAN group. More recently we have sought to develop a mature and com- prehensive relationship with Viet Nam. Our wish to con- tribute to a peaceful settlement in Indo-China is based on the desire to see established an independent, non- aligned and neutral Cambodia, free of foreign forces and with a Government of its own choice. We believe that in this situation co-operative working relationships could be hoped for between the countries of Indo-China and the member countries of ASEAN and that there could aconge~rialclimate for negotiations. His report [A/38/513] clearly recognizes the pressing need for renewed efforts to overcome the obstacles to a constructive d;alogue between the parties concerned. We fully support his deter- mination to continue to exercise his good offices in the search for a solution consistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. 25. Mr. STRUCKA (Czechoslovakia) (interpretation from Russian): Once again we are drawn into-and I would point out, in an empty room-a discussion of an item that should not be discussed at all at the United Nations. It has been included in the agenda of the current session of the General Assembly in violation of the Char- ter of the United Nations, in violation of the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of States, in violation of the dearly expressed will of the legitimate representative of the Kampuchean people-the Govern- ment of the People's Republic of Kampuchea-in spite of the disagreement of a number of States Members of the United Nations, including the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. The continuing machinations involving the so- called Kampuchean question that have taken place in United Nations bodies and have been reflected even in the establishment of an organizational machinery are in contradiction to the interests of Kampuchea and its peo- ple. Their consequences will in fact lead to a reduction in the authority of the Organization. 26. What is the crux of the so-called Kampuchean issue, discussion of which has been imposed on us for several years in a row? What are the initiators of this action striving for? They have set a clear-cut goal, distorting the course of events in Kampuchea in the period since the overthrow of the bloody Pol Pot regime, blocking suc- cessful positive developments in all spheres of life there and thwarting the implementation of foreign policy ini- tiatives taken by socialist States in Indo-China with a view to.settli!1g the is~uein the region, to developing co-oper- atIon wIth all neIghbours and, last but not least, they are trying to divert the attention of world public opinion from the real international problems of priority importance, ~ecisions on which come within the purview of the Organ- Ization and the settlement of which is expected of the United Nations by its States Members as well as by all mankind. 33. Every year, depending on the security situation in Kampuchea, a decision is taken on a partial withdrawal of units of Vietnamese volunteers. The first withdrawal took place in 1982. A second was undertaken in May of this y-ear. This has not been merely a symbolic gesture; the tot~l number of volunteers withdrawn is more than 10,000. The gradual withdrawal of Vietnamese units is a gesture ofgood will on the pa.-rt of the People's Republic of Kampuchea and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, and has been accompanied by proposals from the socialist States of Indo-China for a settlement in South-East Asia and on the development of relations with all countries in the region. Unfortunately, however, all these propos- als, \Which were once again reaffirmed at the Seventh Conference of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the People's Republic of Kampuchea and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, held at Phnom Penh ori-19 and 20 July 1983 [A/38/316. annex], have not met with a constructive response from the countries members of ASEAN. Those States have not reacted constructively either in ASEAN or here in the United Nations to the four-point proposal of the socialist States of Indo-China. These points were once again con- vincingly reiterated from this rostrum in a statement at the 24th meeting made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs ofthe Socialist Republic ofViet Nam, Nguyen Co Thach. We believe that it is not armed provocations or interfer- ence in the internal affairs of the People's Republic of Kampuchea, with the use of the forum of the United Nations to that improper end, but, rather, a dialogue among the States of South-East Asia is the right method that can lead the way to a settlement in and around Kampuchea and to the establishment of a zone of peace in that region. 34. Bearing in mind the stabilization ofthe situation in the People's Republic of Kampuchea, the irreversible development of that country, the recognition of the Gov- ernment of the People's Republic of Kampuchea by a number of States the world over and the growing influ- ence of that country in international affairs, it is a para,· dox that the seat of Kampuchea in the United Nations is still occupied by the Pol Pot representatives and those repreSenting other groups in the so-called Coalition Gov- ernment of Democratic Kanfpuchea. In 9ther words, representation lies with those who have been rejected by the Kampuchean people, who represent no-one and who ~ty. What kind of Government is that, having no territory under its control and representing no one but itself? This so-called Coalition Government is just a smoke-screen for the bloody Pol Pot regime and an instrument for carrying out the aggressive plans of the imperialist forces which have generously encouraged and supported it. 48. We are confident that all ill-intentioned attempts aimed at changing the situation in Kampuchea are futile and doomed to failure. The transformations which have taken place in the life of the Kampuchean people are irrevocable. Beyond any doubt, the Kampuchean people will continue to march forward on the road of national reconstruction which it has chosen for itself. All activities defying the will of the people of Kampuchea and its sole and legitimate representative, the State Council of the People's Republic of Kampuchea, represent a hostile act against free, imlcpendent and sovereign Kampuchea. Such activities are at variance with the interests of all peoples of South-East Asia and, in the fmal analysis, pose a threat to world peace and security. 49. The People's Republic of Bulgaria has given and will continue to give unqualified support to the efforts of the Government of the People's RepUblic of Kam- puchea directed to the reconstruction and development 90lid~s of aggression and intervention in the internal affairs of others. 91. Anyone familiar with the developments in Kam- puchea and the absence of solutions to the question of Ka.'11puchea despite the numerous resolutions adopted on the subject must appreciate the importance of the com- ment by the Secretary-General, in his report to the current session of the General Assembly and ~he preceding session, namely, that non-compliance with ldited Nations resolutions erodes the Oigaruzation's credibility and dis- sipates the hopes placed in it to promote peace and secu- rity among nations. 92. My country is gravely concerned about the Kam- puchean question and its evolution. This has been reflected in Sudan's consistent participation in the efforts under- taken by the international community to find a just and peaceful solution to this question. The Sudan supported the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, participated in the International Conference on Kam- puchea held in New York from 13 to 17 July 1981, and also participates in the activities of the Ad Hoc Com- mittee of the International Conference on Kampuchea. My country has followed the political developments consequent upon the establishment of the Coalition in that country under the leadership of Samdech Norodom Sihanouk. In approaching this question, Sudan pro- ceeds from its firm conviction that it is necessary to respect the basic principles governing co-operation among nations within the fr~eworkofthe Charter ofthe United Nations, the sovereignty and independence of nations and the principle of non-intervention in their internal affairs. This is a finn and indivisible commitment, be it in Kam- puchea, the Middle East or elsewhere. 93. What gives cause for hope is that what has been inflicted on Kampuchea has heen condemned by the international community, as has what has happened to Afghanistan and to the Palestinian people. The response to the will of the international community on this question will continue to be the significant factor in maintaining international norms and instruments and promoting the attainment of the objectives of the Charter of the United Nations. 94. The delegation of the Democratic Republic of the Sudan reaffirms that the settlement of the question of Kampuchea can be achieved only through the cessation of acts of aggrp.~sionand the immediate withdrawal of foreign troops " '':&1 the soil of that country, to enable the Kampuclie~ people to exercise its right to self-deter- mination free from interference of foreign diktat. There 95. The Sudan will vote in favour of draft resolution A/38/L.2, as it voted in favour of similar resolutions in previous years, on the basis of our commitment to the Charter, our respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations and for the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other States, and in order to consolidate the principles of the non-use of force or the threat of force in international relations and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

This is the fifth consecutive year that the General Assembly is seized of the question of Kaxm;mchea. The root cause of the prob- lem is well-known and requires no elaboration. It may suffice to recall, however, that the genesis of the problem took place in December 1978 when the Vietnamese armed fOf .. invaded Kampuchea, overthrew its legally insti- tuted Government and in its stead installed a new regime in Phnom Penh. Since then, there have been approxi mately 200,000 Vietnamese troops in Kampuchea to prop up the tottering , Jgime of Heng Samrin. 97. The invasion and subsequent occupation of Kam- puchea undermines the foundation of trust and confi- dence among States and evokes the threat that small countries can be held to ransom by the might of others. If this were accepted, then the fate of small coudtries everywhere would be placed in jeopardy, and it is to underscore thj" r,oncern that Malaysia and its partners in ASEAN l;ave again this year initiated the draft reso- lution on n,r-' ..~t'Uation in Kampuchea for the considera- tion of this : -;sembly. 98. The presence of a large contingent of Vietnamese forces in Kampuchea has also placed an obstacle in the way of the concept of the zone of peace, freedom and neutrality, a concept that is mooted by ASEAN as a realistic framework for p~ace and co-operation among the countries of South-East Asia. Before the zone can become a reality, it is imperative that Viet Nam withdraw its forces from Kampuchea. Furthermore, the presence of such a large number 0: Vietnamese troops in Kam- puchea has aggravated ho~;tilities in the region, changed the existing power balance, heightened the pitch of super- Power rivalry, thereby endangering the peace and security of the countries in the region. If Viet"am is genuine in its desire to live in peace and harmony with its neighbours, it must first agree to withdraw its forces from Kam- puchea. Such a withdrawal could pave the way for the Kampuchean people to determine its own future free from outside interference and to restore its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. 99. Malaysia, as a member of the Ad Hoc Committee of the International Conference on Kampuchea, and as a responsible Member of this Organization, would like to express its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his efforts to resolve the Kampuchean problem. As we are all aware, in the middle of this year, the Secretary- General sent his Special Representative, Mr. Rafeeuddin Ahmed, to Hanoi and Bangkok in the hope of con~~~b­ uting to the solution of this problem. But these efforts were.all in vain because of the lack of political will on the part of Viet Nam. My delegation would like to express its deep regret over this inflexible attitude and urges Viet Nam to play a more positive role in consonance with its declared desire for peace and stability in the area. !03. My delegation is also concernedto learnofreported attempts by Viet Nam to change the demographic char- acter of Kampuchea. Such an action clearly reinforces the generally-held view of Viet Nam's expansionist tend- encies, and can only complicate the search for peace in Kampuchea. This attempt at the.Vietnamization of Kam- puchea must not be allowed to persist, and it is as serious a crime as that previously perpetrated onthe Kampucheart people'. As such, my delegation views this action as 'a' matter of serious concern, as it injects an ominous dimen- sion to the a~ready complex situation in Kampuchea. In r~gimewas a curse to Kampuchea. Its brutality to its own people is a disgrace to our generation, yet only the people ofKampuchea are, by international law, entitled to change that detestable Government. No foreign Power has the right to topple it and occupy Kampuchea for any reason. That is why we call for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Kampuchea. Thereafter, the people of Kam- puchea, under the auspices of the United Nations, may freely determine their own future without foreign inter- ference or intervention. My delegation therefore calls upon the occupying Power to withdraw from Kampuchea in compliance with the declared wishes of the interna- I tional community. 108. Finally, my delegation commends the Secretary- General in his efforts to implement a programme of NOTES