Chronology of Cambodian History, 1980-1984
1980 Chronology
of Cambodian History
Abbreviations on this page
Jan. 1980
Foreign ministers of the three Indochina countries, Vietnam, Cambodia, and
Laos, met in Phnom Penh to announce a unified stand on Cambodian problems and
other international issues.
Jan. 2, 1980
The UN World Food Program announced that it would not ship more food to
Cambodia during Jan. citing a backlog of undistributed food that had built up
at the port of Kompong Som and Phnom Penh.
Jan. 4-6, 1980
Khmer Rouge fighters took control of a large refugee camp near the Thai
border after three days of fighting. The camp that houses an estimated
200,000 refugees was controlled by the Khmer Serei rebel.
Jan. 20, 1980
International emergency aid shipments to Cambodian refugees in eastern
Thailand were resumed following their suspension on Jan. 10. Trucks carrying
rice and other supplies had been halted after Thai civilians and Cambodian
guerrillas looted food convoys.
Jan. 31, 1980
US
Sen. Levin introduces S.CON.RES.72
Feb. 5, 1980
The PRK and the USSR signed in Moscow a Protocol on the establishment of the
Soviet Trade Mission in Cambodia. [Agreement in English
French
Khmer]
Feb. 6, 1980
About 150 celebrities, politicians, and charity workers from Europe and North
America gathered at Thai border town of Aranyaprathet for "March for
Survival of Cambodia". Organizers said the March aim at drawing
attention to conditions in Cambodia, and it would be proceed although it has
been condemned by the Phnom Penh govt. as interference in Cambodia's internal
affairs.
Feb. 10, 1980
James Grant, executive director of UNICEF who made a weeklong visit to Cambodia,
announced that an international relief effort had prevented a disaster in
Cambodia at least for the next few months. He said thousands of tons of food
and medicine piled up in warehouses were finally reaching the countryside.
Feb. 16, 1980
The PRK and Czechoslovakia signed in Phnom Penh an agreement on co-operation
in the field of public health and medical science. [Agreement in English
French]
Feb. 22, 1980
In a news conference in Washington, Prince Sihanouk said he came to America
to seek support for a new armed insurgency in Cambodia, and said neither the
ousted Pol Pot's nor the current Phnom Penh's govt. can legitimately
represent Cambodia since Pol Pot's had been completely rejected by the people,
who are the victim of their genocide, and Phnom Penh's govt. just a puppet of
Vietnam.
Feb. 26, 1980
US House of Rep. pass a resolution S.CON.RES.72
expressing the sense of Congress that the US Pres. should request the UN to
establish an international presence in the Cambodian refugee camps on the
Thai-Cambodian border to promote security and oversee the distribution of
food.
March 18, 1980
A 25-year Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation was signed in Berlin between
the PRK and German Democratic Republic (East German). [Agreement in English
French
Khmer]
March 27, 1980
US Rep. Heckler introduces H.CON.RES.310
May 7, 1980
US Rep. Wolf introduces H.CON.RES.329
June 10, 1980
A rebel group attacked a crowded passenger train, killing at least 150 people
and wounding more than 200 others.
June 23, 1980
Vietnamese troops in Cambodia crossed the border in Thailand and clashed with
Thai troops, killing more than 30 Thai soldiers and wounding some 100 others.
Vietnamese was reported to stay in Thai territory for about 10 hours.
June 25, 1980
China warned Vietnam to halt its raids into Thailand. A Foreign Ministry
statement said Peking would resolutely support Thailand's efforts to defend
its sovereignty.
US Secretary of State Edmund Muskie denounced Vietnam's actions, saying Hanoi
threatened the peace, security and stability of the entire region.
July 5, 1980
The US began airlifting arms to Thailand in an effort to enhance Thai
military stationed along the Thai-Cambodian border. The airlift began soon
following repeated incursions into Thailand by Vietnamese forces in Cambodia.
The Soviet Union denounced the airlift, saying it would only aggravate
tensions in Southeast Asia.
Oct. 13, 1980
Khmer Rouge kept UN seat. The UN General Assembly voted, 74 to 35 with 32
abstentions, to defeat a motion to remove the Khmer Rouge's representative
from the UN. The Assembly had defeated a similar move in 1979.
Oct. 22, 1980
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution A/RES/35/6 calling for the
immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from Cambodia.
Nov. 5, 1980
The
Govt. of Mongolia registered, with the UN, its objections to the signatures
by DK on International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, “The Govt. of the Mongolian
People’s Republic considers that only the People’s Revolutionary Council of
Kampuchea as the sole authentic and lawful representative of the Kampuchean
people has the right to assume international obligation on behalf of the
Kampuchean people.” [14531/14668]
Nov. 19, 1980
The
People’s Revolutionary Council of Kampuchea and Czechoslovakia signed in
Prague the Agreement on Cultural Co-operation between the two countries.
Nov. 25, 1980
The PRK and Bulgaria singed in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria, a 25-year Treaty
of Friendship and Co-operation. [Agreement in English
Khmer]
Dec. 11, 1980
The
Govt. of German Democratic Republic (East Germany) registered, with the UN,
its objection to the signature by DK govt. on International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, “The signing of the above-said
convention on behalf of the so-called Govt. of DK, a criminal clique of
stooges which was overthrown by the people of Kampuchea, in the opinion of
the German Democratic Republic is unlawful and, therefore, null and
void.” The GDR also, on same day,
registered its objection to the DK’s signature on International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights. [14531]
[14668]
1981 Chronology
of Cambodian History
Abbreviations on this page
Jan. 19, 1981
The
Govt. of Hungary registered, with the UN, its objection to the signatures by
the DK on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, “The Hungarian
People’s Republic recognizes the Kampuchean People’s Revolutionary Council as
the sole legitimate representative of Kampuchean people…therefore refuse to
acknowledge the right of the former genocidal Pol Pot regime to assume any
international obligations on behalf of the Kampuchean people.” [14531]
[14668]
Jan. 29, 1981
The Govt. of Bulgaria registered, with the UN, its
objection to the signatures by DK on the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, “The Govt. of the PRB, as a party to the above-mentioned instruments,
cannot recognize as legally valid the signatures of the representative of the
so-called ‘Govt. of DK’. [14531]
[14668]
Feb. 13, 1981
USSR
registered, with the UN, its objection to the signatures by DK on
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, “Signature of the
above-mentioned international agreements on behalf of the so-called ‘Govt. of
DK’ – the bloodthirsty Pol Pot-Ieng Sary clique, which has been overthrown by
the Kampuchea people – is completely unlawful and has no legal force.” [14531/14668]
Feb. 18, 1981
Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic registered, with the UN,
its objection to the accession by the DK of the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, “Signature of the above-mentioned international agreements
on behalf of the so-called ‘Govt. of DK’ – which is none other than the Pol
Pot-Ieng Sary band of cutthroats that has been overthrown by the Kampuchean
people – is completely unlawful and has no legal force.” [14531]
March 10, 1981
The Govt. of Czechoslovakia registered, with the UN, its
objection to the signatures by DKon International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, “As a party to the above-mentioned instruments, the Govt. of the
Czechoslovak Socialist Republic cannot recognize the legal validity of the
signatures of the above-mentioned international agreements on behalf of the
so-called ‘Govt. of DK’, since that infamous regime of Pol Pot and Ieng Sary
had been overthrown by the Kampuchean people and no longer exists.” [14531]
[14668]
March 21, 1981
Prince Sihanouk found FUNCINPEC (Front Uni National pour un Cambodge Independent,
Neutre, Pacifique, et Cooperatif or National United Front for an Independent
Neutral Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia), and its military arm ANS (Armee
Nationale Sihanoukist or Sihanouk National Army).
May 1, 1981
General
Election. PRK held elections for a 117-seat National Assembly.
June 27, 1981
New constitution (the country's fourth since independent since 1953) was
approved by the newly elected National Assembly to replace 1976 DK's
constitution. The Assembly also elected Council of State, with Heng Samrin as
its Chairman (a post equivalent to the Head of State) and a Council of
Ministers to replace the KPRC. Pen Sovan, the KPRP general secretary and
Defense Minister, was appointed Prime Minister (06/27/81-12/05/81). Chan Sy
replaced Sovan as Defense Minister.
July 1981
India announced its recognition of the PRK.
July 13-17, 1981
International Conference on Cambodia was held at UN Headquarters in New York.
July 28, 1981
The
Govt. of DKdeposited its instrument of accession of the International Convention on
the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid, which would go
into effect from 27 August 1981. [14861]
Sept. 4, 1981
Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Son Sann and Khieu Samphan issued a joint statement
in Singapore concerning their agreement, in principle to form a coalition to
fight against Vietnamese's occupation of Cambodia.
Sept. 10, 1981
The
Govt. of Vietnam registered, with the UN, its objection to the accession by
DK to the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the
Crime of Apartheid, “The accession to the above-mentioned international
Convention on behalf of the so-called ‘Govt. of Kampuchea’ by the genocidal
clique of Pol Pot-Ieng Sary-Khieu Samphan, which was overthrown on 7 Jan.
1979 by the Kampuchean people, is completely illegal and has no legal value.”
[14861]
Sept. 14, 1981
German
Democratic Republic (East Germany) registered, with the UN, its objection to
the accession by the DK to the International Convention on the Suppression
and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid, “The accession by the so-called
‘Govt. of DK’ to the international Convention on the Suppression and
Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid is in the view of the GDR absolutely
illegal and thus null and void.” [14861]
Oct. 21, 1981
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution A/RES/36/5 calling for the
immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from Cambodia.
Nov. 9, 1981
DK registered, with the UN, its objection to the
accession by Viet Nam of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of
the Crime of Genocide, “The Govt. of DK, as a party to the Convention..,
considers that the signing of that Convention by the Govt. of the SRV has no
legal force, because it is no more than a cynical, macabre masquerade
intended to camouflage the foul crimes of genocide committed by the 250,000
soldiers of the Vietnamese invasion army in Kampuchea.” [1021]
Nov. 12, 1981
USSR
registered, with the UN, its objection to the accession by the DK to the International Convention on
the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid, “The sole
authorized representative of the Kampuchean people in the international arena
is the Govt. of the PRK. The
accession to the above-mentioned Convention by the genocidal regime…the
Soviet side considers…to be illegal, and regards its accession as being
devoid of legal force. [14861]
Nov. 19, 1981
Byelorussian
Soviet Socialist Republic registered, with the UN, its objection to the
accession by the DK of the International Convention of the Suppression and Punishment
of the Crime of Apartheid. [14861]
Dec. 3, 1981
The
Govt. of Hungary registered, with the UN, its objection to the accession by
the DK to the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of
the Crime of Apartheid.
[14861]
Dec. 5, 1981
PRK PM Pen Sovan is removed from office; Defense Minister Chan Sy becomes
acting PM to Feb. 9, 82.
Dec. 11, 1981
The PRK and Mongolia singed in Ulan Bator, capital of Mongolia, a 25-year
Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation. [Agreement in English
French
Khmer]
1982 Chronology
of Cambodian History
Abbreviations on this page
Jan. 1, 1982
PRK sent Thailand a protest note regarding the sinking of
Cambodian trawler off Koh Kong province a few days earlier.
Jan. 5, 1982
Khmer Rouge announced restructuring of its army,
establishing formal military ranks.
The Govt. of Bulgaria registered, with the UN, its
objections to the accession by the DK of the International Convention on the
Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid. [14861]
Jan. 7, 1982
Thai govt. turned down the proposed visit by Prince
Norodom Sihanouk as “not timely”.
PRK observed third anniversary of National Day, the day
that Pol Pot was toppled in 1979, with parades, musical entertainment,
speeches by PRKAF Chief of Staff Soy Keo and PRK Pres. Heng Samrin.
Jan. 9, 1982
KPRP issued directive on Party organization building
including five points program to recruit more members, train cadres, develop
effective Party structure and insure adherence to Party policy.
Jan. 11, 1982
East German defense minister, Heinz Hoffman, and
delegates arrived Phnom Penh.
Military cooperation agreement was signed in which East German would
undertake to build up PRKAF by training officers and developing air defense
system.
Jan. 12, 1982
Son Sann called for stepping up of guerrilla warfare in
Cambodia citing failures in pressuring Vietnam to withdraw from Cambodia
economically and politically.
Jan. 13, 1982
The Govt. of Mongolia registered, with the UN, its objections
to the accession by the DK of the International Convention on the Suppression
and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid. [14861]
Jan. 16, 1982
PRK Deputy PM, Hun Sen, said his govt. would not
negotiate with the Khmer Rouge or third part under any circumstances.
Jan. 30, 1982
PRK and USSR signed two agreements: (1) under the
agricultural agreement, Soviet technicians would assist Cambodia with water
conservancy projects, help increase cotton and rubber production and develop
the fishing industry; (2) under the scientific cooperation protocol, the USSR
would assist Cambodia in developing her education system, including training
Cambodian students in the USSR.
Feb. 2, 1982
Sweden Democratic Kampuchean Friendship Association
delivered $100,000 worth of medicine to DK.
Other aid in this period included medical supplies from a private
French group, clothing for orphans from Syrian govt..
Feb. 3, 1982
PRK FM Hun Sen led a KPRP delegation to French Communist
Party 24th Congress.
Feb. 5, 1982
PRK FM Hun Sen said his govt. wants large-scale economic
aid from all, but with no strings attached.
On the same day, PRK National Assembly met for a six day session to
(1) establish basic governmental organization under new constitution; (2)
establish judicial system; (3) organize to National Assembly with three major
committees – (a) Legislative Affairs chaired by Vandy Kaon; (b) Economic and
Budgetary Affairs chaired by Men Chhan; (c) Education, Public Health, Social
and Cultural Affairs chaired by Nu Beng; (4) approve the appointment of Chan
Sy as Chairman of the Council of Minister (Prime Minister) and Bou Thang as
Minister of National Defense.
Feb. 6, 1982
Soviet Chief of Staff, Marshal Nikolay Vasilyevich
Ogarkov, arrived Phnom Penh for a two-days visit.
Feb. 9, 1982
Chan Sy becomes PRK Prime Minister (02/09/82-01/14/85). Sy has served as acting PM following the
removal of Pen Sovan on Dec. 5, 1981.
Feb. 11, 1982
The tripartite meeting, concerning the establishment of a coalition govt., in
Beijing failed without the participation of Son Sann, who said he was willing
to meet with either Prince Sihanouk or Khieu Samphan separately but not in
tripartite session. Prince Sihanouk
and Khieu Samphan met twice and issued vague three-point statement of “the
agreement reached for further collaboration.” Prince Sihanouk, at press conferences, said China was arming
his force in Cambodia, had shipped enough small arms to equip 3,000 men. Hanoi denounced the meeting as a “farce by
reactionary bandits who could not agree on anything.”
A Vietnamese military plane carrying 13 people crashed in
Thailand after it was intercepted by Thai fighters near the sensitive border
with Cambodia. The plan was believed to have strayed across the border west
of the Cambodian town of Pailin while on a reconnaissance mission over
territory held by Khmer Rouge in western Cambodia.
Feb. 12,
1982
Cambodia was in the midst of a baby boom, with birth rate
at 5.5 percent, death rate at 0.26 percent yielding population growth rate of
5.24 per cent, one of the highest in the world according to a study.
Three Soviet freighters arrived at Kompong Som carrying
63 tractors, 37 trucks, construction equipment and other economic aid. Moscow said volume of goods ships to
Cambodia in past year has doubled, and rate continues to increase.
Feb. 16-18, 1982
The fifth annual Indochinese foreign ministers conference
was held in Vientiane, Laos. The
participants were Nguyen Co Thach of Vietnam, Hun Sen of Cambodia, and
Kamphai Boupha of Laos. The
conference communiqué issued on Feb. 17 said all Vietnamese troops would
leave Cambodia “as soon as the threat of Chinese hegemonistic expansionism is
removed.” The ministers expressed
their interest in contact with Thailand on the Cambodian issue. In response, Thai foreign ministry said
Cambodia was an international, not a Thai-Vietnam problem and that the proper
forum was the UN
Feb. 19, 1982
Vietnam denied that Pen Sovann, ousted PRK’s prime
minister, was in Hanoi, claiming that he remains in a Phnom Penh hospital
“for health reasons.”
Feb. 27, 1982
UN Commission on Human Rights meeting in Geneva adopted a
resolution condemning Vietnam’s occupation of Cambodia as a violation of
Cambodian human rights. The vote was
28 in favor, 8 against, and 5 abstentions.
March 19, 1982
The
Govt. of Czechoslovakia registered, with the UN, the Agreement on cultural
co-operation between the Govt. of the CSR and the People’s Revolutionary
Council of Kampuchea signed at Prague on Nov. 19, 1980.
April 1, 1982
Prince Sihanouk said that his outlook for the third force
in Cambodia was dismal, citing Son Sann’s demand as a major difficulty.
April 2, 1982
Thai govt. announced that it had granted an entry visa to
Son San, who earlier said he would return to his guerrilla force based on the
Thai-Cambodian border if Thai authority permits him.
April 6, 1982
DK Ministry of Information issued a statement criticizing
France’s decision to resume economic aid to Vietnam, saying the decision was
tantamount to recognizing aggression.
April 11, 1982
KPNLF leader, Son Sann, in Paris proposed a Cambodian
anti-communist meeting between himself, Prince Sihanouk and a Khmer Rouge
representative. In Beijing, Prince
Sihanouk reportedly agreed to the proposal.
April 26, 1982
A high level Czechoslovakia military delegation, led by
Defense Minister Gen. Martin Dzur, arrived Phnom Penh for a two-days visit.
April 30, 1982
PRK and USSR sign a long-term agreement under which the
USSR would assist Cambodia in developing radio and television broadcasting
facilities. Signing for the PRK was
Van Sun Heng, acting general director of the Voice of the People of
Kampuchea, and Yuriy Viktorovich Orlow, Deputy Chief of the USSR Committee
for Television and Radio Broadcasting.
May 4, 1982
PRK’s Ministry of Agricultures announced plans of
extending Kampuchean agriculture.
Initial goal was to restore prewar production, some 2.8 million
hectares of which 2.5 million was in rice.
At the time, it was estimated that only about haft of that amount was
being tilled.
May 7, 1982
Relief official of the Ecumenical Council of Churches,
Jean Clavaud, was ordered to leave Cambodia by the PRK govt., citing
activities affecting public security and order.
May 8, 1982
PRK FM, Hun Sen, arrived in Moscow on an eight-days
official visit, accompany by the new PRK ambassador to Moscow, Hor
Namhong. Hun Sen met with his Soviet
counterpart, Andrey Gromyko, on May 10.
May 12, 1982
The Soviet Committee for Defense of Peace arrived Phnom Penh
for an eight-day goodwill visit. The
delegate was welcomed by Yit Kimseng, Chairman of the Kampuchean Committee
for Defense of Peace.
May 16, 1982
PRK endorsed the Vietnamese “empty chair” proposal at the
UN, in which Cambodia’s seat would be awarded to neither the Khmer Rouge nor
the Phnom Penh govt..
May 17, 1982
The
Govt. of Czechoslovakia registered, with the UN, its objection to the
accession of the DK of the International Convention on the Suppression and
Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid. [14861 no page]
May 18, 1982
Soviet trade delegation, led by official of the USSR
Ministry of Trade, arrived Phnom Penh.
It was welcomed by PRK Deputy Minister of Trade, Thong Chan.
May 27, 1982
Kampuchea donors meeting at the UN in New York expressed
skepticism over continue Kampuchea assistance program in its present
form. Fiscal year 1982 program was
budgeted at $87.6 million, of which $42.6 had been pledged. One purpose of the meeting was to secure
pledges for the $45 millions shortfall, but only $6.7 millions was received
in pledges. Donor countries were
divided over whether aid should be mainly emergency type such as food or
developmental.
May 29, 1982
The first national congress of Buddhist monks convened in
Phnom Penh and was addressed by Heng Samrin, who stressed the role of
“patriotic monks in striking a big blow to the barbarian hegemonists” and
that “each monk should clearly grasp the political line of the United
Front…each must make a clear distinction between friend and foe of the
revolution.”
June 9, 1982
Chan Sy addressed a class of governmental trainees and
outlines the State’s plan for development of state structure at the rice
roots. The three-months course would
stress details of the new PRK legal system, governmental organization, and
Party policies.
June 22, 1982
Three Cambodian resistance leaders, Prince Sihanouk of FUNCINPEC/ANS, Khieu
Samphan of the Khmer Rouge and Son Sann of KPNLF met in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia, reached an agreement to create a govt.-in-exile known as the
Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (CGDK). The purpose of the coalition govt. was
twofold: (1) to mobilize all efforts in the common struggle to liberate
Kampuchea from the Vietnamese aggressors with the view to restoring the
motherland as a sovereign and independent country; and (2) to bring about the
implementation of the Declaration of the International Conference on
Kampuchea and other relevant UN general assembly resolutions.”
July 5, 1982
PRK FM, Hun Sen, in an interview in Phnom Penh described
the newly formed coalition govt. as a gross interference by Bangkok in the
internal affairs of Cambodia and a Beijing hegemonist-expansionist
collaborate with US imperialism.
July 7, 1982
Moscow denounced the newly formed coalition govt. as an
“additional confrontation factor” in Southeast Asia politics, which would
only raises anxieties among the Asean countries and move the region away from
its dream of becoming a zone of non-aligned country.
Vietnam FM, Nguyen Co Thach, announced that his country
would pull out a significant number of its troops from Cambodia during
July. He made the announcement
following the conclusion of the Indochinese foreign ministers conference in
Ho Chi Minh City.
Prince Sihanouk returned to Cambodia for the first time
since 1978, attending ceremonies inside the border with hundreds of his
guerrillas and civilians.
July 9, 1982
PRK FM, Hun Sen, described the partial withdrawal of
Vietnamese troops from Cambodia as evidence of growing stability in the
country, proof of Vietnam sincerity that it did not mean to occupy Cambodia,
and as a good-will gesture to Thailand, and that additional withdrawals would
depend on Thai and Chinese behavior.
He also urged Thailand to accept the “safety zone” proposal made at
the Indochinese foreign ministers conference.
July 11, 1982
Phnom Penh press hailed the signing of the PRK-Vietnam
historical waters agreement as evidence of the equality that exists between
Cambodia and Vietnam.
July 16, 1982
PRK Ministry of Defense staged a national military
conference in Phnom Penh, co-chaired by Defense Minister Bou Thang and PM
Chan Sy. A five-point program was outlined
for the development of the armed forces (KPRAF), designed to permit it to
“take full control of the defense of the country”.
July 17, 1982
Chinese PM, Zhao Ziyang, hosted Prince Sihanouk at a
state banquet in Beijing and offered assurance of Chinese’s full supports of
the Prince efforts in liberating Cambodia.
Zhao also called for the creation of a neutral and non-aligned
Cambodia.
Farewell ceremonies were staged in Phnom Penh and other
towns for the departing Vietnamese troops.
Flags and medals of appreciation were presented.
CGDK Defense Coordinator, In Tam, denounced the partial
withdrawal of Vietnamese troops as “a farce, a sham and a lie”.
July 20, 1982
CGDK PM, Son Sann, recounted horror stories of alleged Vietnamese
brutality in Cambodia, including wanton murder and rape of young girls. He told journalists he obtained the
account from eyewitnesses from the Battambang region.
July 21, 1982
Prince Sihanouk addressed the Chinese People’s Political
Consultative Congress national committee in Beijing.
PRK Chief of Staff, Gen. Soy Keo, told an interviewer
that there could be no improvement in regional relations until Thailand
solves the problem of “bandit sanctuary.”
July 22, 1982
Five Vietnamese soldiers deserted to Thailand. At the press conference in Bangkok, they
doubted that Vietnam would significantly reduce its troops in Cambodia as
claimed. One of them said it was the
common belief among Vietnamese soldiers in Cambodia that the occupation would
last 20 years.
July 26, 1982
UN Secretary General, Javier Perez de Cuella, told
Cambodian aid donors meeting in New York that any sudden cut off of
humanitarian assistance would undo all that had been accomplished in Cambodia
and returned the country to its previous condition.
July 30, 1982
CGDK PM, Son Sann, in an interview in Paris explained his
decision to ally himself with the Khmer Rouge, citing the small number of his
force comparing to ten of thousands of the Khmer Rouge.
August 9, 1982
CGDK official Ieng Sary arrived in Cairo, Egypt, for an
official visit.
Sept. 3, 1982
A Paris-based organization called Association to Aid the
Cambodian People arrived in Phnom Penh for a two-week fact finding visit.
Sept. 10, 1982
PRK Special Envoy, Kong Korm, returned to Phnom Penh
after a six-weeks trip to Mozambique, Cape Verde, the Seychelles, Benin and
Madagascar. He was there to seek
support for the Phnom Penh govt. at the UN
Sept. 12, 1982
CGDK Vice Pres., Khieu Samphan, arrived in New York to
attend the annual UN General Assembly meeting, which would also debate the
Cambodian seating at the world body.
Sept. 13, 1982
PRK Minister of Justice, Uk Bun Chheun, departed Phnom
Penh for a three-days international law conference in New Delhi, India, and
later for Ulaan Baatar for conference of socialist lawyers.
Sept. 18, 1982
PRK FM, Hun Sen, said that Cambodia’s security and social
order achieved great improvement during the last dry season offensive.
CGDK Pres., Prince Sihanouk, arrived in New York to
attend the annual UN General Assembly meeting. He would join with his Vice
Pres., Khieu Samphan, who arrived on Sept. 12 and Prime Minister, Son Sann,
who arrived a day earlier.
Sept. 21, 1982
PRK officials, at a new conference in Moscow, said their
govt. eventually would extend amnesty to all former Khmer Rouge.
Sept. 23, 1982
A conference of political commissars of the Vietnamese
and Cambodian armies opened in Phnom Penh host by KPRAF Political Commissar,
Than Chan. Leading the Vietnamese
delegation was PAVN’s General Political Directorate deputy, Maj. Gen. Mai
Dinh Hai.
Sept. 25, 1982
PRK Pres., Heng Samrin, signed two new laws concerning with
protection of state property and the investigation and settlement of
citizen’s complaints and denunciations.
Sept. 28, 1982
PRK officials claimed, in the week ending Sept. 23, Thai
warships made 219 incursions into Cambodia waters, in the vicinity of Koh
Kong and Koh Tang islands, and Thai Air Force planes made 46 air strikes on
Cambodian targets.
Sept. 30, 1982
CGDK Pres. Prince Sihanouk addressed to the 37th
UN General Assembly. [Text of the address]
Oct. 8, 1982
CGDK PM, Son Sann, acknowledged that if forced Cambodian
people would choose the Heng Samrin regime over the return of Khmer Rouge,
however, he added that most Cambodians saw CGDK, which containing Khmer
Rouge, as genuine nationalist alternative.
Oct. 13, 1982
FUNCINPEC signed an agreement with Thai company to sell
one million cubic meters of timber.
Other CGDK members expressed surprise at the unilateral decision.
Oct. 18, 1982
Princess Sisowath Sawetwong Monivong, Prince Sihanouk’s
sister and a member of the KPRP Central Committee member in an interview with
Thai journalist, defended Vietnamese’s occupation of Cambodia as necessary
defense against Pol Pot-Ieng Sary forces, and said Prince Sihanouk could
return to power if he returns like a Cambodian who is for the Cambodian
people.
Oct. 28, 1982
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution A/RES/37/6 calling for the
immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from Cambodia. The world body again awarded the seat to
the coalition govt. of Prince Sihanouk.
PRK foreign ministry in Phnom Penh issued statement denouncing the
decision as “a farce….and an insult to the three million Cambodians who died
at the hand of the Pol Pot murderers.”
Vietnam Finances Minister, Chu Tam Thuc, visited
Cambodia; he met with his PRK counterpart, Chan Phin, to discuss
“reinforcement of special friendship and cooperation” in financial matter
between the two countries.
Oct. 30, 1982
Indian ambassador to Bangkok was summoned to Thai Foreign
Ministry and told of Thailand’s and ASEAN countries’ dissatisfaction with
Indian govt. position at UN with respect to Cambodia. India abstained in final vote at the UN
General Assembly on Oct. 28; earlier India voted to unseat CGDK.
Nov. 4, 1982
PRK Pres. Heng Samrin, in an interview with Hungarian
reporters in Phnom Penh, said Phnom Penh still need the presence of
Vietnamese troops and the partial withdrawal in the summer was only a
diplomatic gesture.
CGDK Pres., Prince Sihanouk, arrived in Beijing from New
York; he was received and congratulated by Chinese PM, Zhao Ziyang, on the
Prince’s success at the UN.
Nov. 6, 1982
CGDK Vice-Pres., Khieu Samphan, arrived in Beijing for
visit at invitation of Chinese govt.
Nov. 10, 1982
CGDK Secretary General of Foreign Affair, Mrs. Ieng
Thirith, led delegation to Colombo Plan conference in Tokyo where she met
with several Japanese officials.
Nov. 12, 1982
PRK sent condolences on the death of USSR leader Leonid
Brezhnev and decreed three days of morning.
Nov. 13, 1982
PRK Pres., Heng Samrin, led a delegation to Brezhnev
funeral.
Nov. 15, 1982
AFP reported a shipment of assault rifles from Singapore
was sent to KPNLF; the same amount of weapon was promised for FUNCINPEC.
Nov. 24, 1982
PRK Foreign Ministry denounced Singapore’s shipment of
weapons to resistance fighter as unfriendly and dangerous.
Nov. 26, 1982
KPRP Central Committee Secretariat issued a circular
announcing celebration program to mark the fourth anniversary of creation of
the KUFNCD to be held on Dec. 2.
Nov. 28, 1982
Cambodia ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Dec. 23, 1982
PRK Defense Minister, Bou Thang, and Vietnamese
Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Van Tien Dung, signed an agreement of cooperation
between the countries armed forces.
1983 Chronology
of Cambodian History
Abbreviations on this page
Jan. 5, 1983
CGDK PM, Son Sann, met with Pope John Paul II in the
Vatican. At the press conference
following the meeting, Son Sann said his forces would continue to fight the
Vietnamese and would “grant them no truce.”
Jan. 10, 1983
Vietnamese troops launched an offensive against anticommunist guerrilla
forces concentrated in western Cambodia near the Thai border. The offensive
was directed primarily against the KPNLF led by former PM Son Sann.
Jan. 12, 1983
Prince Sihanouk told journalists that he planed to extend
his leave of absence until May, citing health problems.
Jan. 14, 1983
A Vietnamese soldier intruded across Thai border and was
captured. He told his captors that gas
masks were being issued to all Vietnamese soldiers serving in Thai border
region, and that a major offensive was planned for the area later in the
winter.
Jan. 27, 1983
Prince Sihanouk arrived in “Khmer Rouge Liberated Zone”
of Phnom Malai for inspection tour of his resistance force, meeting with his
CGDK Council of Ministers and press conference.
Jan. 31, 1983
Vietnamese forces captured Nong Chan - a Cambodian refugee camp - driving
some 30,000 residents into Thailand. Thai military authorities say that the
refugees would be sent back to Cambodia as soon as fighting ceased.
Feb. 4, 1983
Chairman of Soviet Committee for Support of Kampuchean
People, Maj. Gen. Nikolay Lychenko, arrived in Phnom Penh on a good-will
visit and for consultations with PRK Ministry of Defense officials.
Feb. 5, 1983
PRK National Assembly held its 4th session in
Phnom Penh chaired by Chea Sim, Assembly and KUFNCD National Council
chairman.
Feb. 10, 1983
The Center for International Policy delegation departed
Phnom Penh following an 8-days visit.
The delegate toured countryside and met several govt. officials.
Feb. 25, 1983
A two-days conference, called the International Forum for
Peace in Southeast Asia, convened in Phnom Penh attended by delegates from 37
countries and six international organizations.
Westerners working in Phnom Penh told journalist that the
number of Vietnamese advisors in PRK ministries had decreased. A Vietnamese diplomat said number was 2 to
10 per ministry and 15-20 per provinces.
CGDK Pres., Prince Sihanouk, sent message to Non-Aligned
countries conference to be held in New Delhi next month, saying unless trend
of events in Southeast Asia was halted now, region-wide war would be eventual
result. The Prince also sent an open
letter to the people of India regarding Indian govt. “open seat” position in
the UN and the denial of invitation to him, saying it was not “a way to treat
an old friend.”
Feb. 26, 1983
PRK Ministry of Agriculture reported 1982 rice harvest in
Cambodia totaled 250,000 tons, double the 1981 harvest.
March 3, 1983
Soviet Deputy FM Kapitsa told Japanese ambassador to
Moscow that his country cannot accept the Chinese proposals for settlement in
Cambodia. Kapitsa was quoted as
saying, “Heng Samrin effectively rules the whole land….it is impossible to
change this fact.”
March 6, 1983
Prince Sihanouk issued a strong statement condemning the
Non-Aligned countries conference decision to keep “empty seat” at the UN.
March 15, 1983
Democratic Kampuchea acceded the Protocol for the
Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases and
of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare with the following reservation, “……the
CGDK reserves the right to consider that the said Protocol has ipso facto
ceased to be binding in regard to any enemy whose armed forces or whose
allies no longer respect the prohibitions laid down in the Protocol.” [2138]
March 22, 1983
PRK News Agency (SPK) charged Thai army of shelling
Pailin region with mortar shells, which contain toxic chemicals in February
and early March, affecting many civilians, several of whom died. Bangkok denied the charge. The charge came at the same time that
Cambodian resistances claimed that Vietnamese forces using toxic chemicals
against their forces.
March 30, 1983
Vietnamese forces launched their second offensive of dry
season in Cambodian-Thai border region with a massive military forces armed
at destroying all major guerilla camps in the area.
March 31, 1983
Some 25,000 Cambodian refugees fled across border into
Thailand as Vietnamese troops mount major guerrilla clearing operation in
vicinity of Phnom Chat.
April 1, 1983
CGDK Vice-Pres., Khieu Samphan, arrived in Buenos Aires,
Brazil, for the 5th ministerial meeting of economic organization
known as Group of 77.
April 2, 1983
CGDK PM, Son Sann, arrived in Singapore on his regional
tour to discuss Cambodian problems with govt. officials. At a news conference, he criticized
France’s decision to resume economic aid to Vietnam.
April 9, 1983
Vietnamese forces, using SAM-7 missiles, shot down a Thai
Air Force jet spotter plane which crashed inside Thailand, killing the pilot
and co-pilot.
April 11, 1983
PRK National Assembly Chairman, Chea Sim, arrived in
Berlin to attend the conference on Karl Marx.
April 12, 1983
Indochinese foreign ministers, Nguyen Co Thach of
Vietnam, Poun Sipaseut of Laos and Hun Sen of Cambodia, met for one day in
Phnom Penh for what was called as “an extraordinary conference.”
April 21, 1983
US Senate passes a resolution S.RES.112
expressing the sense of the Senate that armed forces on the Thai-Cambodian
border should refrain from actions that may endanger the refugees, and
declaring the Vietnam should halt armed attacks on civilians.
May 1, 1983
Prince Sihanouk met with his coalition's premier, Son Sann, and its vice
pres., Khieu Samphan, in western Cambodia near Thai border. The three leaders
accepted the credential of the first foreign ambassadors accredited to the resistant
govt. The ambassadors were from China, Malaysia, Mauritania, North Korea and
Bangladesh.
PRK FM, Hun Sen, said that if Thailand stops supporting the resistance
coalition, more Vietnamese troops would be withdrawn from Cambodia. He also
said the withdrawal was made possible by the growing strength of the People's
Armed Forces (PAF) and general progress in the nation since the liberation in
1979.
May 2, 1983
Some 1500 Vietnamese troops accompanied by tanks and artillery left Phnom
Penh in what the Hanoi govt. said was the first stage in a larger withdrawal
that would involve 10,000 troops.
May 4, 1983
PRK Defense Minister, Bou Thang, departed Phnom Penh for
Moscow on official visit at the invitation of USSR Defense Minister, Marshal
D.E. Ustinov. Later, he was to visit
East German, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Hungary.
May 6, 1983
CGDK PM, Son Sann, left for Australia and New Zealand to
seek support of both governments to ASEAN initiative in UN on Cambodian settlement
and to ask Australian govt. to postpone aid to Vietnam. In an interview with reporter in Canberra,
Son Sann said, “choosing between the Vietnamese and the Khmer Rouge is like
choosing between the plague and cholera.”
May 12, 1983
Mrs. Ieng Thirith, Secretary General of CGDK Foreign
Ministry, met with Japanese Deputy FM, Toshijiro Nakajima, in Tokyo and was
told that Japan would continue freezing aid to Vietnam until all its troops
were out of Cambodia.
May 13, 1983
US issue a directive concerning its policy and processing
refugees from Indochina.
Hun Sen told French correspondent Francois Nivolan of
proposals for preliminary negotiations with ASEAN on Cambodia; it could be a
two-sides arrangement, in which Vietnam and Laos on one side and three ASEAN
representatives on the other, or a general conference with all parties
present.
May 26, 1983
Former PRK PM, Pen Sovan, who was removed in late 1981,
was reported living in Moscow.
June 8, 1983
PRK Deputy FM, Kong Korm, told a Japanese reporter that
neither Phnom Penh nor Hanoi would deal with Prince Sihanouk on the future of
Cambodia. He said this includes
Sihanouk’s participation in the so-called reconciliation govt.
June 13, 1983
CGDK Pres., Prince Sihanouk, sent telegram to his
vice-pres., Khieu Samphan, offering his resignation.
June 19, 1983
The PRKAF celebrates its “tradition day” in Phnom Penh
with special ceremonies. Editorials noted
PRKAF was formed as the Issarak Army on June 19, 1951 by People’s
Revolutionary Party.
June 20, 1983
PRK Deputy FM, Kong Korm, received delegation of US
Committee in Solidarity with Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos led by its pres., Abe
Weissburd, who promised to demand the end to all support for CGDK and its
expulsion from UN.
Pol Pot again reported to be very ill and under treatment
in field hospital in Phnom Malai.
June 27, 1983
US Secretary of State, George Shultz, attended a 2-days
meeting of ASEAN and allied foreign ministers in Bangkok where he met
separately with Thai F.M. Siddhi Savetsila.
The two discussed Thai’s proposal for Vietnamese troops to pull back
18 miles from Thai-Cambodian border and Siddhi to go to Hanoi to prepare for
overall Cambodian peace talks.
July 1, 1983
SPK criticized 16th ASEAN foreign minister’s
conference communiqué as an obstacle to good-will and cooperation by ignoring
Vietnam’s good-will in reducing its troops in Cambodia twice. It also denounced the communiqué for
suggesting Vietnam had a 5-year plan to Vietnamize Cambodia.
July 6, 1983
PRK FM Hun Sen, in a press interview, criticized 16th
ASEAN foreign ministers conference communiqué, particularly Thai’s position
that Vietnamese troops withdraws 30 km from Thai-Cambodian border as
precondition for talks. He also
claimed story of Vietnamese settlement in Cambodia was fabricated.
July 11, 1983
Delegation led by Chey Saphon, vice chairman of State
Organization Commission, and Kong Korm, Deputy FM, departed Phnom Penh for
visit to Nicaragua and Cuba.
July 12, 1983
FUNCINPEC was preparing to open an information office in
Bangkok.
July 19-20, 1983
The seventh semi-annual Indochinese foreign ministers
conference was held in Phnom Penh attending by Hun Sen of Cambodia, Nguyen Co
Thach of Vietnam and Phoun Sipaseut of Laos.
July 27, 1983
Phnom Penh observed Vietnamese War Invalids Day; the day
marked for honoring Vietnamese soldiers wounded or killed in Cambodia.
Aug. 2, 1983
CGDK PM Son Sann returned to Bangkok after two-months
international tour, which brought him to Japan, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, West
Germany and France.
Aug. 5, 1983
SPK, Phnom Penh official news agency, strongly criticized
Chinese FM Wu Xuegian’s remarks during Bangkok visit, saying he made it clear
without actually saying so that China “was against peace and stability, that
it did not want to see dialogue between Indochina and ASEAN, that it was
determined to “teach Vietnam a second lesson.”
Aug. 7, 1983
Indonesian FM Mochtar ruled out new ASEAN initiatives on
Cambodia following Vietnam’s rejection of Thai proposal last May that Vietnam
withdraw its troops 30 km from Thai-Cambodia border as precondition for
talks.
Aug. 9, 1983
PRK Minister of Trade Tang Saroem and Hungarian
Ambassador Alfred Almasi signed agreement on economic aid.
Aug. 11, 1983
Philippine FM Carlos Romulo said Cambodia situation was
basic cause of instability in Southeast Asia, and that priority should be given
to its political solution.
KPNLF officials began to use DK diplomatic passports of
the Khmer Rouge, signed by Khieu Samphan, CGDK vice-pres. in charge of
foreign affairs.
Aug. 16, 1983
Yos Pro, Secretary General of KUFNCD National Council presented
a report to the National Assembly stating that more than 2.7 million
Cambodians perished under the Khmer Rouge regime between 1975-1979. The figure included 1,927,061 peasants,
25,168 monks, 488,359 ethnic minorities and 305,417 workers and professionals.
Aug. 18, 1983
KPNLF accused Vietnam of matching provinces in Cambodia
and Vietnam in order to establish greater control over Cambodia. KPNLF leader Son Sann estimated that
700,000 Vietnamese settlers have been moved into Cambodia.
Aug. 25, 1983
KPNLF leader Son Sann said China was sending enough
infantry weapons to arm 1000 soldiers plus some heavier equipment, still
leaving about 4000 trained men in a 9000-man force without weapons.
Aug. 31, 1983
CGDK army claimed its guerrillas ambushed a Vietnamese
truck convoy Aug. 23 on Rout 7 in Kompong Cham province, killing 8 Soviet
advisers.
Sept. 4, 1983
PRK and Vietnam signed agreement on cooperation in
meteorology and hydrology in Hanoi; similar agreement on robber production
was signed earlier.
Sept. 8, 1983
PRK and USSR signed economic and technical cooperation
agreement in Moscow. Ambassador Hor
Namhong signed for Cambodia.
Sept. 11, 1983
Samdech Penn Nouth med with Chinese officials in Beijing,
including Deng Xiaoping.
Sept. 14, 1983
PRK and East German (GDR) signed trade protocol in
Berlin, anticipating export of rubber, tobacco, and timber by Cambodia and
import of chemical products, insecticides, trucks, and other goods.
Sept. 16, 1983
CGDK Vice-Pres. Khieu Samphan arrived in New York to
attend 38th session of UN General Assembly.
A five-day meeting of PRK Ministry of Planning officials,
chaired by Heng Samrin, convenes in Phnom Penh to prepare the 1984 State
Plan.
Sept. 18, 1983
CGDK Pres. Prince Sihanouk arrived in New York to head
CGDK delegation to the 38th UN General Assembly session, which
Cambodia’s seat again would be decided.
He was greeted at the airport by Khieu Samphan and hundred of
Cambodian people who lived in the US
Sept. 22, 1983
PRK FM Hun Sen met in Moscow with his Soviet counterpart,
Andrei Gromyko.
Sept. 26, 1983
US. Rep. Wright introduces H.CON.RES.176
Oct. 4, 1983
Prince Sihanouk, addressing the 38th annual UN
General Assembly meeting, charged that Hanoi had sent 600,000 Vietnamese to
settle in Cambodia as part of its Vietnamization of Cambodia.
Oct. 5, 1983
Albania granted diplomatic recognition to PRK. Tirana special envoy arrived in Phnom Penh
was received by Pres. Heng Samrin who called the recognition “a landmark”.
Oct. 11, 1983
ASEAN countries decided to postpone their meeting with
Australian officials scheduled for late October in Canberra. In respond, Australia said it was
reviewing its annual educational aid program for Southeast Asian
students. ASEAN and Australia crashed
over Cambodian issue following Canberra’s decision not to co-sponsor the
ASEAN resolution on Cambodia at the UN as it had in the past.
Oct. 20, 1983
PRK officials in Phnom Penh said Cambodian fishermen, in
1983 to date, have caught 63,750 tons of fish, almost all of it freshwater.
The 38th UN General Assembly accepted without
recording vote or challenging its credentials committee report giving CGDK
the Cambodian seat for another year.
Oct. 27, 1983
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution A/RES/38/3 (by vote of 105
to 23 with 19 abstentions, calling for the immediate withdrawal of all
foreign troops from Cambodia.
Oct. 24, 1983
Mongolian People’s Republic military delegation, led by
Defense Minister Gen. Jamsrangiyn Yondon, arrived in Phnom Penh for a 3-days
visit. On the same day, a Cuban
National Assembly delegation, touring Indochina, arrived for a 2-days visit.
Nov. 1, 1983
Japan announced its $12.5 million grant for aid to be
provided through World Food Program to refugee living along Thai-Cambodian
border.
Nov. 15, 1983
US Senate passed a resolution H.CON.RES.176 expressing
the sense of congress that the US should continue to: (1) give support to
ASEAN to secure a political resolution of the Cambodian problem and ensure
the withdrawal of foreign forces and the restoration of Cambodian self-determination;
(2) urge other nations to support the ASEAN efforts in the UN; (3) urge other
nations to cooperate with ASEAN in maintaining economic and diplomatic
pressure on Vietnam to accept a peaceful settlement; (4) support
international effort through the UN Border Relief Operation to relieve the
suffering of the Cambodian refugees along the Thai border; and (5) give
humanitarian and political support to the non-communist Khmer nationalist
forces.
Nov. 18, 1983
PRK and Vietnam signed national bank agreement, involving
exchange rates and non-commercial payments.
Nov. 20, 1983
Poland FM Stefan Olszowski, who was in Phnom Penh for a
3-days visit, met with PRK Pres. Heng Samrin.
Australian PM Hawke told news reporters that he “reacts
favorably” to idea of Australian participation in a Cambodian peacekeeping
force, as suggested by Malaysia, but added he could not “fully commit” his
govt. to such a role.
Nov. 28, 1983
The
Govt. of DK ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination. [9464]
Dec. 7, 1983
The first congress of Kampuchean Federation of Trade
Unions convened in Phnom Penh attended by 302 delegates and 160 observers
from PRK agencies.
Dec. 8, 1983
PRK officials in Phnom Penh announced the trial,
conviction, and sentencing of 10 traitors who carried out anti-revolutionary
activities. All ten confessed.
Dec. 13, 1983
Senegal established diplomatic relations with CGDK; its
ambassador to China Mamadou Seyni Mbengue took the post concurrently.
Dec. 24, 1983
CGDK leadership, Prince Sihanouk, Khieu Samphan and Son
Sann who were in Beijing for a 12-days consultations among themselves and
Chinese leaders, met with Chairman Deng Xiaoping.
Dec. 25, 1983
Prince Sihanouk, in a press conference, said China had
promised to provide more military aid to Cambodian resistance.
Dec. 28, 1983
USSR
registered, with the UN, its objection to the ratification of the
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination by the DK, “The ratification of the above-mentioned
International Convention by the so-called ‘Govt. of DK’….is completely
unlawful and had no legal force.” [9464]
Dec. 29, 1983
Byelorussian
registered, with the UN, its objection to the ratification of the
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination by the DK. [9464]
1984 Chronology
of Cambodian History
Abbreviations on this page
Jan. 7, 1984
PRK Pres. Heng Samrin told foreign journalists that he
welcomed Kampuchean peace initiatives but rejected idea of ASEAN peacekeeping
force. Meanwhile, FM Hun Sen, at
press conference, rejected any sort of reconciliation with Prince Sihanouk or
Son Sann; and said there were 61,000 ethnic Chinese living in Kampuchea and
56,000 Vietnamese compared to 500,000 Vietnamese before 1975.
Jan. 9, 1984
CGDK issued statement listing four instances of Vietnamese
use of chemical weapons in Kampuchea, which killed seven people.
Jan. 15, 1984
Prince Sihanouk arrived in Beijing from Pyongyang told
journalists that he was prepared to talk with Soviet officials about
Kampuchean problem.
Jan. 17, 1984
Ukrainian
Soviet Socialist Republic registered, with the UN, its objection to the
ratification by DK of the International Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination. [9464]
Jan. 20, 1984
Prince Sihanouk arrived in Bangkok from Beijing; he was
received by his Vice-Pres. Khieu Samphan, PM Son Sann, Thai FM Siddhi
Savetsila, ASEAN Ambassadors to Thailand, China, Pakistan, Brunei and North
Korea. Speaking to reporters, the Prince said he was ready to pay visits to
all the liberated zones inside Kampuchea under the control of the different
movement, and that “there are no differences, no disputes among the three
patriotic movements.” (FAB #3-4)
Jan. 22, 1984
Prince Sihanouk met with Thai FM Siddhi Savetsila and
senior officials of the Thai Foreign Ministry. (FAB #3-4)
Australian FM Hayden told journalists that FUNCINPEC and KPNLF
would be allowed to open an office in Australia but would have neither
diplomatic nor official status nor allowed to advocate violence.
Jan. 23, 1984
Prince Sihanouk met and held meeting with his
FUNCINPEC/ANS military leaders, cadres and oversea representatives. [Press Release] (FAB #3-4)
Jan. 24, 1984
CGDK held its Council of Ministers meeting inside
Kampuchea presided by Prince Sihanouk, attending by VP Khieu Samphan, PM Son
Sann, Prince Ranariddh and the ministers of the coalition govt. (FAB #3-4)
Jan. 25, 1984
Ethiopia registered, with the UN, its objection to the
ratification by DK of the International Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination, “The Provisional Military Govt. of Socialist
Ethiopia should like to reiterate that the Govt. of the PRK is the sole
legitimate representative of the People of Kampuchea and such is alone has
the authority to act on behalf of Kampuchea.” [9464]
Jan. 26, 1984
Prince Sihanouk visited Phnom Malai, Khmer Rouge
controlled area, to receive credentials of ambassadors of Yugoslavia and
Egypt.
Belgium joined Australia in urging Vietnam to refrain
from mounting any dry season military sweep against guerilla-forces in
Kampuchea. (FAB #3-4)
Jan. 27, 1984
PRK and USSR signed transportation cooperation memorandum
under which the Soviet would provide goods shipping by sea to Kampuchea.
PRK Agriculture Minister Kong Samol and Vietnamese
Minister of Marine Products signed 1984 fisheries cooperation agreement in
Phnom Penh.
Prince Sihanouk held talks at Laem Taem guesthouse with
the Ambassadors of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and a senior
Singaporean Embassy official. (FAB #3-4)
Jan. 28, 1984
PRK FM Hun Sen departed Phnom Penh for Vientiane to
attend the 8th Indochinese foreign ministers conference.
Jan. 29, 1984
Prince Sihanouk and Princess Monique visited KPNLF’s camp
of Banteay Ampil, receiving by CGDK PM/KPNLF Pres. Son Sann. (FAB #3-4)
Vietnam registered, with the UN, its objection to the ratification
by DK of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination. [9464]
Jan. 30, 1984
Prince Sihanouk and Princess Monique visited the
FUNCINPEC/ANS camp of Tatum (Green Hill). (FAB #3-4)
Feb. 1, 1984
Prince Sihanouk and Princess Monique were granted an
audience with King and Queen of Thailand at Phu Phing Palace in Chiang Mai. (FAB #3-4)
Feb. 2, 1984
Belgian FM Leo Tindemans told news reporters in Jakarta
that his country totally supports Kampuchean resistance movement and ASEAN’s
position on Kampuchean issue.
Prince Sihanouk accompanied by Prince Ranariddh called on
Thai PM Prem Tinsulanonda, discussing the Kampuchean situation. Prince Sihanouk also told Thai PM that
Vietnamese were changing the frontier maps to reflect the annexation of a
piece of Kampuchean territory known as the “Parrot’s Beak”. (FAB #3-4)
Feb. 5, 1984
Soviet deputy FM Mikhail Kapitsa arrived in Phnom Penh
for a 4-days visit. He met with Pres.
Heng Samrin, PM Chan Sy and FM Hun Sen.
CGDK delegation led by Prince Sihanouk arrived in Kuala
Lumpur to begin a 10-days visit to Malaysia. (FAB #3-4)
Feb. 6, 1984
Prince Sihanouk met and discussed Kampuchean problem with
Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohammed.
Earlier, Prince Sihanouk and Princess Monique were received in
audience by the Malaysian King and Queen. (FAB #3-4)
Feb. 9, 1984
ANS Commander Lt. Gen. Pak Meenakanit told reporters that
18 of his troops suffered from gas attack.
He said the yellow gas, contained in mortar shells and fired from
grenade launchers, caused the soldiers to faint, have difficulties in
breathing and hamper their vision. (FAB #3-4)
Feb. 11, 1984
KPRP General Secretary Heng Samrin departed Phnom Penh
for Moscow, leading delegate to attend funeral of CPSU Secretary General Yuri
Andropov.
Feb. 14, 1984
CGDK delegation led by Prince Sihanouk arrived in
Singapore to begin a 6-days visit. (FAB #3-4)
Feb. 15, 1984
CGDK delegation held talks with Singaporean FM S.
Dhanabalan, discussing recent diplomatic and military activities of the
Kampuchean resistance. (FAB #3-4)
Feb. 18, 1984
Ceremonies were held in Phnom Penh marking fifth
anniversary of signing of Kampuchea-Vietnam Treaty of Peace, Friendship and
Cooperation.
Feb. 20, 1984
PRK and Vietnam signed in Phnom Penh a 1984 Protocol of
Educational Cooperation, in which Vietnam was to help compile and publish
teaching materials and provide study grants to Kampuchean students.
CGDK delegation led by Prince Sihanouk arrived in Jakarta
to begin a 2-weeks visit to Indonesia. (FAB #3-4)
Feb. 21, 1984
Prince Sihanouk met with Indonesian Pres. Soharto, who
assured the Prince of Indonesia continue support of the CGDK. (FAB #3-4)
Feb. 26, 1984
PRK and GDR (East German) signed a public health
cooperation plan for 1984-86, in which GDR would assist Kampuchea in health care
training and administrative practices.
Feb. 29, 1984
The Govt. of Vietnam registered, with the UN, its
objection to the ratification by DK of the International Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, “The Govt. of the SRV
considers that only the Govt. of the PRK, which is the sole genuine and
legitimate representative of the Kampuchean people, is empowered to act in
their behalf to sign, ratify or accede to international conventions.”
March 4, 1984
An Italian embassy official in Bangkok told news
reporters that his govt. had approved $500,000 in humanitarian aid to
Kampuchean resistance forces of Prince Sihanouk and Son Sann. He added the aid would be extended through
UN Border Relief Organization.
March 5, 1984
Vietnamese army newspaper (Nhan Dan) accused Singapore of
arming the Kampuchean resistance and of maintaining tension in Southeast
Asia. (FAB #3-4)
March 6, 1984
National Mekong Committee of three Indochinese countries
opened 7th conference in Phnom Penh. Delegations were headed by Kong Samol - Kampuchea Agriculture
Minister, Dinh Gia Khanh - Vietnam Deputy Minister of Water Conservancy, and
Somphavan Inthavon - Loas Vice-Chairman of Planning Committee. The conference called for Kampuchea to be
legitimate member of International Mekong Committee if there was to be
effective exploitation of lower Mekong.
CGDK delegation led by Prince Sihanouk arrived in Manila
to begin a weeklong visit to the Philippines. (FAB #3-4)
March 9, 1984
CGDK PM Son Sann arrived in Singapore for a 6-days visit,
telling news reporters that he was optimistic about Kampuchea’s future since
“now it is not a question of whether Vietnamese troops will leave, but when.”
March 12, 1984
The Govt. of Czechoslovakia registered, with the UN, its
objection to the ratification by DK of the International Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. [9464]
March 20, 1984
CGDK Pres. Prince Sihanouk returned to Phnom Malai to
accept credentials of Malaysian ambassador Datuk Ismail bin Mohamed. (FAB #3-4)
March 21, 1984
Japanese FM Shintaro Abe said Prince Sihanouk would make
a weeklong visit to Japan starting May 30 at the invitation of Japanese
govt. This would be Prince Sihanouk’s
first trip to Japan since an unofficial visit in 1961. (FAB #3-4)
March 22, 1984
Thai Army Supreme Command spokesman said there were
strong indications that Vietnamese troops in Kampuchea plan to use chemical
warfare to wipe out resistance force.
April 6, 1984
UN
Special envoy in charge of humanitarian aid to Kampuchea, Tatsuro Kunugi, left
Phnom Penh after 8-days visit.
April 8, 1984
PRK FM Hun Sen stopped in Moscow en-route home from
African tour.
April 13, 1984
PRK Deputy FM Kong Korm told visiting Swedish journalist that
both Prince Sihanouk and Son Sann can return to Kampuchea, even run for
office in an election it they accept the present Constitution. He also added that major condition for
Prince Sihanouk’s return was that he breaks with Khmer Rouge.
April 18, 1984
PRK Foreign Ministry issued a 3-points statement
regarding refugees in Thai-Kampuchean border area, charging that the refugees
were furthering Chinese aims, that Thailand’s dealing with them violate
international law, and that PRK was willing to hold either direct or indirect
talks with Thailand on the problem.
April 26, 1984
German
Democratic Republic (East Germany) registered, with the UN, its objection to
the ratification by DK of the International Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination, “The GDR does not recognize the so-called
CGDK and therefore regards its instrument of ratification concerning the
Convention as being without legal force.
The only legitimate representative of the people of Kampuchea is the
Govt. of the PRK.” [9464]
May 8, 1984
Fourteen Thai captured during combat along
Thai-Kampuchean border were presented at press conference in Phnom Penh by
KPRAF Deputy Chief of Staff Tea Banh.
May 15, 1984
The Govt. of the French Republic registered, with the UN,
its objection to the ratification by DK of the International Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, “The Govt. of the
French Republic, which does not recognize the CGDK, declares that the
instrument of DK of the International Convention…is without effect.” [9464]
May 20, 1984
A national “Day of Hate” was proclaimed by the PRK to
mark start of “Pol Pot genocide” on May 20, 1975. Ceremonies and observances were ordered nationwide.
May 31, 1984
Prince Sihanouk told Japanese PM Nakasone that he was
ready to head a 4-way coalition interim govt., which could stage elections to
name permanent govt. The only
condition was that PRK stop acting as a spokesman for Hanoi. Prince Sihanouk also asked Japan to name
an ambassador to CGDK.
June 1, 1984
The first Indochina Foreign Trade conference convened in
Phnom Penh. Delegations were headed
by ministers of trade: Tang Saroem of Kampuchea, Le Khac of Vietnam and Vanthong
Sengmuang of Loas.
June 7, 1984
The Govt. of Mongolia registered, with the UN, its
objection to the ratification by DK of the International Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. [9464]
June 14, 1984
Japan and Thailand, at working level consultations in Bangkok,
agreed to promote effort to bring about comprehensive solution to Kampuchea
problem. Japanese Deputy FM Toshijiro
Nakajima pledged his country’s full backing for ASEAN position supporting
CGDK.
June 24, 1984
Ceremonies were held for some 3,000 Vietnamese troops
departing Kampuchea for home; the troops was part of 10,000 Hanoi said will
leave during 1984.
July 2, 1984
The 2nd Kampuchean Monks Congress convened in
Phnom Penh for a 2-days session presided by National Assembly Chairman Chea
Sim.
July 11, 1984
Prince Sihanouk told newsmen his position on settlement
of the Kampuchean problem was through an all-party international
conference. He implied this had
Beijing’s endorsement.
July 16, 1984
A high-level PRK delegation, headed by PM Chan Sy,
departed Phnom Penh on tour of socialist countries in search of economic aid.
CGDK PM Son Sann said, in an interview, that China was
CGDK’s sole arms supplier only because France and other countries would not
supply military hardware to his resistance group.
July 26, 1984
PRK and Bulgaria signed an agreement concerning a non-reimbursable assistance
granted to Kampuchea in the fields of education, culture and sport for the
period 1985-90. [Agreement in English
French
Khmer]
PRK
FM Hun Sen told an interviewer that Prince Sihanouk and Son Sann could plan a
political role in Cambodia if they agree to return and to recognize the new
constitution. But he ruled out their
inclusion in a coalition govt.
Aug. 1, 1984
The 9th Plenum of the KPRP convened in Phnom
Penh for a 4-days session under the chairmanship of Party Secretary General
Heng Samrin. Six resolutions were
adopted dealing with economic, social and foreign affairs. The Plenum also issued a directive called
“Guideline for the Central Propaganda and Education Commission,” setting
forth an ambitious domestic propaganda campaign to be implemented by the
National Assembly.
KPNLF launched a campaign called Sponsor-a-Guerrilla
Program, in which individuals abroad were solicited for a donation of $40 to provide
basic personal equipment for one resistance fighter such as uniform, hammock,
knapsack, etc. Literature stressed
money would not be used for weapons purchase.
Prince Sihanouk and Egypt issued joint communiqué in
Cairo at the end of Prince Sihanouk’s 5-days visit. It was a strong endorsement of Kampuchea resistance cause but
contains no indication that Egypt will supply weapons to the CGDK as rumor.
Aug. 3, 1984
Australian PM Bill Hayden left Bangkok after 4-days of
discussions with Thai officials, chiefly about Kampuchea. He told a press conference Australia had
no plans to resume economic aid to Vietnam, stressed the importance of ASEAN
unity and said Hanoi had not answered his suggestion for an international
conference on Kampuchea in Canberra.
AFP reported two former high-ranking officials of DK had
defected. They were Thiounn Thioum,
former Economy and Finance Minister and Keat Chhun, former official in Prime
Minister’s office with ministerial rank.
Aug. 4, 1984
CGDK Vice-Pres. Khieu Samphan arrived in Mexico City for
UN conference on population. He met
with ASEAN diplomats during the stay.
Aug. 8, 1984
Prince Sihanouk met with French Pres. Francois Mitterand
for 45 minutes in Paris. Following
the meeting, the two announced that they would meet twice a year of discuss
Kampuchea matters.
Aug. 14, 1984
Prince Sihanouk at press conference in Oslo, Norway,
called for creation of coalition govt. in Kampuchea to include supporters of
the PRK.
Sept. 8, 1984
Chairman of the International Conference on Kampuchea,
former Austrian FM Willibald Pahr, told news conference in Bangkok that Hanoi
in four years had settled some 500,000 Vietnamese in Kampuchea, in addition
to the 180,000 PAVN. Kampuchea
population was estimated between six to seven millions.
Sept. 12, 1984
Willibald
Pahr, chairman of the International Commission of Kampuchea, proposed to
demilitarized Angkor area. Phnom Penh
rejected the idea citing it would be used as sanctuary by the resistance, ASEAN
said the idea should be explored but noncommittal; Hanoi and CGDK made no
comment.
Sept. 23, 1984
Prince Sihanouk and Son Sann met with US Pres. Reagan in
New York, following President’s address to UN General Assembly. A spokesman said Reagan restated US policy
on Kampuchea: a political settlement that includes withdrawal of Vietnamese
troops from Kampuchea.
Sept. 28, 1984
Prince Sihanouk, Khieu Samphan and Son Sann arrived in
Beijing for meetings with Chinese officials and to attend the PRC 35th
anniversary.
Oct. 11, 1984
PRK Information and Culture Minister Chheng Phon rejected
proposal by Willibald Pahr, chairman of the International Conference on
Kampuchea, to demilitarize Angkor area.
CGDK accepted the proposal.
Oct. 15, 1984
PRK and USSR signed in Moscow a protocol on exchange of
ratification instruments for consular agreement.
Oct. 17, 1984
UN General Assembly adopted without vote the
recommendation of its Credentials Committee to seat CGDK.
PRK Education Minister Pen Novouth sent telegram to
UN-sponsored conference on education in Geneva, protesting presence of CGDK
delegation.
Oct. 19, 1984
PRK and Hungary signed in Budapest a Protocol on 1985 goods
exchange, in which Kampuchea would trade agricultural products for Hungarian
chemicals, electric equipment and fabrics.
Oct. 22, 1984
Hungarian Industry Ministry delegation arrived in Phnom
Penh for a visit.
Delegation of Philippine women departed Phnom Penh after
5-days visit.
Oct. 29, 1984
CGDK Pres. Prince Sihanouk delivered speech to UN General
Assembly denouncing Vietnam invasion and occupation of Kampuchea.
Oct. 30, 1984
The UN General Assembly again voted in favor of a resolution A/RES/39/5 calling for a
withdrawal of Vietnamese forces from Cambodia. The votes were 110 to 22 with
18 abstentions.
Nov. 1, 1984
PRK Pres. Heng Samrin and FM Hun Sen left Phnom Penh for
New Delhi to attend Indira Gandhi funeral.
Nov. 22, 1984
Prince Ranariddh, ANS commander, attended opening of
FUNCINPEC office in Canberra and held talks with Australian foreign minister
officials. He calls for both China
and Vietnam to allow Kampuchea to become neutral.
Dec. 12, 1984
New York based Lawyer Committee for International Human Rights charged that
the Phnom Penh govt. routinely tortured political prisoners and said
Vietnamese govt. officials were involved in the arrest and torture of
Cambodians.
Dec. 24, 1984
The US Congressional delegation headed by Rep. Stephen
Solarz arrived in Phnom Penh for talks.
The delegation met with PRK FM Hun Sen.
Dec. 25, 1984
The Vietnamese forces occupying Cambodia launched an offensive against rebel
strongholds along the Cambodian-Thai border. The attack began at dawn with
tank and artillery fires. The following day Vietnamese troops overran
Rithisen, KPNLF's largest camp, forcing thousands of its inhabitants to flee
into Thailand.
Dec. 31, 1984
Radio Phnom Penh announced the death of the PRK PM Chan Sy. The Premier, who was appointed to the
premier post in Feb. 1982, died in Moscow, USSR. He was there for medical treatment. He was believed to have died some days before the announcement.
Other events happened in 1984
Haing Ngor won an Oscar-award for Best Supporting Actor
in "The Killing Fields".
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