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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