Cambodia (Hansard, 23 November 1992)

§ Mr. Andrew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking towards curtailing the activities of armed Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in breach of the 1991 peace accord.

§ Mr. Goodlad
The United Kingdom has provided 120 personnel to the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia—UNTAC—military component, including military observers and a mine clearance training unit. We, together with our partners in the United Nations Security Council, will shortly be considering what steps should be taken in the light of the Khmer Rouge's refusal to co-operate with UNTAC.

§ Mr. Andrew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to initiate legal or diplomatic action in relation to infringements by Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge of international law.

§ Mr. Goodlad
No international criminal court now exists with jurisdiction over the offences in question. Under the terms of the Genocide convention, the only national courts with jurisdiction over Pol Pot would be those in Cambodia. If the new, legitimate Cambodian Government formed after elections next year wished to bring Pol Pot and his associates to trial, we would have no regrets.

§ Mr. Andrew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy with regard to the continued participation of the Khmer Rouge in the peace process in Cambodia.

§ Mr. Goodlad
Our aim is to see the agreements on a comprehensive political settlement of the Cambodia conflict implemented fully. The United Nations Security Council will again be addressing this question shortly. If the Khmer Rouge exclude themselves from the free and fair elections due to take place in April/May 1993, that is their choice.

§ Mr. Andrew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on compliance with the Cambodian peace accord of October 1991.

§ Mr. Goodlad
We deplore the refusal of the Khmer Rouge to cooperate with the United Nations Transitional 455W Authority in Cambodia—UNTAC—and to respect its obligations under the Paris agreements. There has been considerable progress towards the implementation of the comprehensive political settlement of the Cambodia conflict. Despite occasional ceasefire violations, peace has returned to most of Cambodia. More than 170,000 refugees formerly in the camps on the Thai-Cambodian border have returned to Cambodia without a single fatality as a result of mines; and preparations are well in hand for the holding of free and fair elections in April/May 1993, with more than 1.5 million Cambodians now registered.