HC Deb 25 November 1992 vol 214 c744W
Mrs. Jane Kennedy

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in Cambodia with the international peace accords and in particular with the cantonment and disarming of the troops of the various factions; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Goodlad

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.

By the end of September some 50,000 soldiers of these factions had been contoned by UNTAC. We regret that so far the Kymer Rouge has not begun to meet its obligations under the Paris agreements to canton 70 per cent. of the forces.