Cablegate: Cambodia: Meeting with Hor Namhong

O 280652Z MAR 92
FM USMISSION PHNOM PENH
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0943
INFO USMISSION NEW YORK 0178
AMEMBASSY BANGKOK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 PHNOM PENH 0664

STATE PLEASE PASS BEIJING, JAKARTA, TOKYO, SINGAPORE, PARIS,
LONDON, MOSCOW, CANBERRA, KUALA LUMPUR

E.O. 12356: DECL OADR
TAGS: AMGT
SUBJECT: CAMBODIA: MEETING WITH HOR NAMHONG

1. (C) - ENTIRE TEXT.

BEGIN TEXT:

SUMMARY
--------

2. SOLOMON, PIAK, AND GRIFFITHS THANKED SDC SNC MEMBER HOR
NAMHONG FOR SOC COOPERATION OF THE POW/MIA ISSUE. SOLOMON
STRESSED TO HOR NAMHONG THE NEED FOR ALL THE FACTIONS TO ABIDE
BY THE COMMITMENTS IN THE PARIS AGREEMENT TO ENSURE THE KHMER
ROUGE HAD NO EXCUSES FOR NOT COOPERATING THEMSELVES. SOLOMON
EMPHASIZED THAT POLITICAL RIGHTS MUST BE RESPECTED AND THERE
MUST BE AN END TO POLITICAL VIOLENCE. SIV REINFORCES THIS
POINT, UNDERLINING THAT HUMAN RIGHTS EXTEND BEYOND POLITICAL
PRISONERS ISSUES TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION, FREEDOM OF THE PRESS,
AND FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION, AMONG OTHERS. HOR NAMHONG LISTED
SOC CONCERNS ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION AND PLEDGING FULL COOPERATION
BY THE SOC. HOWEVER, HE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT HUMAN RIGHTS
COULD BE "OVER-USED," RESULTING IN POLITICAL VIOLENCE. WHILE
SOLOMON PRESSED FOR 100 PERCENT DEMOBILIZATION OF FACTIONAL
FORCES, HOR NAMHONG SUGGESTED REVISITING THE QUESTION AFTER 10
PERCENT DEMOBILIZATION HAS BEEN ACHIEVED. END SUMMARY.

3. A/S SOLOMON HELD A ONE-HOUR MEETING WITH SOC SNC MEMBER AND
FOREIGN MINISTER HOR NAMHONG MARCH 9 IN PHNOM PENH. DR.
SOLOMON'S DELEGATION INCLUDED COM TWINING, WHITE SHOUSE SPECIAL
ASSISTANT SICHAN SIV, DOD DAS ALAN PTAK, NATIONAL LEAGUE OF
FAMILIES PRESIDENT ANNE MILLS GRIFFTHS, EAP/VLC DIRECTOR CHRIS
LA FLEUR, AND OTHERS.

4. HOR NAMHONG THANKED DR. SOLOMON FOR THE VISIT AND
ESPECIALLY FOR THE LIFTING OF THE U.S. EMBARGO AGAINST
CAMBODIA. RECALLING THE MEETING HE HAD HELD WITH DAS QUINN IN
WASHINGTON, HE PROMISED THAT THE SOC WOULD CONTINUE FULL
COOPERATION ON THE POW/MIA ISSUE, WHICH HE SAID THE SOC SEES AS
A PURELY HUMANITARIAN QUESTION.

GOC CONCERNS ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION OF ACCORD
------ ------------ --------------- -------

5. HOR NAMHONG PLEDGED FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PARIS PEACE
AGREEMENT BY THE SOC. HE THEN ENUMERATED SOC CONCERNS. FIRST,
HE SAID THE 70 PERSENT DEMOBILIZATION OF FACTIONAL FORCES MUST
BE CARRIED OUT BEFORE THE RAINY SEASON BOGS DOWN TRANSPORTATION
IN THE COUNTRY. SECOND, HE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT SOMETHING BE
DONE TO FIND WORK FOR THE DEMOBILIZED SOLDIRES. IF THEY WERE
LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES, THEY MIGHT BECOME INVOLVED IN
"MISCONDUCT." THIRD, ON REPATRIATION, HOR NAMHONG CITED THE
INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF DEMINED LAND FOR THE RETURNEES. HE
WORRIED THAT DELAY OF THE RETURN OF PEOPLE FROM THE BORDER
COULD PROLONG THE TRANSITION PERIOD, WITH BAD CONSEQUENCES FOR
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACCORD. FOURTH, THE SOC SNC MEMBER
CITED POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH CORRUPTION AND VOTE BUYING IN THE
ELECTIONS.

"MUST NOT SEE AND OVER-USE OF HUMAN RIGHTS"
-------- --------------- ---------- -------

6. FIFTH, HOR NAMHONG ASSERTED THAT, WHILE ALL SIDES HAD
COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO IMPLEMENTING PLURALISM AND LIBERAL
DEMOCRACY AND FREEING ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS AT THE JANUARY 14
SNC MEETING, ONLY THE SOC HAD DONE SO. HOR NAMHONG WORRIED
THAT, "FREEDOMS WILL BE EXPLOITED FOR POLITICAL REASONS.... WE
MUST NOT SEE AN OVER-USE OF HUMAN RIGHTS."

7. THE SOC SNC MEMBER ALSO SAID IT REMAINED UNCLEAR THAT THE
KR WILL VOLUNTARILY ABIDE BY THE ACCORDS. HE POINTED TO THE
SHOOTING OF THE UN HELICOPTER AND CEASEFIRE VIOLATIONS IN
KOMPONG THOM AS EVIDENCE THE KR MAY NOT COOPERATE. FURTHER,
HOR NAMHONG SPECULATED THE KR MIGHT NOT RESPECT THE RESULTS OF
FUTURE ELECTIONS. HE ARGUED, "FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
ACCORD WILL NOT MEAN THE END OF THE KR THREAT." HE AVERRED
THAT KR STRATEGY IS NOT TO WIN ELECTIONS NOW, BUT TO STRENGTHEN
THEIR POSITION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY FOR THE FUTURE.

U.S. GRATITUDE ON POW.MIA ISSUE
------------- -----------------

8. A/S SOLOMON, RESPONDED BY THANKING HOR NAMHONG ESPECIALLY
FOR THE COOPERATION THE U.S. HAS RECEIVED ON POW/MIA. DAS PTAK
AND MRS. GRIFFITHS ALSO EXPRESED GRATITUDE FOR SUPPORT ON
POW/MIA, ESPECIALL PERMITTING THE USE OF HELICOPTERS IN
CAMBODIA. DR. SOLOMON CITED PRESIDENT BUSH'S SPEECH IN JANUARY
IN SINGAPORE AND THE COMMITMENT OF PRESIDENT BUSH TO MOVE
TOWARD NORMALIZED RELATIONS WITH ALL THE NATIONS OF INDOCHINA
AS PROGRESS IS MADE ON POW/MIA. THE MEETINGS IN HANOI, WITH
THE AGREEMENT ON THE FIVE-POINT PLAN, IF IMPLEMENTED SINCERELY,
WILL ADVANCE U.S. NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS WITH THE COUNTRIES
OF INDOCHINA. THE FACT THAT PRESIDENT BUSH LIFED THE U.S.
EMBARGO ON CAMBODIA IS A SIGN OF U.S. SINCERITY, AS IS THE U.S.
INTENTION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PARIS
PEACE AGREEMENT, INCLUDING FUNDING WHICH MAY REACH AS MUCH AS
USD 600 MILLION FOR THE U.S.

NEED FOR 100 PERCENT DEMOBILIZATION, RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
---------- --------- ------------ ----------- ------- ------

9. DR. SOLOMON STRONGLY PRESSED FOR 100 PERCENT DEMOBILIZATION
OF FACTIONAL FORCES. THIS WOULD PROVIDE THE GREATEST SECURITY
FOR CAMBODIA SINCE THE REMANANTS OF THE FACTIONS' ARMIES COULD
RETURN TO FIGHTING. PRINCE SIHANOUK AGREES WITH THIS APPROACH,
HE SAID. ON HUMAN RIGHTS, DR. SOLOMON STRESSED THAT, FOR
CAMBODIA TO OVERCOME THE BURDEN OF ITS TRAGIC PAST, IT WOULD BE
HARD TO OVER-EMPHASIZE HUMAN RIGHTS. HE TOOK EXCEPTION WITH
THE FOREIGN MINISTER'S CONCERN THAT HUMAN RIGHTS MIGHT SOMEHOW
BE "OVERDONE." HE STRESSED THAT THE UN WOULD HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN CAMBODIA EVEN
AFTER UNTAC HAD LEFT. THIS WOULD BE IMPORTANT.

CONCERN OVER KR NON-COOPERATION, MUST NOT GIVE KR EXCUSES
------ ----------- ------------- ----------- ------------

10. DR. SOLOMON SAID THE U.S. CONSIDERS THE RESISTANCE OF THE
KR TO COOPERATE WITH THE PEACE AGREEMENT A MATTER OF SERIOUS
CONCERN. THE KR HAVE SOUGHT ALL MEANS TO KEEP THE UN OUT OF
ITS ZONE. THE KR COMPLAINS THAT THE VIETNAMESE ARE STILL
PRESENT AND THAT, THEREFORE, THEY MUST CONTINUE TO FIGHT. THE
U.S. CANNOT JUDGE WHETHER SOME VIETNAMESE TROOPS REMAIN IN
CAMBODIA, SOLOMON SAID. IT IS UP TO UNTAC TO VERIFY THE
WITHDRAWAL OF FOREIGN FORCES. SOLOMON CONCLUDED THAT THE POINT
IS THAT, "ALL OTHER FACTIONS MUST ABIDE BY THE PEACE PLAN SO
THE KR HAS NO EXCUSES FOR NON-COOPERATION." THIS WOULD
STRENGTHEN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S HAND IN BRINGING
PRESSURE ON THE KR. THE SOC SHOULD FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE
RELEASE OF ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS. THIS WOULD PUT PRESSURE ON
THE KR, WHO HAVE THUS FAR RELEASED NONE. THE SOC AND OTHER
FACTIONS SHOULD ALSO COOPERATE COMPLETELY WITH UNAMIC/UNTAC AND
SHULD REFRAIN FROM ANY MILITARY OPEATION OR MOVEMENTS WHICH
VIOLATE THE SPIRIT OF THE AGREEMENT. THE FACTIONS MUST PROVIDE
FULL ACCESS FOR THE UN TO THEIR ZONES.

11. SOLOMON SAID THAT THE QUESTION OF POLITICAL PLUARLISM IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF ITS IMPORTANCE IN
DEALING WITH THE KR. THE U.S. IS DEEPLY DISTURBED BY POLITICAL
VIOLENCE IN CAMBODIA, ESPECIALLY THE ASSASSINATION OF TEA BUN
LONG, THE ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF OPPOSITION FIGURE DUNG
PHAN, AND THE ATTACK ON KHIEU SAMPHAN. THE ANGER OF PEOPLE AND
DESIRE FOR REVENGE AGAINST THE KR IS UNDERSTANDABLE. HE
REMINDED HOR NAMHONG OF SECRETARY BAKER'S STATEMENT IN PARIS
THAT THE U.S. WOULD FAVOR EFFORTS TO BRING THOSE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE GENOCIDAL POLICIES OF POL POT TO JUSTICE.
NEVERTHELESS, ALL PARTIES MUST CREATE A SECURE ENVIRONMENT OR
THERE WOULD BE UNENDING VIOLENCE, DR. SOLOMON SAID THE U.S. IS
AWARE THAT SOME IN THE SOC REGIME ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT NEW
POLITICAL PARTIES BEING FOUNDED. BUT POLITICAL OPENNESS IS
ESSENTIAL TO FIGHTING THE KR. MOREOVER, IN THE U.S. THERE ARE
MANY PEOPLE BORN IN CAMBODIA WHO WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE
TOWARD CAMBODIA'S DEVELOPMENT. THEY MUST FEEL SECURE OR THEY
WILL NOT BE WILLING TO RETURN AND PARTICIPATE.

FACTIONS MUST SHOW SETTLEMENT WORKING TO MAINTAIN U.S. SUPPORT
--------- ----------- ------------ -------------- ------------

12. A/S SOLOMON WARNED THAT IF THE UN SETTLEMENT IS NOT SEEN
TO BE WORKING, SOME IN THE U.S. SHOULD PAY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS FOR THE PEACE PLAN. WHEN SOC PRIME MINISTER HUN SEN
TRAVELS TO WASHINGTON, HE WILL FACE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FULL
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACCORDS.

13. HOR NAMHONG RESPONDED TO A.S SOLOMON'S POINTS BY SAYING WE
MUST NOW WORK TO ACHIEVE 70 PERCENT DEMOBILIZATION FIRST AND
PLEDGED THAT THE SOC WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL IT HAD RELEASED ALL
POLITICAL PRISONERS. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER RELEASE ON MARCH
23-24 OF PRISONERS FROM ODDAR MEANCHEY PROVINCE. WHEN THE
PRINCE TRAVELS TO KOMPONG SOM, ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS HELD
HERE WILL ALSO BE RELEASED. FINALLY, HE PROMISED THE SOC
AUTHORITIES WOULD INVESTIGATE THEIR OWN SYSTEM TO ENSURE THERE
ARE NO MORE POLITICAL PRISONERS HELD. HOR NAMHONG WENT FURTHER
TO SAY THAT "WE ARE INTERVENING WITH THE INTERIOR MINISTRY' TO
IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR ALL OTHER PRISONERS. THE SOC HAS ASKED
ICRC FOR HELP WITH MEDICINES AND FOOD TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS IN
THE PRISONS.

14. THE SOC FOREIGN MINISTER PLEDGED THE SOC WOULD FULLY
COOPERATE WITH UNAMIC AND UNTAC ON MILITARY MATTERS. HE SAID
THE SOC HAS NO NEED TO ENLARGE ITS ZONES AND SAID KARIM HAD
EXPRESSED COMPLETE SATISFACTION WITH SOC COOPERATION
MILITARILY. THE SOC HAS FOUGHT BACK ONLY IN SELF-DEFENSE. HE
CONCLUDED THAT, FOR CAMBODIA, "THERE IS NO CHOICE BUT TO ACCEPT
THE PARIS AGREEMENT. WE SEE IT AS THE BEST CHOICE TO END THE
WAR."

HOR NAMHONG WORRIES FREEDOM WILL BE USED FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE
---------- ---------- ------------ ----------- -------- ------

15. REGARDING POLITICAL VIOLENCE, HOR NAMHONG SAID THIS WAS
WHAT HE MEANT WHEN HE SAID "OVER-USE OF HUMAN RIGHTS." HE
SAID, "IT IS EASY TO USE VIOLENCE AND THEN ACCUSE THE PHNOM
PENH GOVERNMENT." IT WAS OTHERS WHO PROFIT FROM THESE CRIMES,
HE ALLEGED. HE SAID THE VIOLENCE DOES NOT AFFECT JUST PEOPLE
LIKE TEA RUN LONG AND DUNG PHAN. HE SAID THERE HAD BEEN
ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS AGAINSTG BOTH HIM AND HUN SEN AND THAT
THERE HAD BEEN AN ATTACK ON HIS SON. HOR NAMHONG CONCLUDED,
"WE NEED TO DIVIDE THE POLITICIANS FROM THOSE WHO WOULD USE
FORCE." WHILE THERE WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULTIES, WE MUST BE
PATIENT, HE SAID.

16. SICHAN SIV INTERJECTED TO SUPPORT A/S SOLOMON'S POINTS.
HUMAN RIGHTS IS ONE OF THE AREAS FOR WHICH HE IS RESPONSIBILE
IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND IS A CORNERSTONE OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
SIV EMPHASIZED THAT RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS GOES WELL BEYOND
SIMPLY FREEING POLITICAL PRISONERS. IT INCLUDES FREEDOMS OF
PRESS, RELIGION, AND ASSOCIATION, AMONG OTHERS.

17. HOR NAMHONG RESPONDED THAT, "WE HAVE THE SAME
UNDERSTANDING (OF HUMAN RIGHTS), THAT IT IS NOT JUST RELEASING
PRISONERS." HE CITED THE SIDE RANGE OF AGREEMENTS ON HUMAN
RIGHTS AT THE JANUARY 14 MEETING IN PHNOM PENH AND THE
PROTECTIONS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE REVISED SOC CONSTITUTION.
"WE ASK OTHERS TO IMPLEMENT THESE RIGHTS 100 PERCENT."
JOURNALIST WHO CAN TRAVEL IN THE GOC-CONTROLLED AREAS MUST ALSO
BE ABLE TO PASS THROUGH THE OTHER ZONES, FOR INSTANCE.

SOLOMON WARNS CORRUPTION COULD PLAY INTO HANDS OF KR
-------------- -------------- ---------- -----------

18. SOLOMON CONCLUDED BY SAYING THE U.S. HOPES THE SOC WILL
GET CONTROL OF THE CORRUPTION. CORRUPTION AMONG SOC OFFICIALS
"WILL ERECT A BARRIER AGAINST THE RETURN OF THE KR." NOR
NAMHONG EXPRESSED HIS AGREEMENT AND SAID THE SOC HAS TAKEN
MEASURES AGAINST CORRUPTION, INCLUDING DISMISSING SOME
MINISTERS. HOR NAMHONG SAID HE HAD PROPOSED THAT THE MINISTERS
BE SENTENCED PUBLICLY.

COMMENT
-------

19. THE MEETING PROVIDED A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR GIVE AND TAKE
ON THE ISSUES AND FOR THE U.S. TO STRESS THE NEED TO RESPECT
THE ACCORDS TO ENSURE THE KR HAS NO EXCUSES FOR
NON-COOPERATION. IT IS CLEAR THE SOC IS NOW OPPOSED TO MOVING
TO 100 PERCENT DEMOBILIZATION. THE MOST WORRISOME COMMENT BY
THE SOC FOREIGN MINISTER WAS HIS CONCERN THAT HUMAN RIGHTS
WOULD BE USED AS PRETEXT FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE. END COMMENT.

20. A/S SOLOMON CLEARED THIS MESSAGE.

TWINING

© Scoop Media