(1 Oct 1997) Eng/Khmer/Nat
Cambodia's Second Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed on Tuesday to let opposition politicians return home and permit the United Nations to observe next year's election.
But he hinted he might withdraw the offer if his government was denied a U-N General Assembly seat.
Hun Sen also refused to guarantee that his rival, the deposed co-prime minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh, would be immune from prosecution if he returned.
The prince was ousted last July in a violent coup staged by Hun Sen.
Cambodia's warring factions aired their differences at the United Nations on Tuesday.
Second Prime Minister Hun Sen and his ousted rival, former first Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh, met separately with U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan to discuss the status of Cambodia's General Assembly seat.
The U-N credentials committee has delayed a decision on whether to accredit
delegations loyal to Hun Sen or Ranariddh during the current General Assembly debate.
The diplomatic conflict comes three months after Hun Sen engineered a coup in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, and deposed Ranariddh.
Hun Sen said it had been necessary to seize total control because Ranariddh was allegedly plotting with the Khmer Rouge to assassinate him.
SOUNDBITE: (Khmer)
"According to the plan that we captured, there was some plan to assassinate me and also in one of the statement of his chief cabinet, he told foreign correspondents (that) Hun Sen was already killed the fifth of July."
SUPER CAPTION: Hun Sen, Second Prime Minister, Cambodia
Hun Sen said it was up to the courts to decide whether to prosecute Ranariddh for allegedly cooperating with Khmer Rouge guerrillas in Cambodia and maintained that he had no right to intervene.
SOUNDBITE: (Khmer/English)
"Prince Ranariddh is in conflict with the law prohibiting movement of Khmer Rouge troops inside the city of Phnom Penh. (English translation follows) Prince Ranariddh is in conflict with the law prohibiting the illegal import of weapons into the country. "
SUPER CAPTION: Hun Sen, Second Prime Minister, Cambodia
Following his talks with Annan, Hun Sen said he agreed to allow the U-N to organise and guarantee the safe return of opposition politicians who fled the country during the coup.
He also revealed that they had discussed preparations for the U-N to monitor next May's elections.
But Hun Sen added that the issues of the U-N General Assembly seat and the world body's role in the elections were inter-related, suggesting that Cambodia would withdraw its offer if a seat was denied to his government.
His rival, Prince Ranariddh, on the other hand, praised the U-N committee for its decision to leave the Cambodian seat vacant.
He insisted that all opposition politicians - including himself - be allowed to return unconditionally and without fear of prosecution or reprisals.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I have said that first of all we have to talk about the return, safe return of all politicians, activists, personalities, members of government, members of parliament who are in exile for opposing Mr. Hun Sen, and when we are talking about personalities, we have to talk about myself without any charges, any criminal charges."
SUPER CAPTION: Prince Norodom Ranariddh, deposed First Prime Minister, Cambodia
Ranariddh said the elections would not be credible without his participation.
Hun Sen said he had no plans to meet Ranariddh while in New York.
The second prime minister rapidly consolidated his power in Cambodia after the takeover but has to win international acceptance.
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20 июл 2015
