1) Although life is full of fragility, the three pressuring forces had been overcome
Today is October 24. It means that yesterday was the day the Paris (Peace) Agreement (to the Cambodian problem) was signed. Today is not yet 24 hours (away from the date) if we consider the time of signing. There are at least three dignitaries here who still remember this event. The first is Her Princess, the second is Prince Sisowath Thomiko, and the third person is His Excellency Chem Vidhya, who had been with me at that time, along with His Excellency Cham Prasidh and His Excellency Ouch Kim An. His Excellency Cham Prasidh, the father of the Minister (of Trade) who has come to defend the law today. In hosting and being the host of the SNC (Supreme National Council) after the agreement was signed, at that time there was a six-hour time difference (between Cambodia and) France. I did not sleep because I had to prepare a lot of things before going to the meeting at the Cambodian Embassy in France, which was then the royal residence of His Majesty the (King) Father.
I should briefly recall some of the events that happened. I think that my sharing will contribute to the understanding of researchers or even politicians who set themselves up as “the fathers” of the Paris (Peace) Agreement. As you know, before (realizing) the Paris (Peace) Agreement, we had to overcome many obstacles. The obstacles on my side were not a problem, although there were forces pressing against me, which I used to refer to as the three pressuring forces. Firstly, there was not sufficient understanding (about peace negotiation) among us inside (the Party and the Phnom Penh government). Secondly, the Vietnamese (voluntary) troops (was still) in Cambodia. However, by the time the Paris (Peace) Agreement was signed, Vietnam had completely withdrawn (its troops). Thirdly, we were still receiving aid from the former Soviet Union. My life was full of fragility. But I could still overcome it.
(2) Chosen by HM the King Father as a negotiating partner since 1984
More difficult (was the pressure on the side of) HM the (King) Father. He wanted to negotiate since 1984. He chose me as a negotiating partner, and the former French Foreign Minister Claude Cheysson was the one to prepare for the meeting. However, on his trip to the United Nations, HM the (King) Father sent a message saying that he would like “to ask His Excellency Hun Sen to understand that we could not meet (at that time) because of the Khmer Rouge’s objections”. At that time. I returned to the country to assume the role of acting Prime Minister, while His Excellency Chan Si was having medical treatment in Moscow. However, we did not give up on this negotiation. Effort to resume the negotiation continued through many channels, and Madam Pung Chhiv Kek (Kek Galabru) was the main channel. Prince Norodom Ranariddh was also a channel for communication on this matter.
(3) December-2 Sihanouk-Hun Sen meeting – the journey towards peace
His Majesty had had a difficult time because the Khmer Rouge opposed the peace talk. The Son San party also opposed it and some did some other countries. However, though mountains cannot meet, people can still do as long as there is goodwill. The Sihanouk-Hun Sen meeting, which is often said to be on December 2nd, was the beginning of the journey towards peace. The issue here is that the peace deal did not happen only on October 23rd. Let me clarify. There had been negotiations in many places – in France, Indonesia, Beijing, Thailand, and New York, before the Paris (Peace) Agreement was reached. (Even) when it was signed, what had happened? I should share this with my compatriots and researchers. The Government of the State of Cambodia, with me as the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, or Prime Minister, was responsible for putting in place all aspects of accommodation, security – all aspects – for the (Cambodian) parties participating in the implementation of the Paris (Peace) Agreement, including the operations of the United Nations on the territory controlled by the State of Cambodia.
(4) Having North Korean bodyguards is not the (King) Father’s fault
I still remember that at around 9pm on October 23rd, after signing (the Paris (Peace) Agreement), I received a phone call from HM (thew Queen) Mother. What was the phone call about? HM (the Queen) Mother had a message for me saying, “Your Excellency, please check. We have already rejected the Thai army to protect the palace, so should you consider having […] the Thai army to accompany me? I ask you to consider.” This was what happened. Some people blamed HM the (King) Father for having North Korean bodyguards, saying, “Why didn’t we allow the Cambodian bodyguards instead of North Korean bodyguards?” It was not HM the (King) Father’s fault. It was Hun Sen’s problem […] On June 4th, 1991, in Jakarta, the meeting between His Excellency the (King) Father and me led to an arrangement that I would like to bring it up again.
HM the (King) Father said, “I will go to stay with His Excellency Hun Sen because the Khmer Rouge deceived me that once the Vietnamese army withdrew, the (State of Cambodia) government of Your Excellency would collapse. Now, it is on the contrary, not only (that the government of) Your Excellency did not collapse, but (Your excellency) had taken back almost all the land.” In the peace deal there were the following points – “retain the Constitution of the State of Cambodia, the national anthem, the national flag, and the name of the country, where HE Heng Samrin would still be the President of the Council of State, HE Chea Sim would still be the President of the Parliament, and HE Hun Sen would still be Prime Minister.” However, I proposed the establishment of a National Presidium, which would include myself, (Samdech Preah) Norodom Sihanouk would be the presidents, and there could be Samdech Chakrei Nhek Chulong as a member. This proposal was accepted.
(5) “Take whoever Your Majesty trust to protect you from the inside […] and I will protect you from the outside?”
On June 4th, I went to see HM again to ask where he would want to stay? Whether it would be in the palace or in Chamkar Morn? In the past, Chamkar Morn was his residence as head of state. HM said to me – “Your Excellency, I do not want to be king, but if Your Excellency allows, I would like to stay at the Khemrin Temple. I would be grateful.” I immediately ordered Samdech Kong Sam Ol by phone to start the work of repairing the Royal Palace. This means that there was a secret agreement at that time, but it was exposed in Bangkok. The story in Jakarta was that HM the (King) Father said, “Your Excellency has to protect me and beware of the Khmer Rouge (assassins) entering the palace and killing me.”
I replied – “please don’t worry, I am capable enough to protect you. But in case you want foreign bodyguards, the way Sekou Toure of Guinea-Conakry, who used to visit Cambodia in Your Majesty’s time, used bodyguards from Cuba to protect him, (Your Majesty may also consider that option). His Majesty said, “No! I will go for the North Koreans.” I agreed and immediately said, “No problem! Whoever your Majesty trust, take them to protect you from the inside, including food inspectors, personal protection, doctors – everything. I will protect you from the outside.”
(6) The 1988 SNC formula of one president and three vice presidents was not agreed upon
This issue led to a meeting in Pattaya (Thailand). After the arrangement was no longer a secret, there was a change of the (members of the) Supreme National Council, which previously consisted of Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Chao Sen Kosal, also known in short as Chhum. It was because of the fact that the arrangement was no longer a secret that countries wanted a package solution, with both the Khmer Rouge and the Son San participating in it at once.
(It was in this regard that) there was a proposal to change the members of the SNC – Supreme National Council at that time from Samdech Chao Sen Kosal, known in short as Chhum, to Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk. (The King) Father also accepted the Chairmanship of the first meeting in Pattaya after the meeting supposed to be led by the elder Chao Sen Kosal, in 1990 at the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, failed. At that time, HM the (King) Father had not yet been selected as the SNC Chairman, only the Chairperson of the meeting.
The SNC Chairmanship was arranged in Beijing. (At) the SNC meeting, I asked to see HM the (King) Father separately. HM the (King) Father asked me, “What would be the problem, Your Excellency?” I then said HM – “The SNC does not have a chairperson yet. I have some formulas to present to You.” The formulas (that we had from before to have a chairperson and vice-chairperson) were not accepted.
In fact, (it was the arrangement for the SNC to have) a President and three Vice-presidents – an old formula I proposed from 1988 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, when we initially the create the Supreme Council for National Reunification, with the intention to include Son San and Khieu Samphan. I would be a vice-president and His Majesty would be the President. However, (no agreement was reached).
(7) HM removed himself from the tripartite government and the President of FUNCINPEC once becoming the SNC President
(Later) when the Vietnamese army was withdrawn, the State of Cambodia must raise the stake. The formula to have a President and Vice Presidents (cannot be accepted anymore). There are other formulas. One of them would be the Co-President formula, in which Your Majesty and I would be the Co-Presidents (of SNC). This is the first formula. The second formula is the rotating Presidency. The rotating Presidency can have two formulas in it. (1) You are the President for a month, and I am the President for a month, or (2) each and every one of the 12-member of the SNC takes turn holding the Presidency. That is the Co-Presidency or the Rotating Presidency formula.
However, there is another formula that I think you may accept, and it is that you make yourself become the only President of the SNC, on the basis that you withdraw from the tripartite government and the president of FUNCINPEC, for reasons of ensuring neutrality.” HM said – “when I am the President (of SNC), I have to be above everyone, and I have to be neutral! Your Excellency.” So (we) had the deal.
HM also (had me draft the proclamation,) saying, “Your Excellency is very good at drafting.” In fact, the Fère-en-Tardenois proclamation was drafted and presented to HM. HM gave it to the Samdech Krom Preah, who at that time was still Prince Norodom Ranariddh. Nothing had changed. HM (said) “Since Your Excellency is very good at drafting, please go and draft the proclamation.”
We parted ways. The SNC did not have any further meetings. Then I started drafting. That day, Ho Sithi and Yi Dan did the typing. The typewriter’s guide spring broke and they had to use the elastic band from the waistband of a pants as a (replacement). After typing, I had Chem Vidhya taken it to present to HM in Beijing. In fact, I sent it as a draft, but perhaps, after reading, HM was satisfied with it, and signed it right away. At that time, we dated it on August 17, before we were going to New York and to Pyongyang. You may want to check at the date again.
(8) Responsible for the protection of safety of the Royal Family and the survival of the Constitutional Monarchy
The story begins from there that we had the President of the SNC, and HM removed himself from the President of the Tripartite Government and the President of FUNCINPEC. Then there was a trip to North Korea, and I was His Majesty’s guest. At that time, I became the adopted son of His Majesty and Her Majesty. His Majesty called me son, a special son. The Queen Mother could have remembered it. It is in this regard that there has been a father-son story up until now, and I have been placed responsible until now for the protection of safety of the Royal Family and the survival of the Constitutional Monarchy.
When I met (Marshal) Kim Il Sung, I talked (about requesting bodyguards for His Majesty the (King) Father). Kim Il Sung was sitting in the middle of the banquet. His Majesty was on his right and I was on Kim Il Sung’s left. I said to Kim Il Sung, “Please help me protect His Majesty the (King) Father’s safety. Could you help organize a team for me to protect from the inside, cooperating with my forces outside for protection.” President Kim Il Sung agreed to my request at that time. After leaving North Korea, I visited China and got to visit the Great Wall. There were some photos of me at the wall.
(9) Why Thailand has two ambassadors after the Paris (Peace) Agreement
Later, we had another meeting in Pattaya. But before arriving in Pattaya, my wife and I had had an invitation from His Majesty (the King Father) and the Queen Mother to have dinner with them. At that time, His Majesty told me, “Your Excellency! Now the Thai side would like to send a battalion to protect the Royal Palace. What do you think?” I then suggested to His Majesty – “No, Your Majesty! If we do this, it means that the (while the troop from a foreign country in) East goes out, the (troop from a foreign country in the) West comes in. It is dangerous for your politics and for my politics. It is impossible.” Then His Majesty said – “how should we deal with it now that Suchinda Kraprayoon raises the issue like this?” I decided then not to take them all at once, both North Korea and Thailand. I said, “No. I am the one who proposed to North Korea, and on the Thai side, I will meet Suchinda Kraprayun to explain.” Suchinda demanded to send a battalion of 500 troops to protect the palace. (Should we allow that to happen,) it would not be wrong when people to say “while Vietnam withdraws, Thailand enters”. The situation is bad. The story was like this.
Today, all those who claim to be experts on the Paris (Peace) Agreement should know how it happened. So, in the Pattaya meeting, I told Suchenda Kraprayun – “I don’t accept it, and it’s not His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk’s problem, it’s my problem. I have to be responsible for the security of all the signatories of the Paris (Peace) Agreement.” As I rejected Thailand’s request […] Her Majesty (the Queen) Mother called and said, “since we don’t accept troops to protect us, could Your Excellency accept a na nuong khai(? – could be from the Royal Security command) to accompany me?” I replied, “No problem!” At that time, she wasn’t Her Majesty the (Queen) Mother yet. She was just the (Princess) Mother.
We could allow some of them and could be stay (at the current location of the Kantha Bopha hospital). Indeed, we were trying to repair it. (I) contacted Phnom Penh to ask Samdech Kong Sam Ol, then His Excellency, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Council of Ministers, to repair the Kantha Bopha for the Nanong Khai. That is why, after the Paris (Peace) Agreement, Thailand had two ambassadors, one outside the palace and the other in the palace. That is how it was. In this space of time, my schedule had been tight and even at 3am I hadn’t slept yet. In the morning, I have to go to a meeting with SNC members at the embassy. Let me remind you a little about how it was. When we arrived, we discussed accommodation and security.
(10) “Don’t worry… hold on tight to HE Hun Sen … If a bomb explodes, we all will die together”
When discussing with the security, I also told him that I am responsible for the outside, HM is my own business, but the other parties are responsible for their insides. The outside security belongs to my security forces, there is no need to bring weapons in from the outside. Regarding the security, His Majesty said, “Your Majesty, don’t worry too much. Hold on tight to His Excellency Hun Sen, if a bomb explodes, we all die together.” This one royal statement reminded me of what I should do.
It was very necessary for me to go to Peking to accompany His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen, and the royal family. Only the Princess – the younger sibling – did not come because of pregnancy due date and they did not allow her to board the plane. (Otherwise) everyone came. So (in the tape) the document shows my wife and I go and accompany them. It was necessary to ensure that if there was any accident, I would die along with them. This is a responsibility.
(11) “… I am not the one who drove people out of Phnom Penh …”
That’s how it happened. I should mention another thing, though. After the discussion on security, there was a discussion about the accommodation. No one had any comments because they trusted my solution. The Royal Palace was renovated after receiving an order from Jakarta on June 4, 1991, and almost (in short, it was already when the time came and) another renovation at Kantha Bopha was accelerated for the Thai Ambassador, from the Nanong Khai group.
The soul of Samdech Bavor Son San may forgive me on this matter. Mr. Son San (raised an issue regarding the accommodation) – “what can I do? I have 12 houses, but the puppets have taken them all.” He insulted me right away. Sitting facing each other. In the living room, there were six of us on my side, His Majesty the King was sitting facing each other, then me, then Tea Banh, Hor Namhong, Dit Munti, and Son Sen. On the other side, there was Khieu Samphan right in front of Son San, Son Sen, Ieng Mali, and Samdech Krom Preah […]
I replied – “Your Excellency, let me be clear. I am not responsible for expelling the people from Phnom Penh. The Khmer Rouge did it.” I pointed to Khieu Samphan and Son Sen. “Now, what do you want me to do? When the Khmer Rouge were defeated, people came in and (occupied those empty houses,) while some houses were sold two or three times already. Don’t even think that Your Excellency, residing in France, trying to expel them, even I myself as the Prime Minister, I will be axed if trying to expel them from their houses. Mr. Son San said, “Let them axe, I am already old.” I thought to myself – that was how the old saying has said – “the old would rather die, the young would rather use sword and knife, and the babies would just cry.” I must be clear here because I am not responsible for expelling the people, and when the people first came back, they might just occupy whatever house they might find and own it. There were no people living there […]
The only people from outside were Mr. Son San and a few among his group, whom I denied giving them houses. Later, he wrote a letter to Her Majesty, demanding the house that Brother Chea Sim has been living in, (using the word) puppets all over it. I flatly denied (his demand) right away. As for Ieng Moly, we have prepared for him and everyone a house. Later, in the 2003 electoral campaign, there was this saying – “that we had taken houses that belong to them”. I said, if you are really serious, give back all the houses that I gave you […] At that time, (I was the one) who arranged everything. Even the residence of Samdech Krom Preah, which we used as the location of the (CPP’s) Organizing Committee, I asked the Organizing Committee to leave it. At that time, it cost me lots of gold to repair them as suitable places to work. It turned out that what I did was wrong.
(12) Son San: “… if Khieu Samphan doesn’t accept it, please give it to me …”
It is not a small matter to take responsibility for the fate (of the country by) successfully implementing (the Paris Peace) Agreement. Originally, (it was) a UNAMIC (operation and continued to be) the UNTAC. As the SNC (members) came into the country, once Khieu Samphan came, there was a huge demonstration. It was a bad day. On that very day, should I not go there (to control the situation), Khieu Samphan and Son Sen could have died. It was dangerous. We had to evacuate Khieu Samphan and Son Sen to the airport and flew them out by AN-24 to solve the problem. However, since their house was damaged, we had to repair it with a few floors […] Then we returned to having the meeting in Pattaya because we failed to protect them. So, we were also at fault.
I told His Excellency Khieu Samphan, the SNC President and SNC members, “Now, His Excellency Khieu Samphan’s house that was damaged, I shall replace it with another house. It is being renovated.” Suddenly, Khieu Samphan turned his back on me and said, “I won’t take it! I don’t know what the puppets are hiding in there.” I also said, “His Excellency Khieu Samphan, thank you for not taking it. I that case I would have a house to spare.” And then, Mr. Son San, who was good at opposing me in front of everyone else, came and whispered to me – “The house that Your Excellency was to give it to Khieu Samphan, If Khieu Samphan doesn’t accept it, please give to me.” I said – “No.” He then ask – “now let me stay in the Sakal 1 (Hotel).” I said, “You may stay, but pay for it.” I could have let him stay for free of charge, but every word he said, “we are the puppets”, so the puppets take the money.
(13) “The Sun Has Risen” – a song for HM the King Father birthday – October 31st
This is what the history was. After the meeting, I had not yet entered the country. I left Paris for Bangkok and changed plane from Bangkok to Canberra to visit Australia. On October 31st, His Majesty the King’s birthday was held in Beijing, and it was the day I wrote the song – “The Sun Has Risen.” Now, if you want to listen to it, just click and listen. It is about the reunion in which “the children is taking care of the inherited land.” I wrote it by hand as a song for his Majesty. The song was kept secret. When I arrived (back in the country), I have it recorded. On the evening of the 14th, when His Majesty arrived at night, there was a party in Chamkar Morn, and that song was played. This is to share the story.
Please do not write the history related to the North Korean bodyguard the way that it was His Majesty’s fault. It is mine in order to ensure safety and responsibility for security and order, including the accommodation of our brothers and sisters from abroad. And it should not be a mistake too that if I were to solve this problem, leading to our brothers and sisters in the country having no house to stay, while those coming from abroad do. Samdech Princess younger sister, the house in which you are living in was originally the house of General Mul Roep. I had to give money to General Mul Roep to repair that house and give it to Princess Arun (Rasmey). That’s the story. However, there have been people who claimed to be better than Hun Sen. I don’t know what to do. If they want to be better, let them talk about history, what the core content of it is.
(14) There is a path towards reconciliation and the possibility of signing a peace agreement.
Now, there are calls to appeal to the co-chairs of the Paris (Peace) Agreement to convene an urgent meeting regarding the invasion of a neighboring country (on our sovereignty and territorial integrity). (They do so) as if the co-chairs agree. Try asking Indonesia and France and see if they (accept) the call. Would all the signatories agree to participate, and how can we resolve it since the Thai side says Cambodian violated their land, Cambodia say Thailand violated ours. They say they respect Cambodian sovereignty, but the Cambodians invaded them. We say we respect Thailand’s sovereignty, but Thailand invaded us.
Can we resolve this dispute? It cannot be resolved. Now the process is moving towards reconciliation. In the past few days, there has been a lot of reconciliation. On October 26, a peace deal may be signed. Even the minister (of Trade who has been sitting) here, also had to attend the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting, and may have to go tomorrow with Manet or this evening already. However, because she is afraid of being criticized by the Senate President for being absent (to defend the law in) the meeting.
(15) The aggression has reached ICJ, UNSC and other international forums
This is a matter of sharing. Where is the Paris (Peace) Agreement being implemented? Have you looked at all the points of the Paris (Peace) Agreement? The elements of the Paris (Peace) Agreement have been included in the Constitution. It has been clearly stated from the beginning to the end, when the Constituent Assembly became the National Assembly and formed the government, it has been decided that the mission of the United Nations ended. It is either they do not understand or pretend not to understand or are ignorant. If it is based on the Paris (Peace) Agreement, there is no need to go far, just go to the Paris (Peace) Agreement.
However, this has gone beyond the Paris (Peace) Agreement to the ICJ, the International Court of Justice. They have gone even further than that. They have gone to the UN Security Council. They have gone to other international forums. I don’t qquite get it from them or they just talk about the Paris (Peace) Agreement without caring about the Constitution. Let us ask whether the Paris (Peace) Agreement states that the Khmer Rouge should be tried? No, it doesn’t. So, are we wrong to try the Khmer Rouge? We have decided that the trial should be within the framework of national law and international law on the issue of war crimes and genocide. Well, may be that is about all for now./.
