 |
 |
| Published in Washington, D.C. April 30, 1998 |
Hun Sen opens drive to control Cambodia
U.S. pushes for war crimes tribunal
By Richard S. Ehrlich
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia
Prime Minister Hun Sen opened his campaign for re-election yesterday with a mass rally at an indoor sport arena, where he sat flanked by accused mass murderer Ke Pauk and other Khmer Rouge defectors.
Costumed traditional dancers languidly tossed flower petals toward Hun Sen, his wife, and the cheering audience of about 20,000 government officials, soldiers, students, businessmen, monks, diplomats and others.
While American diplomats push for war crimes trials, Hun Sen has worked to encourage defectors from the disintegrating Khmer Rouge army by welcoming them into his ranks with generous offers of amnesty, food, shelter and other incentives.
For the past year or so, the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh has funded some of the government's programs to encourage Khmer Rouge defections, using money from the Agency for International Development to provide food and clothes to low-ranking infantry-men.
One defector offer a glowing tribute to Hun Sen at his rally.
"We are tired of fighting -- we need peace," said the former Khmer Rouge guerrilla, who appeared dressed in a crisply pressed military uniform and black boots with stacked heels. "We think the Hun Sen leadership is fair."
After smoking a cigarette, Hun Sen pledged to go ahead with elections in July and to conduct them honestly.
"I will continue to fulfill the requirements for a free and fair election without delay," said Hun Sen, who shared power with Prince Norodom Ranariddh until ousting his rival in a coup in July last year.
"I am ready to peacefully transfer my power to the winner, or to organize a new coalition government within a multiparty system, in case my Cambodian Peoples Party wins."
Behind Hun Sen sat several Cabinet members and other prominent Cambodians, including 13 Khmer Rouge defectors, all in new government uniforms. About 50 more were seated elsewhere in the stadium.
The defectors were led by Mr. Pauk, who sat sipping green soda through a straw, occasionally applauding and adjusting his spectacles when photographed.
Prince Ranariddh, who is expected to challenge Hun Sen in July, has demanded that Mr. Pauk and other Khmer Rouge leaders stand trial.
"You know Ke Pauk...is responsible for hundreds of assassinations. He is a mass murderer," the prince said.
Mr. Pauk served as commander of the central zone during the Khmer Rouge's 1975-78 reign, during which as many as two million Cambodians died, according to historian and author Nayan Chanda. In that capacity he would have taken part in some of the worst atrocities of the period.
Hun Sen's adviser Svay Sitha said after yesterday's rally that Mr. Pauk had "agreed to switch to the government's side and has contributed greatly to the government's side, and helped end the Khmer Rouge movement."
Cambodian officials and a Western diplomat at the rally said Mr. Pauk had not yet received an official amnesty but indicated that his front-row presence at the stadium meant a deal was probably being discussed.