What a Difference a Decade Makes: Cambodia Sends

UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 000699 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS; GENEVA FOR RMA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MOPS CB SUBJECT: What a Difference a Decade Makes: Cambodia Sends Peacekeepers to Sudan ¶1. On April 12, Prime Minister Hun Sen presided over a ceremony for the 109 Cambodian peacekeeping troops being sent to Sudan to participate in UN sponsored demining operations. (Note: There are a total of 135 but 26 have already departed for the Sudan. End Note.) This is the first time Cambodia has contributed to UN peacekeeping operations. He expressed pride that RCAF will join this international force after having UN peacekeepers stationed in Cambodia a decade ago. ¶2. Hun Sen announced that RCAF will only participate in United Nations peacekeeping operations. He stated that deployment in any other capacity was in contravention to Article 53 of the Cambodian Constitution. The deployment of RCAF would only be to support humanitarian efforts; he noted Cambodia must receive an invitation from the UN before every such deployment. Hun Sen stated that he looked forward to Cambodia participating in future peacekeeping operations but RCAF needed to learn from this experience. ¶3. The PM announced three measures for the families of the troops. He stated that the government would pay a donation of $1,900 per soldier to each soldier's family. The RCAF would continue to provide each soldier's salary and food ration to his family. Most importantly, he provided assurances that the UN salary of each soldier would be his to keep. ¶4. Hun Sen stated that Cambodia must increase its capacity for peacekeeping operations. He asked the donor community to provide training and equipment for medical personnel to serve in peacekeeping operations. ¶5. The PM also imparted lessons from Cambodia's UNTAC experience to the troops. The PM asked the troops not to use their positions to bring goods duty free into Sudan for sale on their local markets which would disrupt the local economy, as happened in Cambodia during UNTAC. He also asked the troops to respect the safety of the people and the sovereignty of Sudan. ¶6. Comment. The deployment of 135 Cambodian troops to Sudan shows that after years of receiving from the UN, Cambodia is finally giving back. The PM's announcement that the RGC is allowing each soldier to keep their UN salary is a positive sign; many other countries take the UN-provided salaries of their peacekeepers. The Defense Attache Office will be providing a separate report after the deployment. MUSSOMELI