MEMORANDUM OF TRANSMITTAL To: Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman, Subcommittee on Immigration and Refugee Affairs. From: Jerry M. Tinker, Staff Director. As you know, the subcommittee has closely followed developments in Cambodia and throughout the Indochina region for many years. Numerous hearings, reports, and frequent field trips have been undertaken over the past 16 years to assess the continuing needs of Indochinese refugees as well as the many other humanitarian problems that remain in the aftermath of the war. Over the past several months, with the prospects for a peaceful settlement of the Cambodian conflict on the horizon, the subcommittee felt it important to update reports and information on the Cambodian situation. To accomplish this, the subcommittee asked Ms. EuRim Chun, a Javits Fellow serving with the subcommittee, to undertake a comprehensive review of the Cambodian situation. In consultation with other members of the staff, experts in the field, voluntary and international agency representatives and drawing upon official documents and reports of our Government and the United Nations the following report was compiled. The international community faces today an enormous challenge in meeting the humanitarian, economic and political needs of Cambodia. This report outlines some of them, and recommends a course of action. (III) FOREWORD By Senator EDWARD M. KENNEDY, Chairman After more than two decades of war and violence, the people of Cambodia see hope that peace and stability may once again return to their war ravaged land. But if this promise of peace is to be realized-if the United Nations peace accords which have made it possible are to be fully implemented-the United States must join the international community in bold diplomatic and relief initiatives. These include the safe return of refugees, the pacification of the countryside, and political and economic stability in urban areas. To assist the subcommittee in understanding the staggering humanitarian needs confronting the people of Cambodia, and the 350,000 Cambodian refugees in Thailand, I asked the staff to undertake a comprehensive review of conditions in the field. As readers of this report will see, they found a range of extraordinary challenges the world faces today in Cambodia. And if peace and relief are to be secured in Cambodia, we must begin to meet those challenges with expanded programs, greater funding, and better coordination among the United Nations agencies and donors. The Cambodian people have suffered unspeakably during the past two decades, and it is now up to the international community to ensure their access to a democratic and peaceful future. The findings and recommendations of this report help point the way. (V) CONTENTS Page Foreword by Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Summary of findings and recommendations A. Establishment of international agencies/entities.... Protection of human rights and basic freedoms for the Cambodian population A. Refugee and displaced persons protection under refugee, humanitari- B. Protection for refugees and displaced persons under the comprehen- sive political settlement agreement... C. Vehicles for protection: Education and independent monitoring. Letter from Senator Edward M. Kennedy to Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, 38 Press statement of S.A.M.S. Kibria, special representative of the Secretary 44 United Nations press release, "Secretary-General 'Deeply Disturbed' at Re- Letter from Senator Edward M. Kennedy to Mr. James A. Baker III, U.S. 45 (VII) |