The Cambodia Coup (Part 1 of 2)
staged a coup. A brief and bloody conflict ended with many of Ranariddh's top men executed, and Hun Sen in firm control of the nation. The world refused to recognize Hun Sen's rule. The United States and the United Nations maintained their recognition of Ranariddh's government. The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which was about to initiate Cambodia as a member along with Laos and Myanmar, refused to allow Cambodia to join. Hun Sen sank Cambodia into isolation, again.
Japan, trying to keep the peace in Southeast Asia, brokered a plan with Hun Sen and Ranariddh, whereby Ranariddh would agree to stand trial for treason, arms smuggling, and plotting with the Khmer Rouge (who were still hiding out in the jungles). Ranariddh would undoubtedly be convicted, but under the plan, the King (Norodom Sihanouk, the Ranariddh's father) would pardon him with Hun Sen's political blessing. After the pardon, Ranariddh would be allowed to return to Cambodia, and new elections would be held.
Ranariddh was convicted, and sentenced to 35 years in prison and fined millions of dollars. Hun Sen agreed to forget about the prison sentence, but insisted that Ranariddh pay the fine, essentially attempting to block Ranariddh's return. Ranariddh ignored him, and returned to Phnom Penh anyway, paving the way for new elections, to be held July 26, 1998.
As the New York Times said in an April 25 editorial, if the elections are run freely and fairly, Cambodia has a shot at returning to democratic rule. But this is unlikely. Hun Sen controls the media, and continues to harass and jail Ranariddh supporters. The odds that the election will be free and fair are remote.
On July 26, the election campaign began. Hun Sen announced he would allow competing parties five minutes of television and radio time a day. It's going to be a difficult election.
[The next article in the series, an interview, will give a first-person account of the 1997 coup, as well as discuss possibilities for this election and Cambodia's future.]
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