Cambodian Secession Collapses
A secessionist movement that threatened to defy the results of national elections collapsed Tuesday, removing an obstacle from Cambodia’s path to democracy.
Premier Hun Sen issued a statement from Kompong Cham, one of seven provinces whose loyalty was in jeopardy, insisting that the entire region was back under Phnom Penh’s control.
The rebellion fell apart after its leader fled to Vietnam, improving chances that bickering over new national leadership can be resolved.
Renegade government forces led by a wayward son of head of state Prince Norodom Sihanouk had declared the provinces--about 40% of Cambodia--an “autonomous zone” Saturday.
Sihanouk’s son, Prince Norodom Chakrapong, was protesting the ruling party’s loss in last month’s U.N.-organized elections. Chakrapong was a deputy premier in the Vietnamese-installed government.
In New York, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution instructing all Cambodian parties to cooperate in a smooth transition to a new government.
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