United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC) and the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC): The Dutch contribution

UNTAC mission

The launch of the operation was so slow, however, that most of the military personnel only left the Netherlands at the beginning of April 1992. By then, UNAMIC had already been absorbed into UNTAC. After a brief introduction programme, the navy’s training team was posted to Siem Reap and that of the EOD to Battambang. The 2 supervising teams set off for the area between Sisophon and Siem Reap.

On 12 March 1992, the Council of Ministers agreed to the participation in UNTAC of:

• a reinforced battalion from the Marine Corps (approximately 800 men);
• 3 F-27 Troopship transport aircraft;
• 3 Alouette III helicopters with around 70 support personnel, a movement control unit (MCU: 49 personnel);
• and several staff officers.

Positions of Dutch colonels

2 officers, Colonel W.A. Huijssoon (RNLA) and Colonel K.C. Roos (Royal Marechaussee), were posted to important staff functions. From 5 April to 14 November 1993, Huijssoon was responsible for the planning within the UNTAC staff. Colonel Roos left for Cambodia on 14 April 1992 to take on the leadership of UNTAC's civil police apparatus in the rank of brigadier general.

Marines obstructed by Khmer Rouge

The opposition of the Khmer Rouge meant that the marine battalion was only able to deploy 2 of the 4 companies in the assigned sector 1, located at the edge of Cambodia on the Thai-Cambodian border. The Khmer Rouge considered that too great a presence of UNTAC would jeopardise the lucrative logging and gemstone mining in the area they controlled.

Locations

One company installed itself in Phum Nimit, a cantonment location for government troops in the north of the sector, and also the site of the field hospital. Another company set up a cantonment location for units of the White Khmer in Sok San, in the south of the sector. The other 2 companies set up base in Sisophon and Phum Bavel. Also based in Sisophon were the battalion staff, service support units and the helicopter detachment. The 3 F-27 aircraft were stationed at the Thai naval base of U-Tapao and returned to the Netherlands in November 1992.

Mandate

The comprehensive mandate for this 'second-generation' peace mission came into force on 15 March 1992 for a duration of 18 months. The implementation of the peace accord in Cambodia was conducted in phases. The 1st phase commenced immediately after the signing of the Paris accords. The main tasks were to monitor the ceasefire and to clear mines from vital areas.

Cantonment, disarmament and demobilisation

The 2nd phase started on 13 June 1992 and concentrated on the cantonment, disarmament and demobilisation of the military personnel of the 4 Cambodian parties, a process in which the White Khmer proved willing to cooperate. The government troops were also willing to cooperate with the cantonment at first, but when the Khmer Rouge refused to cooperate, they too became more reluctant.

Elections

The 3rd phase began in October 1992: the organisation of the elections, which were to be held in May 1993. In the light of the forthcoming elections, UNTAC changed the sector borders so that they coincided with the provincial borders. This meant that the new Dutch sector now contained the province of Bantey Meanchey. The new batch of marines took over the camps in Sok San, Sisophon and Phum Nimit from their predecessors and set up accommodation at Phum Prasat and Phum Thma Pok.

Tensions

Electoral registration started on 5 October 1992 and prompted rising tensions in the areas dominated by the Khmer Rouge. The election campaign kicked off in April 1993. The marines guarded the polling stations, protected UNTAC personnel and the international election observers and provided the necessary transport. The elections, held from 23 to 28 May, proceeded remarkably peacefully.

Dissolution of UNTAC

The deployment of the 3rd marine battalion was dominated by the dissolution of UNTAC. The Dutch battalion took over the neighbouring sector 2 from the departing Bangladeshi battalion in August, and from 2 September supervised the withdrawal of the Pakistani battalion from the old sector 3. The marines ended their operational tasks on 5 October.