Peking urges Asians to not desert Khmers

Press, 1 March 1982, Page 9

Peking urges Asians to not desert Khmers

NZPA-Reuter Peking .China has called for continued support for the Khmer Rouge guerrillas’' struggle against Vietnamese forces in Kampuchea, in an appeal apparently aimed at nonCommunist countries in South-East Asia where the Khmer Rouge has just launched a diplomatic offensive. The call came in a Xinhua News Agency commentary entitled, “Moscow’s twopronged offensive against A.S.E.A.N.”. (the Association of South-East Asian Nations, which groups Thailand, Malaysia, the ■ Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia). “Those countries that have the tranquillity and peace in the region at heart should continue to support the patriotic Kampuchean Army and people,” the agency said. A Soviet "double offensive” against A.S.E.A.N. was shown by military threats by Soviet-allied Vietnam against A.S.E.A.N. members, and by the activities of Soviet intelligence services.

In recent weeks Soviet agents have been expelled from Malaysia, Indonesia,

and Singapore. The commentary came when irritation has appeared among A.S.E.A.N. members since the Khmer Rouge refused to join a “loose coalition” .linking the two other anti-Vietnamese movements, comprising the supporters of the former head of State, Prince Norodom Sihanouk, and a former Prime Minister, Son Sann. Malaysia has even threatened to withdraw its support for the Khmer Rouge, who so far. A.S.E.A.N. has defended internationally by continuing to defend the United Nations seat they still hold in spite of being Ousted from Phnom Penh by Vietnamese forces three years ago. Observers in Peking believe that China is trying to stem any disaffection, with the Khmer Rouge, who rejected the “loose coalition” proposals because they felt these could erode the Khmer Rouge’s international status. A.S.E.A.N. .saw the proposal as a way to preserving independence of each movement while overcoming the divergences inside the antiVietnamese factions.