Cabinet papers 1990-91: push for Cambodian UN peacekeeping role

The Austlralian | 1 January 2015

Corporal Grant James, a medic with Australian Force Communications Unit in Cambodia, gives first aid to a victim of an axe attack near Kampot in 1991.

The Hawke government pushed for a significant role leading the dangerous UN peacekeeping operation in Cambodia to promote Australia as a natural security partner to regional nations, open up economic opportunities and stop the flow of refugees.

The cabinet documents reveal that foreign minister Gareth Evans and defence minister Robert Ray also felt that playing a major role in the UN operation would enhance Australia’s long-term relationship, “including trade and investment”, with Cambodia and Vietnam.

“Our planning must, however, take into account both the substantial risks to UN forces in Cambodia and the possibility that, even after the settlement process is well advanced, fighting could resume between the Cambodian factions,” the documents say.

Australia’s interpretative intelligence agency, the Office of National Assessments, had warned that the renewal of hostilities was a distinct possibility. A plan would have to be put in place to ensure Australian Defence Force personnel could be pulled out quickly if that happened.

After Australia was heavily involved in brokering the peace deal between the many factions in Cambodia and signed in Paris in 1991, the government offered to provide the commander and headquarters personnel for a UN force to oversee the peace along with a specialist force of several hundred personnel armed for self-defence. An air transport unit would support the UN force and give the Australians a ready means of withdrawal should that be needed.

One document, stamped “SECRET” and “AUSTEO” (For Australian Eyes Only) said Australia’s efforts had established the nation’s status as a creative and constructive member of the Asia-Pacific region.