Journal of Critical Reviews ISSN- 2394-5125 Vol 7, Issue 2, 2020 Review Article THE ROLE OF INDONESIA IN CREATING PEACE IN CAMBODIA: 1979-1992 1Ajat Sudrajat, 2Danar Widiyanta, 3H.Y. Agus Murdiyastomo, 4Dyah Ayu Anggraheni Ikaningtiyas, 5Miftachul Huda, 6Jimaain Safar 1Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Indonesia 2Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Indonesia 3Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Indonesia 4Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Indonesia 5Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris Malaysia 6Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Received: 05.11.2019 Revised: 25.12.2019 Accepted: 07.01.2020 Abstract The 1979-1992 conflicts were a thorn in the flesh for the peace in the Indochina area, and the Southeast Asia area. Because Indonesia is part of the countries in Southeast Asia, it is reasonable if Indonesia contributes to creating peace in Cambodia. Therefore, this study tried to find out the beginning of the conflict in Cambodia, to know the role of Indonesia in realizing peace in Cambodia in 1979-1992, and to understand how the impact of Cambodia peace for Indonesia in particular and Southeast Asia in general. The conflict in Cambodia caused political uncertainty in Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia countries attempted either independently or within the framework of ASEAN to resolve the conflict. Indonesia’s extraordinary contribution assisted in the peace in Cambodia, both through ASEAN and the United Nations. Indonesia as the representative of ASEAN, has successfully held several important meetings as a solution to solving Cambodia's problems. Successive is Ho Chi Minh City Understanding (1987), and Jakarta Informal Meeting (JIM) I and II (1988-1989). In the United Nations Framework, the Indonesian Foreign Minister and the French Foreign Minister were appointed Chairman, at the 1989 Paris International Conference on Cambodia (PICC-Paris International Conference on Cambodia). On 23 October 1991 the PICC was re-organized and resulted in the Paris Agreement as the culmination of a joint success to end conflict in Cambodia. Keywords: Cambodia, Indonesia, Peace, and Role. © 2019 by Advance Scientific Research. This is an open-access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31838/jcr.07.02.129 INTRODUCTION conflict settlement process. Peace was eventually realized in Cambodia is one of the countries located in the Indochina area, 1992 with the Paris Accords. This has brought the political Southeast Asia. Up to 1992, Cambodia had always been faced development of the area into peace and the increasingly with either internal or external conflicts. This long-standing significant role of Indonesia in the ASEAN regional association. conflict affects the political situation in Southeast Asia. At last, in 1992, because of the roles of other neighboring Southeast THE EMERGENCE OF THE 1979 CAMBODIA CONFLICT Asian countries and the ASEAN regional association in the The emergence of troubling conflict in Cambodia began since United Nations framework, peace in Cambodia could come the beginning of Norodom Sihanouk administration as true. The 1992 Paris Peace Accords is the beginning of a new Cambodia was independent from the French colonization. The chapter of Cambodian history, as well as peace in Southeast ruling of Norodom Sihanouk changed the political atmosphere Asia. of the country from neutral during the Cold War to taking the communist side in Indochina. Sihanouk took the decision The 1979-1992 conflicts were a thorn in the flesh for the peace because the southern part of Vietnam ruled by Ngo Dinh Diem in the Indochina area, and the Southeast Asia area. The long- was protecting the Khmer Rouge backed by the United States lasting conflict in Cambodia can be explained in three scopes, which was against the Sihanouk regime with a base in Saigon. i.e. domestic, regional, and international. Domestically, the On the other hand, Ngo Dinh Diem accused Sihanouk to conflict in the country is essentially an interfraction conflict support the Vietcong army by allowing a part of Cambodian between the government and its opposition, while regionally territory as a base for the army to attack South Vietnam the conflict represents a security issue between Vietnam and (Riswandi, 2017). The People’s Republic of China, Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as Vietnam and Thailand. In the international scope, the In 1960 Sihanouk took the throne and became a neutralist king triangular relationship between The United States, Uni Soviet, with Lon Nol (pro West) as the prime minister. Not long after, and The People’s Republic of China contributes to the PM Lon Nol was discharged due to communist influence, and interminable Cambodia conflict. The three countries succeeded by PM Son Sann. In 1970 Lon Nol had a funding understood the importance of the share of power in Southeast from the U.S. government and launched a coup d’état with Sirik Asia, especially Indonesia as a matter to be reckoned Matak, Long Boret, and Nol Nol (Lon Nol’s brother). Lon Nol concerning their security issues in Southeast Asia area. became the leader of the country and change the monarchical Cambodia into Khmer Republic and appointed himself As one of the countries located in Southeast Asia, Indonesia president. The new Lon Nol alliance with the U.S. and their has made significant efforts both independently or as a part of attacks to the Vietnam communist hiding threatened the ASEAN in resolving issues in Cambodia. Indonesia is aware Vietnam revolution, and thus paved the way between both the that the conflict can further trigger a wider regional conflict, Vietnam and Cambodian political parties to make an alliance and as such, the country’s contribution does not go unnoticed. against the Phnom Penh regime (Dipoyudo, 1979). During his Since the beginning of the conflict, Indonesia as the Chair of ruling, Lon Nol appointed Sirik Matak as the Head of ASEAN Committee had been pushing to resolve the Cambodia Parliament and Long Boret as the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, conflict. Both JIM I and JIM II have brought new air in the King Sihanouk flee to Beijing (Wiharyanto, 2012). Journal of critical reviews 702 THE ROLE OF INDONESIA IN CREATING PEACE IN CAMBODIA: 1979-1992 Lon Nol administration did not last long, as it was overthrown State. To this point, Heng Samrin’s efforts in the government by the Khmer Rouge (pro China communists) in 17 April 1975. could be considered successful as the people could accept him During the precarious condition, Lon Nol decided to flee to as a leader, despite the backing from Vietnam, as long as Pol Taiwan, while Sirik Matak and Long Boret were both executed. Pot would not return. Vietnam’s political position was As a result, Cambodia became a communist country with Pol strengthened with the diplomatic efforts that aimed at ruling Pot as the prime minister. Ieng Sary was appointed the out PKDK as the representative of Cambodia in international Secretary of State, and Khieu Samphan acted as a symbolic forums, including the UN and the Non-Aligned Movement president. Pol Pot’s administration received support from the (Usman, 1983). People’s Republic of China (PRC). His role for the Khmer Rouge was a firm gesture of anti-Vietnam sentiment and that the Meanwhile, Dismissal from his position as the leader of government was leaning more to Peking (Sardiman, 1983). Cambodia solicited a lot of protests from the neighboring This part of history emphasizes the notion that the Indochina countries, including ASEAN. Pol Pot’s regime resulted in many conflict is generated between Vietnam and PRC (Nangoi, violations on Cambodia’s security and sovereignty. Vietnam, 1981). however, argued that they were part of security efforts as On the other hand, Indonesia decided to activate its embassy Cambodia had done a violation by crossing the border and in Cambodia, which received positive support from the committing mass murder to Vietnamese civilians in the border Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Nevertheless, the plan (Sardiman, …). Vietnam also argued that they were part of an failed due to Vietnam’s aggression in November 1978, where attempt of fleeing from PRC’s territorial ambitions. Vietnam managed to take over the Cambodian government at In May 1981, Cambodia held their first presidential election last (Nasution et al., 2002). Vietnamese occupation in during Heng Samrin’s regime in 1979, where 99% of civilians Cambodia caused Indonesia’s Department of Foreign Affairs to were registered, while Heng Samrin won the majority votes freeze all embassies’ activities in Phnom Penh and relocate it with 99.75% people supported the CPP party that he led to Bangkok. All Cambodia-related matters were transferred to (Nasution et al., ). After the attack on the Khmer Rouge ended, the Bangkok embassy since then. Vietnam still placed around 130,000 to 200,000 troops in The conflict between Vietnam and Cambodia has been going Cambodia. This was then causing new problems because the on for so long as the countries are each other’s mortal enemy. move was seen as an occupation, which emerging groups and In addition, their conflict also involves border issues. This movements respond to as a form of opposition, such as Khmer results in a tension between Vietnam and ASEAN. The conflict Rouge led by Khieu Samphan, KPNLF (Khmer People’s between the two countries also involves the superpowers, National Liberation Front) led by nationalist Son Sann, and especially Uni Soviet and PRC. Moulinaka led by Prince Sihanouk. Pol Pot’s administration enacted a policy in order to change Vietnam’s decision to occupy the part of Indochina was the semifeodal agrarian-based economy to a limited socialist condemned by both ASEAN and the UN. ASEAN stated that no agrarian-based industry with a force of power. The hostilities matter what excuse Vietnam had on its decision to occupy in the Pol Pot regime caused a termination of 800.000 to a Cambodia, it was still an act of aggression that was against the million people.