Cambodia.

• Position: Visit of United Nations Human Rights Commissioner

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, visited Cambodia from 22 to 24 January and had meetings with Second Prime Minister Hun Sen and other government officials in Phnom Penh. She visited a museum where 16,000 people were interrogated, tortured and killed during the rule of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. She also met with members of her office in Cambodia and with representatives of non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies working in the country.

Second Prime Minister Hun Sen gave her assurances that the mandate of her office in Cambodia could continue beyond March, when the Memorandum of Understanding with the Government was due to expire. The Human Rights Commissioner expressed her concern that there be a thorough investigation of the violence which erupted last July. She offered the services of international experts in the investigation, an offer accepted by Mr. Hun Sen.

Ms. Robinson met the week before in Geneva with Prince Norodom Ranariddh, in preparation for her visit to Cambodia. Prince Ranarridh, who was ousted by Mr. Hun Sen in July 1997, presented his concerns on human rights issues in his country.

More than 62,000 Cambodian refugees crossed into Thailand since political violence broke out in Cambodia in July 1997...