Cambodia: A Problem of Peace and Stability
ITH the. signing of the Paris Peace Agreement on a war torn, economically backward Cambodia on 23 October 1991, the n'orld community heaved a singh of relief and hoped that finally, Cambodia, with the U.N. efforts might again emerge as a fully independent, non-aligned and peace loving country. In fact, no other country in South-east Asia has suffered such a succession of troubles as Cambodia in the last few decades. However, the U.N. has taken up a formidable challenge for not only establishing peace in Cambodia but also to run the administration and generate an atmosphere, suitable for a fair and free elections, scheduled for early 1993. But in view of the prevailing scenario in Cambodia, i t is being felt in some quarters that if Khmer Rouge could not effectively be disarmed and the problem of the repatriation of the refugeest is not solved, the Cambodian peace can again prove elusive. These apprehensions are not unfounded because Cambodia has a long history of civil war which become intense duc to the greatpower rivalry. The destruction that Cambodia has experienced in the last few years stands in testimony of the role played by the greatpowers. The events that have occurred in Cambodia in the past and have led to the present of affairs need a careful analysis. The present paper is a modest attempt in understanding the complexities of the Cambodian problem and assess the prospects of peace.
Kampuchean Conflict: The Continuing Stalemate
The war in Kampuchea is perhaps the most bizarre and intricate conflict in recent history. No other war has entangled so many Communist groups-on both sides of the conflict-in such a small country, and yet been such a low-intensity affair for so long. In fact, it is a war of attrition which none of the antagonists has been able to bring to an early end or from which none has seemed eager to walk away. As a result, after nearly nine years, there are still no clear signs indicating that the end is around the corner.
Protection of the Marine Environment: The International and National Regulation of Deep Seabed Mining Activities
This chapter provides an overview of the international and national regulatory framework pertaining to deep seabed mining activities. It begins by discussing the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the backdrop for all marine activities – be they national or international – and examines the obligations of states to protect the marine environment from the harmful effects arising from deep seabed mining. Next, the chapter examines the international regime for deep seabed mining (i.e. “activities in the Area”), explaining the “common heritage of mankind” status of the Area (i.e. the international seabed); the functions of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the international organization established to govern deep seabed mining in the Area; and the concept of state sponsorship of non-state entities (i.e. private actors) for deep seabed mining in the Area. The chapter follows with a discussion of the development of national legislation to regulate deep seabed mining, examining efforts in the Pacific region where many prospective deep-sea mining sites are located. This includes a look at the legislative regimes of several Pacific Island nations, namely, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and the Cook Islands, for whom deep seabed mining may soon become a reality – as well as New Zealand and Japan, countries with comparatively developed rule of law and legislative regimes that have undertaken or considered deep seabed mining in their national waters. Overall, the chapter critically describes and evaluates the current regulatory status in the international and national seabed areas and highlights some salient gaps that require urgent attention in order to ensure marine environmental protection and mitigate impacts on humans.