[House Document 105-104]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress, 1st Session  - - - - - - - - - - House Document 105-104


 
                           STATUS ON CAMBODIA

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

 A LETTER NOTIFYING CONGRESS THAT ON JULY 10, 1997, A JOINT TASK FORCE 
  OF APPROXIMATELY 550 U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL FROM THE U.S. PACIFIC 
 COMMAND BEGAN DEPLOYING TO ESTABLISH AN INTERMEDIATE STAGING BASE AT 
     UTAPAO AIR BASE, THAILAND FOR POSSIBLE EMERGENCY NONCOMBATANT 
                   EVACUATION OPERATIONS IN CAMBODIA.




 July 14, 1997.--Referred to the Committee on International Relations 
                       and ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                         Washington, July 11, 1997.
Hon. Newt Gingrich,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: Political animosity between Cambodia's 
Co-Prime Ministers, Prince Ranariddh and Hun Sen, erupted into 
armed clashes on July 5. Hun Sen, in what he claimed was a 
preemptive move, acted to disarm forces loyal to Ranariddh in 
Phnom Penh. Although Hun Sen has outwardly maintained the 
coalition government, he intends to replace Ranariddh as Co-
Prime Minister. After fighting between the rival forces over a 
wide area of Phnom Penh on the weekend, an uneasy calm has been 
restored in the capital. No Americans were killed or wounded. 
Danger remains in Cambodia from increased criminal activity and 
military mop-up operations (including extralegal arrests) since 
July 5, and living conditions have deteriorated due to 
extensive damage sustained during the fighting. The principal 
area of concern is now the northwest part of the country where 
elements of the armed forces led by commanders still loyal to 
Ranariddh are resisting forces loyal to Hun Sen. The potential 
exists for armed clashes between contending units. U.S. 
citizens are not the targets of any of the contending forces, 
but substantial danger exists to the civilian population and 
any foreign residents or visitors in those regions, principally 
the northwest, where clashes are likely to occur.
    On July 9, 1997, the State Department ordered a drawdown of 
official American personnel to a minimal staff of 20 persons, 
and recommended that private American citizens in Cambodia 
should leave. The departures are being accomplished, safely so 
far, through commercial air. If the security situation 
deteriorates, however, that option might quickly become 
unavailable.
    On July 10, 1997, a Joint Task Force of approximately 550 
U.S. military personnel from the U.S. Pacific Command and the 
United States began deploying to establish an intermediate 
staging base at Utapao Air Base, Thailand. These forces will 
stage for possible emergency noncombatant evacuation operations 
in Cambodia, establish communications, and conduct contingency 
planning. These actions will enhance the ability of the United 
States to ensure the security of between 1,200 to 1,400 
American citizens in Cambodia if an evacuation should become 
necessary.
    The Joint Task Force includes a forward headquarters 
element, fixed-wing and rotary aircraft, airport control and 
support equipment, and medical and security personnel and 
equipment.
    The U.S. forces primarily come from elements of the U.S. 
Pacific Command; other elements are U.S. based units. All the 
armed services are represented. Although U.S. forces are 
equipped for combat, this movement is being undertaken solely 
for the purpose of preparing to protect American citizens and 
property in the event that such becomes necessary. U.S. forces 
will redeploy as soon as an evacuation is determined to be 
unnecessary or, if necessary, is completed.
    I have taken this action pursuant to my constitutional 
authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in 
Chief and Chief Executive.
    I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep 
the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers 
Resolution. I appreciate the support of the Congress in this 
action to prepare to protect American citizens in Cambodia.
            Sincerely,
                                                William J. Clinton.

                              
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