When the results of the highly successful U.N. supervised election were announced, the communist Cambodian People’s Party had finished second in the voting behind Prince Raniriddh’s FUNCINPEC Party. Stunned by this outcome, the CPP refused to accept the results and join in forming some type of coalition government. Deputy Assistant Secretary Quinn travels to Phnom-Penh to meet with the various leaders of the CPP to encourage them to accept the results. Having identified Prime Minister Hun Sen as the key decision maker within the CPP, Amb. Quinn outlines the two options available to the communist movement. While he is at the U.S. embassy about to depart for Washington, the phone rings with a message from Hun Sen about the decision they have made.
THE ARCHIVE OF AMBASSADOR KENNETH M. QUINN
FROM THE MISSISSIPPI TO THE MEKONG