In 1997, Cambodian politics were starting to become a very slippery slope in terms of tense relations between the different parties. One day, Prince Sam Rainsy was giving a public rally when a grenade was thrown into the crowd. Rainsy was spared from the explosion, but American Ron Abney was injured in the attack. Abney was visiting Cambodia as part of the International Republican Institute, a group that promotes overseas democracy. Amb. Quinn tells of how he was back in the United States during the attack and immediately took action. He began to ponder if Abney may have actually been the initial target, and Amb. Quinn wrote to the FBI to investigate the situation. Due to laws prohibiting the FBI from entering, Amb. Quinn talked with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to grant them permission to investigate. Hun Sen agreed, and the investigation soon began.
THE ARCHIVE OF AMBASSADOR KENNETH M. QUINN
FROM THE MISSISSIPPI TO THE MEKONG