CAMBODIA: 1ST PRIME MINISTER RANARIDDH PRESS CONFERENCE

(20 Jun 1997) English/Nat

Cambodia's co-prime minister offered a new, conflicting account on shadowy Khmer Rouge chief Pol Pot on Friday, saying Khmer Rouge guerrillas are launching an offensive to capture Pol Pot alive.

First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh said the Khmer Rouge leader had asked to surrender to the government but the forces around him are determined to capture him alive.

Pol Pot is said to be surrounded by 1,000 of his former guerrillas who have turned against him, about 10 miles east of Anlong Veng near Cambodia's northern border with Thailand.

The hunt for fugitive Khmer Rouge leader is still on - despite his reported offer to surrender to the Cambodian government.

First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh held an impromptu press conference during a visit to a temple in the Kampong Speu province just outside of Phnom Penh.

Ranariddh said Friday that Khmer Rouge guerrillas are launching an assault to try and capture alive their notorious former leader Pol Pot within the day - but did not specify whether government forces were also involved in the operation.

SOUNDBITE
"And finally according to what I have heard this morning that they are determined- to- because they know exactly- to let's say- make a final assault by today in, in hoping that they will be able to capture Pol Pot alive."
SUPER CAPTION: Prince Norodom Ranariddh, Cambodia's Co-Prime Minister

Ranariddh said that the guerrillas don't want a surrender from Pol Pot because that would imply accepting conditions from the Khmer Rouge leader.

Ranariddh said efforts were being made to capture Pol Pot alive and put him before an international tribunal.

SOUNDBITE
"That I have heard clearly this morning that Pol Pot asked to surrender but the forces around him are determined not to allow them to - him to surrender but to capture him. Yes to capture him and not to allow him to surrender. You will ask me what difference. Surrender means that you accept him and you have to provide a safe conduct- something like this to safe guard Pol Pot. There are no way, we have to capture him alive if possible and to send him as I have very clearly said many times, to an international tribune."
SUPER CAPTION: Prince Norodom Ranariddh, Cambodia's Co-Prime Minister

But with no access to the isolated area where the hunt for the Khmer Rouge leader is taking place, and conflicting reports about his fate emerging during the past week, many inside and outside of Cambodia have been left wondering if the stories weren't a ruse, riddle or hoax.

Hun Sen said he was sceptical of the reports.

SOUNDBITE:
How high, from here to the sky. And Pol Pot, I don't understand. Because Pol Pot - the highest, the top leader of the Khmer Rouge. Why Pol Pot betray, with who? Pol Pot betray with who? And Pol Pot surrender with who? I don't understand.
SUPER CAPTION: Hun Sen, Cambodia's Co-Prime Minister

Ranariddh is one of two prime ministers in a rivalry-ridden coalition government, which is prone to dispensing sometimes contradictory information about the disintegrating Khmer Rouge movement for partisan political gain.

Hun Sen accused his rival of playing political games.

SOUNDBITE:
"Pol Pot... suicide- I don't believe. Political game political game. From Pol Pot and some people in Phnom Penh"
SUPER CAPTION: Hun Sen, Cambodia's Co-Prime Minister

The country's ruling partners, Funcinpec and the Cambodian
People's Party (CPP) formed an uneasy coalition government following the UN sponsored elections in May 1993, but already tense relationships have reached an all time high in Phnom Penh this week.

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