Talks with Khmer Rouge planned

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33813, 9 April 1975, Page 17

Talks with Khmer Rouge planned

(N.Z.P. A.'Reuter—Copyrights PHNOM PENH, April 8. The Cambodian Prime Minister (Mr Long Boret) said today that moves were under way for talks with the Khmer Rouge insurgents who are besieging Phnom Penh. Mr Boret made the disclosure on his return after a week’s absence abroad during which the country’s stand-in leadership was reported considering surrender terms to the advancing insurgents. Mr Boret was asked

whether he had met Khmer Rouge representatives and whether he had any hopes for a peaceful settlement of the five-year-old Cambodian war. He replied: “We are talking about that in Indonesia and Bangkok. I will elaborate lai er.” Mr Boret ■ flew to Phnom Penh from Bangkok, where he spent 36 hours on his way home from Indonesia after accompanying President Lon Nol to the tourist island of Bali. The President left®. Phnom Penh last

Tuesday on a long overseas tour which was seen as clearing the way for peace talks in Cambodia. In Bangkok, the Thai Foreign Minister (Mr Chatichai Choonhavan) said today that Mr Boret had talks lasting four hours last night with representatives of the forces opposed to Marshal Lon Nol’s Government. Mr Chatichai did not reveal the identity of the representatives but said that the atmosphere of the talks was good.

(History of Cambodian war Page 11.)