See-saw tussle for vital port

Press, 20 January 1979, Page 8

See-saw tussle for vital port

NZPA-Reuter Bangkok’ Vietnamese-backed forces have recaptured the strategic, deep-sea port of Kompongl Som on Kampuchea’s (Cam-I bodia’s) south-western coast! after it was briefly held by i troops loyal to "’ol Pot’s! Administration, diplomatic sources have said. The port was first claimed captured by the pro-Viet-namese insurgents soon after they took Phnom Penh on January 7. Loyalists then said they had regained control of it last Monday. It has been bitterly contested since then, along with other strategic points along Kampuchea’s south-western coastline. Fighting has also been reported scattered through various parts of the country, as Pol Pot units by-passed in the recent headlong insurgent thrust through Kampuchea switch to a guerrilla war of harassment. While it is unclear exactly what happened in Kompong Som, reports indicate that the initial insurgent push failed to give them complete control of the vital supply port. The Loyalist Khmer Rouge, apparently regrouped and hit back before losing the struggle for control. Kompong Som and other points along the coast have been scenes of heavy fighting as the Hanoi-backed insurgents attempted to

b.ock all supply routes to' the loyalists. Informed sources in Bang-1 kok mentioned various areas of Kampuchea where they) said a lot of fighting was still raging. These include northeastern Mondolkiri province, Takeo in the south-west, north western Preah Yihear, and Sisophon in the north-west, the last area lying only about 50km from the Thai border. The propaganda war over Kampuchea has now also resumed in full spate with broadcasts coming from both sides. The Pol Pot side’s radio, which fell dramatically silent a few hours before the capture of Phnom Penh, is broadcasting regularly f our times a day. It has called on all Kampucheans to rally around Mr Pol Pot’s Communist Party. The radio of the new Phom Penh Administration, Mr Heng Samrin’s People’s! Revolutionary Council, is) also giving extensive broad- ; casts. Yesterday it quoted a reporter from ■ the Administration’s news agency as saying that after the takeover 12 days ago “the people walked throughout the city Phom Penh} with smiles and happiness. They helped each other to clean the city and repair broken machines, buildings, and electricifv eouinment.”