Transition: State of Cambodia (1989–1993) People's Republic of Kampuchea

on 29–30 april 1989, national assembly of prk, presided smiling hun sen, held extraordinary meeting in order make some, @ first, largely cosmetic constitutional changes. name of people s republic of kampuchea officially changed state of cambodia (soc)—a name had been used right after 1970 coup—reintroducing blue colour in cambodian flag , other state symbols, although coat of arms remained same. national anthem , military symbols changed. kpraf armed forces renamed cambodian people s armed forces (cpaf). capital punishment officially abolished , buddhism, had been partially reestablished prk in 1979, reintroduced national religion, restriction lifted on ordination of men under 50 years old , buddhist traditional chanting resumed in media. following complete normalisation of traditional religious life, buddhism became extremely popular in cambodia, experiencing widespread revival.

intending liberalise cambodia s economy, set of laws on personal ownership , free market orientation passed well. new constitution stated cambodia neutral , non-aligned state. ruling party announced there negotiations groups of opposition.

the state of cambodia lived through time of dramatic transitions triggered collapse of communism in soviet union , eastern europe. there reduction in soviet aid vietnam culminated in withdrawal of vietnamese occupying forces. last vietnamese troops said have left cambodia on 26 september 1989 did not leave until 1990. many vietnamese civilians returned vietnam in months followed, lacking confidence in ability of prk s new avatar control situation after vietnamese military had left.

despite quite radical changes announced hun sen, soc state stood firm when came 1 party rule issue. leadership structure , executive remained same under prk, party firmly in control supreme authority. accordingly, soc unable restore cambodia s monarchical tradition. although soc reestablished prominence of monarchical symbols, grand palace in phnom penh, far go time-being, since norodom sihanouk had steadfastly associated himself cgdk, opposition coalition against prk included khmer rouge. in mid-1991, however, succumbing number of pressures both within , outside of country, government of state of cambodia signed agreement recognised prince norodom sihanouk head of state. late 1991 sihanouk made official visit soc , both hun sen , chea sim took leading role in welcoming ceremony.

still, fissures appeared on monolithic structure state of cambodia trying preserve. revolutionary idealism replaced practical cynicism, corruption increased. cambodian state resources sold without benefitting state , high placed civil , military individuals in key posts of authority enriched pocketing whatever benefits grab. result of moral breakdown students revolted in streets of phnom penh in december 1991. police opened fire , 8 people died in confrontations.

the conditions ethnic chinese improved after 1989. restrictions placed on them former prk gradually disappeared. state of cambodia allowed ethnic chinese observe particular religious customs , chinese language schools reopened. in 1991, 2 years after soc s foundation, chinese new year officially celebrated in cambodia first time since 1975.

peace agreement

peace negotiations between vietnam-backed regime in cambodia , armed opposition groups had begun formally , informally after mid-1980s. negotiations extremely difficult, khmer rouge stubbornly insisted in dismantlement of prk/soc s administration before agreement reached, while prk/soc leadership made point of excluding khmer rouge future provisional government. outside historical events, in form of fall of communism , ensuing collapse of soviet support vietnam , prk, bring prk/soc negotiating table.

the haphazard efforts towards conciliation in cambodia culminated in paris agreements in 1991, in united nations-sponsored free , fair elections scheduled 1993. result, united nations transitional authority in cambodia (untac) established @ end of february 1992 supervise cease-fire , ensuing general election.