How the coalition collapsed
By Allen Myers
@box text intro = The armed conflict in Phnom Penh in early July was in many respects simply a renewal of the earlier conflict between the Cambodian People's Party forces and FUNCINPEC, which in the 1980s fought in alliance with the Khmer Rouge against the CPP. But the breakdown of the coalition between FUNCINPEC and the CPP appears to have been provoked largely by the actions of Prince Ranariddh.
Early in 1977, Ranariddh announced a new alliance, the National United Front, as an explicitly anti-CPP force. It was to include FUNCINPEC and followers of ex-FUNCINPEC politician Sam Rainsy.
More seriously, Ranariddh tried to extend the NUF to include the remaining Khmer Rouge forces centred on Anlong Veng in northern Cambodia. These overtures to the Khmer Rouge continued even while the latter was calling on its radio for intensified military struggle against the Cambodian government and the CPP in particular.
Ranariddh's moves were military as well as political. According to a white paper issued by the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 9, throughout the first half of the year, FUNCINPEC-controlled military forces were moved closer to the capital with as little publicity as possible. This included 500 Khmer Rouge troops brought into Phnom Penh in April.
Ranariddh was also caught red-handed smuggling weapons. On May 2, he sent a letter to the director of the port in Sihanoukville, instructing him to release a container of "spare parts" addressed to Ranariddh.
On May 26, government officials inspected the container and found nearly three tons of weapons, including rockets, AK-47 assault rifles, hand guns and ammunition. Ranariddh responded only by saying that, as prime minister, he was legally entitled to bring weapons into the country.
On June 24, Khmer Rouge division commander Lieutenant Colonel Phon Pheap, was brought into Phnom Penh by FUNCINPEC General Nhiek Bun Chhay.
According to the white paper, Khmer Rouge troops, along with illegally moved FUNCINPEC troops, were also stationed in garrisons illegally established around Phnom Penh. Attempts to search some of these garrisons led to the outbreak of fighting on July 5.
The charges of secretly bringing armed Khmer Rouge troops into the capital have been supported from an unlikely source. According to the August 4 Sydney Morning Herald, the French ambassador in Phnom Penh wrote to FUNCINPEC in June complaining about Khmer Rouge forces hiding in the FUNCINPEC headquarters, which are adjacent to the French embassy. (The ambassador was afraid that this would lead to fighting which could damage the embassy.)
General Serei Kosal, one of Ranariddh's top aides, wrote back to the ambassador, confirming the presence of 40 Khmer Rouge troops in the FUNCINPEC headquarters.