General information
Part of Conflict: Cambodia (Kampuchea): Government
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1997-07-05
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: In immediate connection to an apparent coup that began on 5 July, Cambodian First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh stated that "[w]e consider that what is currently happening in Phnom Penh is a coup d'etat perpetuated by (second Prime Minister) Mr Hun Sen”. Prince Ranariddh also stated that "[a]t this time, the sole legitimate government of Cambodia is the one over which I preside, given legitimacy by the free and democratic elections organized by the United Nations in 1993 and by the confidence of the Cambodian people". Aside from claiming government power, Prince Ranariddh also accused Hun Sen of obstructing the free and democratic process, denouncing the coup as an attempt the disrupt the elections scheduled for 1998.
Prince Ranariddh also urged FUNCIPEC – his party and former rebel organization – and all “patriotic forces” to “rise up against Hun Sen and his cronies to absolutely prevent them from succeeding”. Long Sarin, Prince Ranariddh’s special envoy, also claimed that no political solution to the crisis was possible, and that military action was the only remaining option to deal with Hun Sen’s coup. Likewise, General Nhiek Bun Chhay – the top military commander of the forces loyal to Prince Ranariddh – announced that “there would be no surrender”.
Date of first use of armed force: 1997-07-08
Comment on date of first use of armed force: Two Royalist supporters were killed by forces loyal to Hun Sen
First Battle Related Death: 1997-07-08
Comment on First Battle Related Death: Two Royalist supporters were killed by forces loyal to Hun Sen
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1997-08-20
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: Heavy clashes continued in and around the town O'Smach, a stronghold of royalist forces loyal to Prince Ranariddh. As government forces loyal to Hun Sen advanced on the town, both sides suffered heavy losses.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1997
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 378 |
| Best | 233 |
| Low | 233 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea)): n/a
Side B (Forces of Norodom Ranariddh): n/a
1998
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 230 |
| Best | 119 |
| Low | 119 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Cambodia (Kampuchea)): n/a
Side B (Forces of Norodom Ranariddh): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1997 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
1998 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
