Cambodian head of state Prince Norodom Sihanouk pulled out of presidential elections Monday, saying civil war could break out following U.N.-supervised voting in May.
"I strongly fear that after these famous elections of May 1993, there may be a risk of grave disorders in Cambodia, of instability, insecurity, and even war," he said in a statement.The former monarch said he feared the Khmer Rouge and some political factions likely to be defeated in the elections would not recognize the results, which are to be monitored by the U.N. Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). The Khmer Rouge has already denounced the U.N.-brokered peace plan signed by three other factions in Paris.
"I decide therefore not to be a candidate in presidential elections that are rejected and condemned by the (Khmer Rouge) and their armed forces, bringing a de-facto partitioning of my country in which I've always symbolized the unity and territorial integrity.
"I will not participate in the presidential election no matter what the date because my country, Cambodia, and the Cambodian people after May will need a Norodom Sihanouk who is neutral and not connected (to the elections), in order to stop the fatal progression of Cambodia toward an irreversible partition and toward a fatal civil war for the nation," said the prince.
Sihanouk made his decision following a visit to Cambodia by French President Francois Mitterrand who failed to get the prince to endorse a French proposal to organize the presidential election prior to the May legislative elections.