Former UNTAC Force Commander Lt. General John Murray Sanderson re-visits Cambodia to hold talks

 

Lieutenant General John Murray Sanderson, the Former Force Commander of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), who once served in a peacekeeping operation here,  arrived over the weekend to hold talks with top leaders on further strengthening diplomatic relations between Australia and Cambodia.

The 10-day visit, together with his wife Lorraine Sanderson, is also to mark the 30th anniversary of UNTAC, and as part of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Cambodia.

In a media release issued by the Australian Embassy in Cambodia, Lt Gen Sanderson together with his wife will pay a courtesy call on His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, and Her Majesty Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk.

Both of them will also meet Prime Minister Hun Sen and other senior ministers besides provincial governors, key officials and civil society representatives.

“These meetings provide an opportunity to reflect on the personal contributions and friendships that have built Australia and Cambodia’s strong relationship over the past 70 years, and consider how we can further strengthen our relationship into the future,” the Embassy said in its statement.

Lt Gen Sanderson will open an exhibition, organised by the Australian Embassy and supported by the Vcentre for Peace and Conflict Studies and the Asian Vision Institute, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of UNTAC at the Raffles Hotel Le Royal.

The UNTAC exhibition will be open to the public from 7am to 9pm every day from April 29 to May 28.

UNTAC was a historic period for Cambodia and a great example of effective international political and security cooperation, with Japan and Asean member states also making key contributions. It was established by the United Nations in 1992 to oversee the implementation of the Paris Peace Agreements, the safe repatriation of Cambodians displaced by the civil war and the 1993 national elections.

Lt Gen Sanderson commanded its large multilateral force consisting of 12 infantry battalions and support units, military observers and civilian police, totaling 22,000 personnel from around 40 different countries.

In October 1991, Sanderson came to Cambodia, first as advisor to the Secretary General in the planning for UNTAC in the Kingdom and then as the authority's military commander with the rank of lieutenant general.

At the end of this posting, in October 1993, Sanderson returned home and was appointed as the first Commander Joint Forces Australia, holding this post until becoming Chief of the General Staff in June 1995. In June 1997 his title was changed to Chief of Army. The culmination of his career came in 2000 when he was appointed Governor of Western Australia.

In addition to providing the command of the military component, Australia, a long-time friend of the Cambodia, also contributed over 1,200 personnel to Peacekeeping in Cambodia.

The country also provided the first contingent, the Force Communications Unit, with 488 personnel. The second contingent included Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force and New Zealand Army personnel.







 

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