In the 44-year history of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the “Cambodia campaign” (December 1978 to October 1991) has been one of the most significant challenges to face the organization. ASEAN was only a little over 12 years old when the campaign began. It tested the mettle of ASEAN, whether it could stand by its principles — the non-use of force, non-interference in domestic affairs, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. ASEAN was also tested by the long duration of the diplomatic campaign to liberate Cambodia from foreign intervention and occupation. ASEAN's protracted diplomatic campaign, fought in various international fora, such as the United Nations General Assembly every year and the annual meetings of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM) and the Group of 77 developing countries (G77), also brought the young organization into the international public spotlight, and won it praise for its tenacity and principled stance. It was not an easy task to stand up against Vietnam, backed as it was by the Soviet bloc. But then ASEAN also had powerful supporters, including the United States, the West Europeans, China, Japan, Australia and other friends in the NAM and G77. ASEAN also received substantial support from friendly UN Secretariat officials, such as Under-Secretary General Rafeeuddin Ahmed and Mr Hedi Annabi, who provided regular briefings on Cambodia. These information updates were useful in crafting and gaining support for the annual ASEAN UNGA resolutions on Cambodia.

THE VITAL ROLE OF NORODOM SIHANOUK

One of ASEAN's main assets in the diplomatic struggle to liberate Cambodia peacefully was Samdech Norodom Sihanouk, who, as once and future King and recognized and revered leader of the Khmer people, provided legitimacy for the diplomatic campaign. Samdech Sihanouk was a well-known figure in the Non-Aligned Movement, having been a key actor in the 1955 Bandung Conference that led to it. Thus, he lent his charismatic prestige to the Khmer resistance and to ASEAN's efforts. Every year at the UN General Assembly, Samdech Sihanouk would organize parties at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, and it became de rigueur for ASEAN representatives and other friendly supporters to gather there and to network.