The Military Component was able to collect and use information because of the component's military organization. Not only did the Military Component work closely with and share information with the other components, it possessed a formal military intelligence structure to gather and verify the activities of each faction with regard to the provisions set forth in the Comprehensive Settlement.

The military headquarters was located in Phnom Penh and deployed each of its contingents into sectors throughout the country, corresponding to provincial territories. Each sector would get its share of infantry personnel and military observers, and would be supported with appropriate engineer, aviation, signal, medical and logistical augmentation. Of the nine sectors, seven received one infantry battalion each, and the provinces of Kampong Thom and Kampong Speu each received two battalions (UN h: 168).

Within the military headquarters there were two military information cells. One was the Chief of Information, which worked for the Force Chief of Staff, much like a U.S. Army Division Intelligence Office. The other belonged to the Plans Branch, which also worked for the Chief of Staff. Additionally, each contingent had its own military information cell, similar to any found in a traditional peacekeeping operation.

Although intelligence is not mentioned in UNTAC documents, intelligence functions are implied, particularly by the overt activities conducted during the course of the component's attempt to carry out its mandate. The military mandate was premised on the notion that all four factions would willingly participate in the disarmament, demobilization, and cantonment process, and that the Military Component need only verify the factions' adherence to the agreement. For example, each faction, by signing the Comprehensive Settlement, agreed to disclose the following specific information concerning its military forces:

a. Total strength of forces; organization, precise number and location of deployments inside and outside Cambodia.

b. Comprehensive list of arms, ammunition and equipment held by their forces, and their exact locations.

c. Detailed record of minefields and information on booby traps

laid by them or other parties.

d. Total strength of police forces and lists of arms, ammunition and equipment (UNGA A/46/608).

1992.

How could the Military Component monitor and verify compliance with the agreements, especially when the PDK forbade UNTAC from its controlled areas? UNTAC's mandate provided certain measures and specified tasks conducive to collecting and processing raw information that allowed them to verify the accuracy of the information provided by the factions.

To verify the withdrawal of all foreign forces, UNTAC established

photo courtesy of NIMA ISLWL, Ground Photo Team checkpoints on withdrawal routes, border crossing points and airfields to verify not only the withdrawal, but also that no forces were to return to Cambodia. Twenty-four such ingress/egress points were identified. Seven checkpoints were positioned along the Thai border, nine along the border with Vietnam, two along the border with Laos, one each at the ports of Kompong Som and Phnom Penh, and one each at the airports of Phnom Penh, Battambang, Siem Riep and Stung Treng (UN h: 142). Subject to further assessments, additional checkpoints were to be established as necessary. Observers at these checkpoints were also to report, through their contingents to Force Headquarters, any suspected outside military assistance and movements of combatants and arms into Cambodia (UN h: 164).

To monitor and verify the cessation of outside military assistance, the naval contingent would patrol the coastal and inland waterways. The Military Component also placed mobile teams at strategic locations within Cambodia to patrol and investigate allegations of arms support to any faction. Additionally, provisions were made in the Comprehensive Settlement with the Governments of Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam to prevent the territories of their respective states from being used to provide any form of military assistance to Cambodian factions. Each of these countries received a liaison officer and a small team to investigate complaints that these countries were allowing assistance from their territories (UN h: 143).

Two techniques were used to investigate complaints of suspected noncompliance or violations of any provision set forth in the Comprehensive Settlement. The wording in UNTAC's mandate was carefully orchestrated to allow the Military Component the freedom to investigate complaints in a manner it deemed appropriate. First, any faction making a complaint was to provide personnel to accompany the UNTAC investigators to ensure they were not misled with inaccurate information, including locations of the suspected violation. Second, if the Military Component suspected a violation, they did not have to wait for a complaint. They could simply deploy a verification team to the location, assess the situation, and report their findings through the appropriate channels (UN h: 144). Each of these measures resulted in an enormous amount of overt information for UNTAC. It was important that the information be provided, so UNTAC did not rely solely on information provided to them by the different factions that could possibly contain inaccuracies or propaganda.

UNTAC INTELLIGENCE FUNCTIONS

The six civilian UNTAC components had no formal intelligence organization, but were able to receive enormous amounts of information by working closely with the other components and by using the institutional knowledge of those NGOs and international organizations that had been in Cambodia for up to 10 years. Not only did the Military Component's mandate provide a formal intelligence mechanism, but also the enormous size and non-biased activities of this component fostered an environment of popular support for UNTAC among the Cambodian people.

On 29 May 1993, at a meeting of the Supreme National Council, Mr. Yasushi Akashi declared: “In view of the high turnout throughout the country, the absence of violence or disruption during the polling period, the success of the technical conduct of the poll, and the calm and peaceful atmosphere that reigned throughout the polling period, the conduct of the poll has been free and fair" (Heininger: 113). On 16 June 1993, Prince Sihanouk announced the formation of an Interim Joint Administration with Prince Rinarddh and Mr. Hun Sen as Co-Chairman of a Council of Ministers. This council was dissolved on 24 September 1994 at the unveiling of Cambodia's newly promulgated Constitution that established a constitutional monarchy and the Kingdom of Cambodia (UN h: 47).

Following the elections and the establishment of an interim government, UNTAC began withdrawing from Cambodia on 2 August 1993. However, violence soon began to increase, and the two Prime Ministers of Cambodia requested a continued UN presence. On 4 November 1993, the Security Council passed Resolution 880 that postponed the withdrawal of the mine clearance team until 30 November, and the elements of the military police and medical unit until 31 December 1993. The Security Council also approved a 20-person Military Liaison Team for a single six-month period that would help the government deal with residual matters pertaining to the Paris Agreements (UN h: 335). On 13 May 1994, the Security Council decided not to extend the mandate for the Military Liaison Team. UNTAC no longer existed except for the post-conflict peacebuilding activities that had been coordinated by the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction component.