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United Nations Transitional Authority in CambodiaUnited Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) was a United Nations peacekeeping mission involving Canadians in 1992-1993. Background The end of the Vietnam War in 1975, and the communist victory there, did not bring peace to the region. The reunified nation of Vietnam invaded Cambodia in 1977 and again in 1979, and also maintained counter-insurgency forces along with Kampuchean (Cambodian) forces from 1979 to 1989 in opposition to the Khmer Rouge communist regime under Pol Pot. Cambodia in effect fought a civil war until 1990.1 UN MandateTo monitor the cease-fire in Cambodia, conduct naval patrols in the Gulf of Thailand approaches and major inland waterways such as the Mekong River, and provide mine awareness training. UNTAC was established in Feb 1992, incorporating the existing mission, UNAMIC. The mandate for this mission related to human rights, the organisation and conduct of free and fair elections, military arrangements, civil administration, the maintenance of law and order, the repatriation and resettlement of the Cambodian refugees and displaced persons, and the rehabilitation of essential Cambodian infrastructures during the transitional period. After the elections, the mission was closed on 15 Nov 1993 and replaced by the United Nations Military Liaison Team (UNMLT). Consisting of 20 military observers, their task was to maintain close liaison with the Cambodian Government, to report to the Secretary-General on matters effecting security in Cambodia and to assist the Government in dealing with residual military matters related to the Paris Agreement. UNMLT was established for a single period of six months. Military Observers were also eligible to receive the UNTAC medal. Canadian Military InvolvementCanada's participation was designated Operation MARQUIS.
A peak strength of 215 to 240 personnel was reached. Canada began withdrawing forces in Sep 1993 and most were gone by late Oct with the three departing in Nov 1993. Insignia
A total of 475 awards were made to Canadians. In November 2024, Sergeant Anthony Beresford, CD (Retired), a veteran of UNTAC, provided the webmaster the following information:
I was on the
UNTAC mission on Roto 1 with the SSF from Oct 92 to April
93. We relieved Roto 0 from 5 Brigade and we were relieved
by Roto 2 from 1 Brigade.
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