Paris Peace Accord of 1991
Twenty years ago the Paris Peace accords ended the war in Cambodia… on paper. It would take several more years, a huge bag of U.N. money and a lot more of politicking to finally put an end to decades of misery.
I spent one month in Cambodia in 1991, before the arrival of UNTAC, and witnessed the return of King Sihanouk from exile. There was a lot of hope, a lot of expectations. This was (yet again) a new beginning for Cambodia.
Huge crowds attended what I believe was the first Water Festival since many years. This year the levels of the Tonle Sap are too high: no boat races on the river.
CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 16/11/1991: Norodom Sihanouk on his first public appearance after his return from exile.
CAMBODIA. Phnom Penh. 20/11/91: Crowd watching the Water Festival boat races on the Tonle Sap river.