Topic: Determining the Legitimacy of Secession Movements and Obligations of Parent States
Country: Cambodia
Delegate Name: Yuyuan Luo
School: Forest Hills Central High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Cambodia position papers GLIMUN 2016 committees
Secession is the act of withdrawing formally from a country. Because it calls for international recognition and sometimes bloodsheds may happen, such a movement concerns the world community. One of the most current situations is Scotland, which may leave the UK after the “Brexit”. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia, USA and NATO fought for Kosovo to be independent but many other nations, including the parent state Serbia, still don’t recognize it.
States are generally accepted as independent when they are member of international organizations such as the UN, NATO, the EU, ASEAN, or others. Their secession movements usually are caused by either unfair treatments of the seceding state or the different beliefs, be it political, ideological, or cultural. The UN has taken actions in the past on these secessions, but most of the movements for separation and warfare are usually directed by the states themselves.
It is part of the Kingdom of Cambodia (Cambodia thereafter)’s constitution that we will not interfere with any other nations’ internal affairs, except within the framework of UN Peacekeeping missions. If a want of secession occurs within our people, Cambodia will strive to solve problems peacefully. However, Cambodia does reserve the right of foreign military assistance, should the circumstance ever arise that military actions are needed.
Cambodia believes that the legitimacy of the seceding state should be self-determined. War, if thought necessary, could never be stopped, but nonetheless to encourage the states to solve problems peacefully will benefit not only the two states, but also their neighboring nations and nations with trading relations. Noting the devastation warfare might bring to the people, it is vital to establish a safe haven for the citizens and other affected peoples of both sides. Aware of the disastrous effects on the relations of the two states that will be evident after such a war, the UN should encourage trade relations between the two states. Only under the circumstance that the seceding state feels that it is being treated unfairly or if they have an objection to the decisions of the central government should they be able to secede.
