| 26 July 1994 |
The train from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville is attacked
East of Kampot and some 200 people abducted. |
| 28 July |
Australian Embassy, Phnom Penh, contacts Director of
State Railways in an attempt to establish the nationality of the foreigners
reported to be among hostages. Kampot police advise United Nations
Development Program (UNDP) area security co-ordinator that the foreigners
were Australian, British and French (later identified as, respectively,
Messrs Wilson (David), Slater and Braquet). |
| |
Consular officer travels to Kampot in convoy with representatives
of British and French Embassies. |
| |
Australian Federal Police (AFP) officer in Sihanoukville
makes enquiries with local police commander to confirm abduction of
an Australian citizen. |
| |
Victorian Police asked to contact family of David Wilson
but are unsuccessful. |
| 29 July |
Victorian Police make contact with David Wilson's mother,
Mrs Wendy Young, in Melbourne; Departmental consular officer visits
Mrs Wilson and briefs her on events. |
| |
Australian Embassy, Phnom Penh, collects David Wilson's
personal effects left in Phnom Penh. Enquiries made through Australian
Federal Police officer in Sihanoukville to ascertain whether Wilson
has arrived at hotel. |
| |
Kampot Provincial Governor and Regional Military Commander
brief consular personnel. |
| |
Defence official from Australian Embassy travels to Kampot. |
| |
Australian, French and British Ambassadors reach agreement
on common approach to Cambodian Government. |
| |
Australian, French and British Embassies forward Diplomatic
Notes, supported by letters from Ambassadors, to Cambodian Ministry
for Foreign Affairs urging prompt response to apparent abduction.
|
| |
Australian Ambassador writes to Defence Co-Ministers
requesting that no military action be taken which might endanger the
hostages' safety. |
| |
Australian, French and British Ambassadors meeting with
Foreign Minister Prince Sirivudh who advises he and First Prime Minister
Prince Ranariddh will visit Kampot on 31 July, Prince Sirivudh confirms
no military action would be taken without advising embassies in advance. |
| 30 July |
General Ke Kim Yan, Cambodian Chief of General Staff,
visits Kampot. |
| |
Australian, French and British Ambassadors meet with
Prince Sirivudh. |
| |
Defence official from Australian Embassy in Kampot briefed
by Deputy Governor, Provincial Military Commander and Deputy Provincial
Police. Reports on visit to Kampot, noting hostages being held by
Khmer Rouge General Paet at Phnom Vor (Vine Mountain). Message sent
to hostages via police agent in an attempt to confirm their well-being. |
| |
Consul, Australian Embassy, travels to Kampot and reports
receipt of a note with the three hostages' names and addresses in
their handwriting. |
| 31 July |
First Prime Minister Prince Ranariddh visits Kampot.
He receives a letter from the hostages. Also receives Paet's ransom
demand for $US50,000 in gold for each hostage. |
| 1 August |
French Ambassador briefs Australian and British Ambassadors,
Phnom Penh, on meeting with Princes Ranariddh and Sirivudh. |
| 2 August |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors meet with
senior Cambodian Ministry of Interior officials (in charge of police)
for briefing on developments. |
| |
King Norodom Sihanouk writes to Khieu Samphan (nominal
Khmer Rouge leader) appealing for the release of the hostages. |
| 3 August |
Copies of letters from hostages to families dated 1 August
are passed to Australian Embassy which forwards them to Department. |
| |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors meet with
heads of non-government organisations operating in Kampot province
to explore the possibility of enlisting their assistance in resolution
of hostage crisis. |
| |
Embassies provide police in Kampot with medicines and
supplementary food to be passed through intermediaries to hostages. |
| |
Consular officer from Canberra arrives in Phnom Penh
to provide consular support. |
| |
Senator Evans briefs Mrs Young (David Wilson's mother)
on developments. |
| 4 August |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors meet with
senior Cambodian ministerial team including Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime
Minister and Co-minister for the interior to discuss hostage negotiation
issues. |
| 5 August |
Australian Ambassador travels to Kampot. Briefed by Cambodian
Deputy Police Commissioner. |
| |
Australian Embassy receives a letter and sound tape from
David Wilson. |
| |
Defence Attache briefed by Cambodian Ministry of Defence
about deployment of Cambodian forces in Kampot. |
| 6 August |
Australian team in Kampot briefed by the Deputy Military
Commander |
| |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors in meeting
by Prince Sirivudh are notified of further communications from hostages
(dated 4 August) which request medicines and other items. |
| 7 August |
Three letters from the hostages dated 6 August received
in Kampot and passed to Australian Embassy. |
| |
Medical supplies passed to the Police Commander for transferring
to Paet's camp. |
| |
David Wilson's family writes letter to King Norodom Sihanouk
per Australian Embassy, Beijing. |
| 8 August |
Australian Ambassador discusses case with First Prime
Minister, Prince Ranariddh. |
| |
Australian Embassy reports the response by Khieu Samphan
to King Norodom Sihanouk's letter. |
| |
Australian Embassy receives a copy of a letter from Paet
demanding from "the allies of the puppets" US$900,000 as
compensation for damage caused by operations of Royal Cambodian Armed
Forces (RCAF), twenty watches, and medicines. |
| |
Ambassador and Defence Attache meet with General Ke Kim
Yan, Chief of General Staff, RCAF. |
| |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors discuss development
with Prince Sirivudh. |
| 9 August |
Departmental consular officer briefs David Wilson's father
in Melbourne on developments. Briefs David's mother on 10 August. |
| |
Kampot Team meet Provincial Governor and military regional
commander. |
| |
Governor of Kampot passes set of photos and photocopy
of letter from Mark Slater to Kampot team. |
| 10 August |
Australian Ambassador discusses case with US Embassy.
|
| |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors discuss case
with Prince Sirivudh. |
| |
Three more letters from hostages received, dated 8 August. |
| 11 August |
Letters from David Wilson's parents passed to Cambodian
authorities for forwarding to Paet's camp. |
| |
Defence Attache provided with military assessment by
Deputy Chief of General Staff, RCAF. |
| 12 August |
Prince Sirivudh writes to Australian Foreign Minister
to reassure the Australian Government that the Cambodian Government's
intention is to resolve the issue without harm to the hostages. |
| |
King Norodom Sihanouk writes to those holding the three
foreigners referring to the letter he had received from David Wilson's
family. |
| |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors discuss military
aspects with Chief of General Staff, RCAF, Ke Kim Yan. |
| |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors meet with
Prince Sirivudh and, amongst other things, request a meeting with
Prime Ministers Prince Ranariddh and Hun Sen. |
| 13 August |
Kampot Team is briefed by Deputy Military Commissioner
and General Chea Dara, officer in charge of negotiations. |
| 15 August |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors, Phnom Penh,
are briefed by chief negotiator Chea Dara. |
| 16 August |
Khmer Rouge radio makes cessation of military assistance
by Australia France and Britain a condition for the release of the
hostages. |
| |
Mrs Young writes to Paet; faxed to Phnom Penh for forwarding
to Cambodian authorities. |
| 18 August |
Australian Ambassador delivers to Prince Sirivudh a letter
from Senator Evans dated 17 August; is also briefed on developments. |
| |
Kampot team briefed by Chea Dara on negotiations. |
| 19 August |
Australian and French officials in Kampot meet with Prince
Sirivudh - also attending are the Provincial Governor, Deputy Governors,
Defence Minister Tea Chamrath and the Kampot Police Commissioner. |
| |
Chea Dara hands Kampot Team a further letter and sound
cassette from the hostages. |
| |
Message from Paet to Chea Dara demands that three ambassadors
meet Khieu Samphan, nominal leader of Khmer Rouge, and that Cambodian
Government withdraw troops to Kampot town. |
| |
In meeting with Prince Sirivudh, Australian, British
and French Ambassadors express concerns about form of media briefings. |
| 20 August |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors are briefed
by Prince Sirivudh. |
| 21 August |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors meet Prince
Ranariddh. |
| |
Radio provided to Chea Dara to assist in negotiations
with Paet. |
| 22 August |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors briefed by
Pok Marina, Under-Secretary of State Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
about the declaration of a media exclusion zone in Kampot Province.
Withdrawal of Embassy officials from Kampot is requested. |
| |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors meet chief
negotiator Chea Dara. Letter dated 19 August from the hostages received. |
| 23 August |
Trilateral police and consular Team withdraws from Kampot
on instructions from Cambodian Government. |
| |
Australian Ambassador and Defence Attache discuss case
with Chief of General Staff, Ke Kim Yan. |
| 25 August |
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs briefed by Departmental
officials. |
| |
Australian, British and French Ambassador briefed by
Chea Dara and Pok Marina on military operations. Chea Dara advises
that hostages were sighted on 24 August. |
| 26 August |
Australian Ambassador consults with Pok Marina, Ministry
of Defence liaison staff and General Staff on media reports of clash
between Khmer Rouge forces and RCAF near Kampot. |
| 26 August |
Australian Embassy officials consult UN Centre for Human
Rights on Khmer Rouge tactics. |
| |
Australian Embassy, Beijing provides text of letter from
King Norodom Sihanouk dated 25 August to nominal Khmer Rouge leader
Khieu Samphan which again requests release of the hostages. |
| 27 August |
United Nations Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali,
makes an appeal for the release of the hostages on humanitarian grounds. |
| |
Queen Monineath requests Khieu Samphan to intercede with
Paet. |
| |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors, Phnom Penh,
meet with Pok Marina and Lt. Gen. Soeung Rithisak (Chea Dara's deputy)
for update. |
| 28 August |
Senator Evans briefs David Wilson's parents in Canberra
on developments. |
| 29 August |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors, Phnom Penh
meet Pok Marina and Lt. Gen. Soeung Rithisak and urge provision of
further medicines. |
| |
Senator Evans writes to Co-Prime Ministers Prince Ranariddh
and Hun Sen. |
| |
Departmental Deputy Secretary discusses case with French
Foreign Ministry. |
| 30 August |
Australian Ambassador to France consults with Prince
Sirivudh in Paris on developments. |
| |
Consultant with expertise on Khmer Rouge and Cambodian
military undertakes independent assessment in Canberra of case management. |
| 31 August |
Letter dated 29 August from hostages is received during
meeting by Australian, French and British Ambassadors with Pok Marina.
Letter requests supplies. |
| 1 September |
Australian Embassy arranges dispatch of requested items. |
| 2 September |
Australian and British Ambassadors briefed by French
Ambassador on request to Prince Ranariddh fro consular officials to
be allowed to return to Kampot. |
| |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors meet Pok Marina. |
| 5 September |
Australian Governor-General writes to King and Queen
of Cambodia thanking them for their efforts to secure the release
of David Wilson. |
| |
Prince Ranariddh approves re-instatement of a consular
presence in Kampot; Australian, British and French officials return. |
| |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors meet Pok Marina. |
| 6 September |
Kampot Team briefed by Chea Dara on developments. |
| |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors discuss case
with Chea Dara and Pok Marina. |
| 7 September |
Kampot Team calls on Provincial Governor of Kampot. |
| |
King Norodom Sihanouk responds to Governor General Hayden. |
| |
United nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
writes to King Norodom Sihanouk requesting he return to Cambodia to
intervene. |
| 9 September |
Prince Sirivudh briefs David Wilson's brother and Jean-Michel
Braquet's father on Cambodian Government strategy. |
| |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors hold meeting
with Prince Sirivudh. |
| 10 September |
Kampot Team briefed by Chea Dara and Pok Marina. |
| 12 September |
Australian, French and British Ambassadors briefed by
Chea Dara and Pok Marina on current strategies. |
| 15 September |
Australian, French and British Ambassadors briefed by
Chea Dara and Pok Marina on current strategies. |
| 15 September |
Australian, French and British Ambassadors, Phnom Penh,
briefed by General Nhek Bun Chay on developments. |
| |
British, French and Australian officials meet in Paris
to review current strategies and develop possible initiatives. |
| 15 September |
Senator Evans holds discussions with Prince Sirivudh
in Bali. |
| 16 September |
Kampot Team briefed by Chea Dara. |
| 20 September |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors express to
Prince Sirivudh concerns about continued military action. |
| 21 September |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors meet to discuss
strategies. |
| 22 September |
Australian Ambassador calls on Second Prime Minister
Hun Sen to emphasise Australian concerns. |
| 23 September |
Kampot Team briefed by Chea Dara. |
| 24 September |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors meet to review
developments. |
| 26 September |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors meet General
Pol Sarum (in charge of Kampot area military operations) and General
Samreth Hun (member Chea Dara's negotiating team). |
| 28 September |
Kampot Team briefed by Gen. Khieu Dara and Chea Dara. |
| 29 September |
Letter to Senator Evans from Prime Minister Ranariddh
arrives. |
| |
Australian Embassy reports that Cambodian Government
has indicated it will agree to the Cambodian Red Cross attempting
to confirm well-being of the hostages. |
| 30 September |
Senator Evans (in New York) discusses Australian concerns
with Prince Sirivudh. |
| 4 October |
Kampot Team briefed by Gen Neak Chamroen. |
| 5 October |
Kampot Team briefed by Chea Dara. |
| 7 October |
Australian Ambassador accompanied by Australian Defence
Attache makes liaison visit to Kampot. |
| 10 October |
Kampot Team briefed by Khieu Dara and Bgdr. Gen. Meak
May. |
| |
Kampot Team have further meeting with Khieu Dara. |
| |
Kampot Team briefed by Red Cross. |
| 11 October |
Departmental officers travel to Melbourne to brief members
of David Wilson's family on developments. |
| |
Australian, French and British Ambassadors meet Gen.
Meas Sophear. |
| |
Kampot Team briefed by Khieu Dara. |
| 12 October |
Australian, French and British Ambassadors meet to discuss
developments. |
| 13 October |
Kampot Team reports on debriefing of Khmer Rouge defectors. |
| 14 October |
Kampot Team briefed on military dispositions in Kampot
area. |
| 15 October |
Kampot Team meet with Brig. Gen. Chhor Nuck. |
| |
Australian, French and British Ambassadors meet with
Chea Dara. |
| |
Chhouk Rin, Deputy Commander to Paet defects to RCAF
- identifies himself as leader of attack on train. |
| 17 October |
Kampot Team briefed by Brig Gen Chhor Nuck. |
| 18 October |
Kampot Team reports on debriefing of former hostage of
Khmer Rouge who had been held at the same camp as the Western hostages.
Report gives account of death of foreign hostages. |
| |
Briefing of next-of-kin on developments coordinated with
British and French. |
| |
Australian Charge d'Affaires and French and British Ambassadors,
briefed by Chea Dara. |
| 19 October |
David Wilson's family advised of contents of Kampot Team
report of 18 October. |
| |
Kampot Team briefed by Gen. Prum Saevoun. |
| |
Kampot Team meets with General Meak May. |
| |
Kampot Team reports signs of significant military activity. |
| |
Australian Charge d'Affaires and French and British Ambassadors
meet to discuss developments. |
| 20 October |
Australian Charge d'Affaires and French and British Ambassadors
briefed on developments by the Chief of General Staff, Ke Kim Yan. |
| |
Australian Charge d'Affaires briefed by French Ambassador
on latter's discussions with Prime Minister Ranariddh. |
| 21 October |
Kampot Team reports further evidence of military offensive. |
| 22 October |
Kampot Team reports continuing indications of military
offensive. |
| 24 October |
Australian Embassy reports discussions by officials with
General Chea Dara about alleged sighting of hostages. |
| |
Australian Embassy reports discussions by officials with
Secretary of State for Defence, Ek Serewath, and separately with Pok
Marina, on military action around Phnom Vor. |
| 25 October |
Kampot Team told by Gen Meak May of death of hostages
in September. |
| 26 October |
Australian Charge d'Affaires and French and British Ambassadors
briefed on military developments by chief of General Staff, Ke Kim
Yan. |
| |
Kampot Team reports on developments around Phnom Vor
including briefing by General Meak May. |
| |
David Wilson's family advised of contents of report about
likely death of hostages in September. |
| 26 October |
Senator Evans in Ulan Bataar, makes statement on the
reports of the deaths of the hostages. |
| 28 October |
Ministry of National Defence issues a communique denying
the information provided by military personnel. |
| |
Australian Charge d'Affaires and French and British Ambassadors
meet. |
| |
Senator Evans speaks separately to parents of David Wilson. |
| 29 October |
Australian Charge d'Affaires and French and British Ambassadors
meet Prince Ranariddh. |
| |
Australian Charge d'Affaires and French and British Ambassadors
briefed by newly appointed Foreign Minister, Ung Huot. |
| 31 October |
Senator Evans writes to Second Prime Minister Hun Sen
urging a high level of co-operation to clarify the situation. |
| |
French Ambassador advises Australian Charge d'Affaires
that he has been informed by Second Prime Minister's office that the
site of the grave of the hostages has been identified. |
| |
Australian Charge d'Affaires and French and British Ambassadors
meet to discuss plans and make arrangements regarding the investigation
of identified gravesite. |
| 1 November |
Cambodian Second Prime Minister Hun Sen announces the
deaths of the three hostages. |
| |
Kampot Team briefed on exhumation arrangements. |
| |
Australian, British and French consular team travels
from Phnom Penh to Kampot for exhumation. |
| 1 November |
Second Prime Minister Hun Sen replies to Senator Evans
confirming death of hostages. |
| 2 November |
AFP forensic specialist departs Australia for Phnom Penh
to attend to formal identification process. |
| |
Three bodies, believed to be those of David Wilson, Mark
Slater and Jean-Michel Braquet, recovered from jungle grave and transported
to Phnom Penh. |
| |
Australian Ambassador briefed on development by Second
Prime Minister Hun Sen. |
| |
Australian, British and French Ambassadors meet to discuss
developments. |
| |
Senator Evans issues press statement which extends condolences
to the families of all three hostages and the families of the others
killed after being taken from the train and condemns the Khmer Rouge. |
| 3 November |
Press conference by Senator Evans concerning death of
hostages. |
| |
Cambodian Foreign Minister-Designate Ung Huot promises
continued action to pursue the murder/murderers. |
| |
Statement by King Sihanouk concerning fate of hostages. |
| |
Pathologist's examination of three remains. David Wilson
identified first by tattoo on his calf. Post advises flight details
for remains. |
| |
Prince Norodom Ranariddh pledges that the Khmer Rouge
guerrillas who kidnapped and killed hostages would be brought to justice. |
| 4 November |
Remains of hostages leave Phnom Penh. |
| 7 November |
Ambassador of Japan forwards message of sympathy from
Mr Yohei Kono, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Japan.
|
| 9 November |
Funeral of David Wilson in Melbourne. Attended by Senator
Evans and Departmental officers. |