T he Gecko heard at press time that the UN's showcase Centre for Human Rights was

shutting down. The Centre was supposed to be an expression of the UN's long-term

committment to the defense of human rights in Cambodia. Word is the Centre did

not have either the money to pay salaries for April or rent for May, and that no

new cash injections were expected from Geneva.

On another UN front,

rumors are circulating that one of the reasons that the UN Military Liasion

Team's mandate may not be renewed is because certain western embassies in town

are dead set against it. One disgruntled supporter of the UNMLT's presence

speculates that diplomats with their own agendas want the UN out of the way so

that "things can be done" bilaterally without the blue berets ready to report

every move to superiors in New York.

Reports are still trickling back on

the reasons for the debacle at Anlong Veng. One story has it that of the 6,000

soldiers authorized for the assualt, only half ever materialized, although funds

were provided to cover salaries and provisions for the entire 6k. Those troops

who did show up were more than a bit miffed when they realized that their

numbers were not quite what was expected, which may have been a factor why the

retreat was rapid.

The entire phone system in the capital seems to have

gone on the blink. Word is that it may take up to two weeks to get the spare

parts, although this could not be confirmed because the phone seems to have gone

on the blink.