Armed conflicts took place between the police supporting Hun Sen and Ranariddh's guards with grenades and rocket guns from June 1997 as the political parties were in discord about negotiation with Khmer Rouge. On the other hand, the news spread that Pol Pot, the prime culprit of the Killing Field, surrendered to the government. The political situation became volatile as the political parties tried to grasp the opportunity to draw Khmer Rouge's remnants to their own sides. Cambodian paid attention to Pol Pot in the disturbance and tension of the political situation.

The first prime minister's military strength fell behind those of the second minister at that time so Ranariddh tried to be collectively responsible to Khmer Rouge. On the contrary, Hun Sen's CPP induced the group of Ieng Sary, the former deputy Prime Minister and the second best of Pol Pot to escape from Khmer Rouge on condition of their amnesty. There was an atmosphere among the ASEAN countries that the CPP was the second party but Hun Sen was the representative of Cambodia.