SRES356FEB3

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Week Ending February 3, 2006

S.RES.353 A resolution expressing concern with the deliberate undermining of democratic freedoms and justice in Cambodia by Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Government of Cambodia.

<< Click flag for map and country data, Cambodia

The Resolution preamble accuses Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen of expressing guarantees of freedom of expression while violating basic democratic principals, the rule of law, human rights and undue control over the country’s judiciary.

The Resolution puts forth that leaders in opposition to Prime Minster Sen have been vilified and imprisoned including a seven year sentence imposed on one dissident for planning to overthrow the government.

The Prime Minster dropped charges against some dissidents, the preamble said, but charges against others and uninvestigated deaths prevail, it said.

$2 billion has been invested by international donor countries in Cambodia’s quest for democracy.

Adding some irony to the matter is an August 2005 Presidential Determination in which President Bush agreed to military aid to Cambodia in exchange for that country’s agreement to not send US personnel operating in Cambodia to the UN International Criminal Court to face charges of crimes against humanity. See full report (August 2005)

Sponsor: Sen. William H. Frist (R-TN)

Vote: Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent January 25, 2006.

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

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Whereas the United States affirms its support and respect for the welfare, human rights and dignity of the people of Cambodia;

Whereas, under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen, the Government of Cambodia has engaged in a systematic campaign to undermine the democratic opposition, stifle critics of the Government, and silence and intimidate civil society in Cambodia;

Whereas, despite constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and association in Cambodia, Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Government of Cambodia have consistently and blatantly violated basic democratic principles, the rule of law, and human rights in Cambodia;

Whereas the United States, the United Nations, and other international donors have publicly expressed concern with Prime Minister Hun Sen's authoritarian conduct (including inappropriate influence and control over the judiciary) and the official corruption and climate of impunity that exist in Cambodia today;

Whereas evidence of the campaign to undermine the democratic opposition in Cambodia is found in the revocation of parliamentary immunity of opposition leaders Sam Rainsy, Chea Poch, and Cheam Channy, and the 7-year prison sentence of Cheam Channy for allegedly forming `a secret army to overthrow the government' and 18-month sentence in absentia of Sam Rainsy on charges of allegedly defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen;

Whereas evidence of the campaign to stifle critics of the Government of Cambodia is found in the detention and charges of criminal defamation of radio journalist Mom Sonando and Rong Chhum, president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association;

Whereas the decision by Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Government of Cambodia on January 25, 2006, to drop all charges against Mom Sonando, Rong Chhum, Kem Sokha, and Pa Nguon is a welcome step, but does little to alleviate the underlying climate of intimidation in Cambodia;

Whereas evidence of the campaign to silence and intimidate civil society is found in the arrest and detention of human rights activist Kem Sokha, Yeng Virak, and Pa Nguon on charges of criminal defamation;

Whereas other champions of democracy in Cambodia, including former parliamentarian Om Radsady and labor leader Chea Vichea, were brutally murdered in Cambodia, and no one has been brought to justice for committing these heinous crimes;

Whereas Cambodia is a donor dependant country, and more than $2,000,000,000 has been invested by donors in the democratic development of that country; and

Whereas the current atmosphere of intimidation and fear calls into question the viability of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) affirms the support and respect of the United States for the welfare, human rights, and dignity of the people of Cambodia;

(2) calls on Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Government of Cambodia to immediately cease and desist from its systematic campaign to undermine democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in Cambodia;

(3) calls on Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Government of Cambodia to immediately release all political prisoners and drop all politically motivated charges against opponents of the government;

(4) calls on Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Government of Cambodia to demonstrate through words and deed the government's commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in Cambodia;

(5) calls upon the King of Cambodia to play a more active and constructive role in protecting the constitutional rights of all Cambodian citizens; and

(6) urges international donors and multilateral organizations, including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations, to hold Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Government of Cambodia fully accountable for actions that undermine the investment of international donors in the democratic and economic development of Cambodia.

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