[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 361 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 361

         Calling for free and impartial elections in Cambodia.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 12, 1998

Mr. Bereuter submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
         Calling for free and impartial elections in Cambodia.

Whereas Cambodia continues to recover from years of political conflict, civil 
        war, the era of Khmer Rouge genocide, and subsequent foreign invasion;
Whereas the 1991 Paris Peace Accords contributed significantly to a process of 
        political accommodation, national conciliation, and the establishment of 
        a state based on democratic ideals;
Whereas the people of Cambodia overwhelmingly demonstrated their support for the 
        democratic process through the participation of over 93 percent of 
        eligible voters in the United Nations-sponsored 1993 elections;
Whereas the commitment of the Cambodian people to democracy and stability is 
        reflected in the national constitution guaranteeing fundamental human 
        rights;
Whereas the international donor community has supported the democratic process 
        in Cambodia by contributing over $3,000,000,000 to peacekeeping and 
        national reconstruction efforts;
Whereas notwithstanding the notable societal and economic reforms made 
        subsequent to the 1993 elections, tensions within the Cambodian 
        Government continued to mount, culminating in the July 5, 1997, military 
        coup by which Second Prime Minister Hun Sen deposed the duly elected 
        First Prime Minister Prince Ranariddh;
Whereas the Hun Sen government has yet to adequately investigate the killings 
        and human rights abuses which occurred at the time of the July 5, 1997, 
        and which were detailed in the August 21, 1997, Hammarberg report;
Whereas Second Prime Minister Hun Sen made a commitment to the United Nations 
        High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNCHR) to extend the mandate of 
        UNCHR;
Whereas an ongoing atmosphere of intimidation has prevented many of the 
        political exiles who have returned to Cambodia from carrying out their 
        activities in preparation for the election scheduled for July 26 without 
        fear;
Whereas questions remain concerning the independence and impartiality of the 
        newly created National Election Commission;
Whereas the inability of First Prime Minister Prince Ranariddh, whose party won 
        the 1993 election, to return to Cambodia without fear of a trial creates 
        an unnecessary obstacle to his political participation and calls into 
        serious question the possibility of a credible election; and
Whereas the European Union has unwisely decided to provide $11,500,000 in aid to 
        the Hun Sen regime to prepare for the July election in the absence of 
        conditions that would allow a credible election: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) calls upon the Cambodian Government--
                    (A) to fully implement the Paris Peace Accords;
                    (B) to enforce the rule of law and fully protect 
                human rights, including a thorough investigation of the 
                extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses which 
                occurred following the July 5, 1997, coup and 
                punishment of those involved;
                    (C) to restore a nonviolent and neutral political 
                atmosphere, including participation in negotiations to 
                lead to an immediate cease-fire;
                    (D) to allow all exiled opposition leaders, 
                including First Premier Ranariddh, to return to 
                Cambodia and to engage in political activity without 
                fear of political or physical reprisal; and
                    (E) to take further measures to create mechanisms 
                to help ensure a credible election, including a truly 
                independent and impartial election commission and 
                provisions to allow domestic and international 
                observers to monitor the entire election process;
            (2) calls upon the European Union to reconsider its 
        decision to provide assistance to the election process until 
        such time as genuinely free and fair elections can be 
        conducted;
            (3) urges the Secretary of State to continue to provide 
        support through appropriate nongovernmental organizations to 
        the courageous Cambodian human rights workers who persevere in 
        their difficulty task, despite the considerable risk at which 
        they put themselves; and
            (4) calls upon the Secretary of State to work with members 
        of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and with members 
        of the Donors Group in urging the Cambodian Government to 
        create the conditions which would guarantee a free and fair 
        election.
                                 <all>