[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 820 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 820

    Condemning the pervasive corruption of the Kingdom of Cambodia.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 8, 2009

 Mr. Royce (for himself, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Moran of Virginia, and Mr. Cao) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Condemning the pervasive corruption of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Whereas the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia employs threatening tactics, 
        including the murder of opposition candidates, to curb political 
        dissent;
Whereas according to Human Rights Watch, Khim Sambo, a reporter for Moneaksekar 
        Khmer, a newspaper affiliated with the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, was 
        shot and killed and his son was fired upon numerous times in a drive by 
        shooting in central Phnom Penh on July 11, 2008;
Whereas according to Human Rights Watch, ``this killing appears to be intended 
        to send a message not to engage in opposition politics'';
Whereas the Cambodian judicial system is fraught with corruption and is used as 
        a tool by the ruling party to silence opposition;
Whereas Freedom House has consistently rated Cambodia as ``Not Free'', in its 
        rankings of world freedom;
Whereas according to the NGO Global Witness, ``Cambodia is run by a kleptocratic 
        elite that generates much of its wealth via the seizure of public 
        assets, particularly natural resources'';
Whereas, Yash Ghai, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-
        General on Human Rights in Cambodia issued the following statement to 
        the United Nations Human Rights Council, ``One does not need expertise 
        in human rights to recognize that many policies of the government have 
        subverted the essential principles of democracy and due process, 
        deprived people of their economic resources and means of livelihood, and 
        denied them their dignity'';
Whereas Parliamentarian Mu Sochua, a member of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, 
        was stripped of her parliamentary immunity and given a criminal 
        conviction for openly criticizing Prime Minister Hun Sen;
Whereas Ms. Sochua testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on 
        September 10, 2009, ``I am one of thousands of innocent journalists, 
        trade union leaders, teachers, and villagers who are tried by a judicial 
        system that is well know for corruption, for incompetence and for acting 
        under the control of the government and those who have political 
        influence and money'';
Whereas the Cambodian Government is often complicit in the sex trade industry 
        and endemic corruption has exacerbated the problem of human trafficking;
Whereas according to the U.S. Department of State 2009 Trafficking in Persons 
        Report, ``Corruption is pervasive in Cambodia and it is widely believed 
        that many individuals, including police and judicial officials, are both 
        directly and indirectly involved in trafficking''; and
Whereas local police and governmental officials commonly accept bribes and 
        extort money to allow brothels to stay in business: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns the repression of opposition candidates by the 
        ruling Cambodian People's Party in Cambodia; and
            (2) calls on the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia and 
        international organizations to take concrete steps to combat 
        the worsening problem of human trafficking in Cambodia.
                                 <all>