[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H1193-H1196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CALLING FOR FREE AND IMPARTIAL ELECTIONS IN CAMBODIA
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H.Res. 361) calling for free and impartial elections in
Cambodia, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 361
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, coup and which were
detailed in the August 21, 1997, Hammarberg report;
[[Page H1194]]
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 failure of the Hun Sen Government to agree to
arrangements for the expeditious return of Prince Ranariddh
calls into serious question the possibility of a credible
election; and
Whereas the European Union has unwisely decided to provide
9,500,000 ECU's (approximately $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 strict adherence to the cease-fire
announced on February 27, 1998;
(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) commends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) for its efforts to restore democratic governance in
Cambodia and urges a continuation of these efforts;
(3) 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;
(4) 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;
(5) 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;
(6) calls upon the Cambodian Government to work
cooperatively with the Phnom Penh office of the United
Nations Centre for Human Rights and urges the United States
Government and the international community to support the
efforts of the Centre to promote human rights in Cambodia by
providing the additional financial assistance needed to
increase the number of United Nations human rights monitors
in Cambodia; and
(7) states its unwillingness to accept as legitimate or as
worthy of United States assistance any Cambodian government
that arises from a fraudulent electoral process.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Davis) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter).
General Leave
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on House Resolution 361.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Nebraska?
There was no objection.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. Bereuter asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, as the author of H.Res. 361, this Member
rises to urge the government of Cambodia to create conditions which
would ensure a free, fair, and credible election in that troubled
country.
Mr. Speaker, this Member would tell his colleagues that 7 months
after a violent coup ousted the democratically elected First Premier
Prince Ranariddh from power, Cambodia's prospects for democracy remain
a shattered dream.
Those democratic hopes were considerably brighter in 1993 when an
international effort led by the United Nations oversaw Cambodia's first
democratic elections. Nearly 90 percent of the eligible electorate took
part in that contest which chose FUNCINPEC's Prince Ranariddh as Prime
Minister. Hun Sen, however, refused to accept the people's verdict and
threatened a coup if not allowed a major role in the new government.
Hun Sen's stand resulted in an unnatural, and ultimately unworkable,
coalition government.
The fragile coalition finally disintegrated last July when Hun Sen
violently expelled Prince Ranariddh from the government. Many prominent
opposition leaders fled into exile. Many of these politicians have now
returned to Cambodia to prepare for the elections scheduled for July
26. However, because of continued intimidation by forces close to the
Hun Sen regime, these politicians have not been able to conduct normal
political activities. The media, as well, has been cowed by the same
forces of intimidation.
Within Cambodia, human rights workers persevere in their difficult
task, often at considerable personal risk. Today, 7 months after the
fact, Hun Sen's regime has yet to investigate the many instances of
extrajudicial killing that took place at the time of the coup and
since, despite repeated calls for accountability from domestic and
international groups.
H.Res. 361 cites the coup d'etat of July 1997 and subsequent
extrajudicial killings, the ongoing atmosphere of political
intimidation, the questionable impartiality of the election law and the
newly created National Election Commission, and the failure of the Hun
Sen regime to facilitate the expeditious return of Prince Ranariddh and
his full participation in the election process as indications that
conditions do not yet exist to conduct free, fair, and credible
elections.
In response to these problems, H.Res. 361 urges the Cambodian
government to fully enforce the Paris Peace Accords; to restore a
nonviolent and neutral political atmosphere; to allow all exiled
opposition leaders, including First Premier Ranariddh, to return to
Cambodia and engage in political activity without fear of political or
physical reprisal; and to take further measures to ensure a credible
election.
H.Res. 361 then also calls on all sides in the domestic dispute to
abide by the cease-fire of February 27, 1998. It commends the work of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, and the U.N. Centre
for Human Rights for their ongoing efforts to restore democratic
governance to Cambodia. It calls upon the United States Government to
continue its support for human rights NGOs in Cambodia.
Finally, H.Res. 361 states our unwillingness to accept as legitimate
or worthy of U.S. assistance a Cambodian government resulting from a
fraudulent election.
Mr. Speaker, the Committee on International Relations unanimously
adopted H.Res. 361. This Member believes that H.Res. 361 represents a
balanced assessment of the situation in Cambodia and our prescription
for advancing democracy and human rights in that beleaguered nation.
This Member also thanks the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), the
distinguished chairman of the Committee on International Relations, and
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey), the distinguished majority
leader, for moving this initiative in such an expeditious manner.
This Member also expresses appreciation to the distinguished
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton), the ranking member of the
Committee on International Relations for his constructive additions to
this resolution.
This Member also thanks the distinguished gentleman from California
(Mr. Berman), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Asia and the
Pacific, for his assistance in speeding this resolution before this
body.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of H.Res. 361.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1600
Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume. I strongly support this resolution and commend the gentleman
from Nebraska for bringing it before the House today. The next few
months may well determine the future of Cambodia for years to come.
With good fortune
[[Page H1195]]
and concerted effort on the part of the Cambodian people as well as the
international community, democracy may begin to take root in Cambodia.
But there is also a real chance that the forces of tyranny and hatred
may triumph in Cambodia, once again bringing chaos and misery to that
tragic land.
The resolution before us today represents a vote for democracy. It
demonstrates our commitment to political pluralism and a Cambodia whose
people can live in peace and without fear. It deserves our support. I
urge my colleagues to join me in voting yes on this important
resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), the chairman of the Committee on
International Relations.
(Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr.
Bereuter), the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and
the Pacific, for introducing this resolution that calls for free and
fair elections in Cambodia and for keeping this issue in the forefront
of the work of this House and before the public.
The people of Cambodia who expressed their overwhelming commitment to
the democratic process in the U.N.-sponsored elections in 1993 deserve
the unflagging support of the American people, of this body and our
government and the entire international community. But as we well know,
democracy is in dire danger in Cambodia. The illegitimate government of
Hun Sen continues to oppress and impose its political will on the
people of Cambodia and threatens the legitimacy of a democratic process
that many, both inside and outside Cambodia, worked so hard to create.
The people of Cambodia deserve much better.
With only 4 short months until the proposed July national elections,
H. Res. 361 is an extremely timely resolution. It is critical that our
body continue to bring to the attention of the American people and to
the world the plight of Cambodia and those struggling for democracy
there. We must also call upon others such as ASEAN and the European
Union to do the right thing and to support a genuine democratic process
in Cambodia by way of a free, fair and fully representative election.
These elections must be fully representative of the Cambodian people
and we should accept nothing less.
Although I believe my views on the subject are well known, I want to
reiterate my strong support for the democratic forces in Cambodia and
for the good people of Cambodia who have suffered so much and deserve
so much better. While all of us are disappointed in the current state
of affairs, we are committed to bringing democracy, justice, peace and
freedom once again to the kingdom of Cambodia and to the Khmer people.
There is much work to do between now and the elections. I think this
resolution expressing the sense of Congress is certainly a good and
worthy start. I am proud to be a cosponsor. I look forward with the
help of our colleagues to passing it today on the floor of the House.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I thank my colleague from New York for his comments. He is absolutely
right. The people of Cambodia have been very long suffering. They
deserve better. We are headed for a noncredible, disastrous election
unless the world community lets the Hun Sen regime know that we will
not accept election results, that we expect better, that we expect that
candidates for office, including Prince Ranariddh will be able to come
back and to campaign unimpeded by physical intimidation. This House
will be asked to vote in a recorded vote in a few minutes. I would hope
that my colleagues will give a unanimous positive vote for this
resolution. This is a resolution where we may indeed have an impact on
Cambodia and on the international community.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the
gentleman from Nebraska for his keen sense of timing.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this should be a very busy
time for this House. Many of us should come to the floor in support of
these resolutions. I thank the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter).
I know that we spent some time together at the European Union on these
issues. I think certainly H. Res. 361, if I might, simply adds to the
importance of allowing for free and impartial elections, the rule of
law and human rights.
I really rise, Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Human Rights Caucus,
and therefore these issues are very, very near and dear to our effort
and the message that I believe is very important as a part of this
Nation's foreign policy. For too many we have been chastised for trying
to be the police of the world. I would rather think of us as the
conscience of the world. Certainly it is important with so many
Cambodians here in the United States that we recognize the importance
of free elections and human rights.
I believe that human rights allows a nation to stand on its feet.
Human rights engenders economic opportunity and advancement. Human
rights provides for opportunities to educate all of your people. Human
rights gives the free marketplace an opportunity to work. And so H.
Res. 361 is more than policing the world, it is opening the doors of
opportunity.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to add my appreciation and
support of H. Res. 373, which is commending democracy in Botswana. Here
we have a very small nation of 2 million people in sub-Saharan Africa.
I had the pleasure of visiting it as part of the presidential mission
in December. Probably to the surprise of many of my colleagues, this
nation has been democracy filled for 31 years. In fact it has created a
multiparty democracy. It is the oldest freestanding democracy in Africa
with their first President elected, Mr. Koma, in 1966, who remained in
office until his passing. With the present President Mr. Masire, who
came in 1994, they have had an unblemished record of democracy. What
has it engendered for them? A high economy, free housing for many of
its citizens, peace in the streets. And so the question becomes to my
colleagues, I hope that they will support both of these resolutions,
because what does peace and human rights and justice beget us? It
begets us the opportunities that we have here in this country. Yes,
America's foreign policy and domestic policy are not perfect, but it
certainly does not mean that we cannot stand up and demand and require
our allies and friends to recognize the importance and value of human
rights.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I would ask certainly for continued support
and passage of H. Res. 373 and support for H. Res. 361.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment this
afternoon to join in support of H. Res. 373 and recognize the
remarkable efforts of the government of Botswana in stabilizing the
practice of democracy not only in their own country, but throughout all
of the Southern part of the African continent. Since its independence
from British rule in 1966, Botswana has been nothing less than a
powerful reminder to all of us about the untapped potential of having a
politically liberated Africa. So in this very brief amount of time that
I have been allotted, I want to share with you Botswana's secret; I
want to cite the reasons why they have deservedly captured the
attention of the world.
First of all, Botswana has captured the world's attention by creating
a multi-party democracy that without exception is an outstanding
parallel to our own. From the election of their first President,
Seretse Khama in 1966, who brilliantly served the people of Botswana
until his passing in 1980, to the re-election of their current
President, Ketumile Masire, in 1994, Botswana has established an
unblemished record of conducting extremely fair political contests. No
ethnic, racial or religious minorities are excluded from participation
in the electoral process. No one political party or affiliation
stronghandedly dominates the political landscape of the country. In
essence, the rule is simply that all of the citizens of Botswana after
the age of 21 are given the opportunity to exercise the franchise,
freely.
But most importantly, Botswana has captured our attention, because
the will of its people is sovereign. The Constitution of Botswana
establishes a system of government similar to that of our British
allies across the Atlantic. Botswana has a parliamentary legislature
with
[[Page H1196]]
a traditional separation of powers that is equally divided by checks
and balances amongst three independent branches of government: the
executive, the legislative and the judicial. This is a system of
government that is not much different than the one envisioned by Baron
de Montesquieu, in his magnus opus, The Spirit of the Laws, over two
centuries ago. It is a perfect and fair model of the ideal civil
libertarian state. But despite all of these shining political
achievements, we all know that a nation's political structure is only
one part, albeit extremely necessary part, of a nation's success.
The fact of the matter is that a nation's future is as much premised
upon its economic stability as it is on its political stability. And
Botswana, in this arena as well, has done nothing but distinguish
itself. All of the relevant statistics about recent financial growth in
Africa indicate that Botswana's economy has been on an upward climb for
over two decades now. This kind of responsible fiscal management is the
reason why ground-breaking bills like the African Growth and
Opportunity Act are being considered and passed in this House. Because
today is truly a new age, my friends. This is an age where the human
rights grievances and political instabilities of Africa's past are
quickly slipping away. This is a time that will be remembered by future
generations as the period when Africa began to move rapidly into the
economy of the post-industrialized information age, as both our
mutually beneficial partner and our friendly competitor. So I stand
here proudly today to salute the nation of Botswana, to salute our many
friends on the continent of Africa, and finally, to salute the
prosperous future that I am sure we will have together.
Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I want to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Davis) and the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) for their comments regarding
Cambodia. The gentlewoman from Texas also made very commendable
comments on Botswana.
Mr. Speaker, I urge unanimous support and a recorded vote for the
Cambodia resolution to do what we can to ensure free and fair and
credible elections in Cambodia.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barrett of Nebraska). The question is on
the motion offered by the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) that
the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, House
Resolution 361, as amended.
The question was taken.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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