[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 17 (Thursday, January 30, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S1808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               PRIME MINISTER HUN SEN TO BLAME FOR RIOTS

 Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the Cambodia charade continues.
  Recent riots in that Southeast Asian country--reportedly sparked by 
unfounded rumors of Thai slights against Khmer culture and history--
caused extensive damage to Thai-owned businesses and property in Phnom 
Penh and the storming, looting, and destruction of the Thai Embassy. 
The failure of the Cambodian Government to defend Thai diplomats and 
the embassy compound from rioters is unacceptable, particularly in the 
post September 11 security environment. Further, the exploitation of 
the rumor by Prime Minister Hun Sen is as reckless as it is 
irresponsible.
  In the aftermath of these riots, I have heard credible reports that 
democratic opposition and human rights activists are being targeted for 
intimidation and arrest. Given his tendency toward paranoia and 
violence, I do not doubt for an instant that these riots were staged by 
Hun Sen as, among other things, a pretext to crackdown on the 
democratic opposition in the run up to the July parliamentary 
elections.
  Over the next few days, it is imperative that the international 
community not be duped by Hun Sen and the Cambodian Government into 
laying blame for the riots on the democratic opposition. It is time to 
help the Royal Government of Thailand to hold Hun Sen and the Cambodian 
government accountable for the destruction of property, the violation 
of democratic principles, and the damage to relations with its western 
neighbor.
  The Cambodian authorities allowed the situation outside the Thai 
Embassy to escalate out of control. Riot and military police did 
nothing to maintain law and order until after extensive damage had been 
done throughout the capital. It is a simple and tragic fact that the 
Cambodian Government permitted this attack to take place. Their 
inaction during the riots stands in stark contrast to the brutal 
treatment illegal logging protesters received at the hands of the 
police a few short weeks ago.
  The riots must serve as a wake-up call to complacent diplomats in 
Phnom Penh. As there is no law and order in Cambodia, your embassy 
could be next. I have not forgotten that in the mid-1990s Hun Sen 
threatened that Cambodians might ``storm'' the American and French 
embassies; unfortunately his warnings came true for Thailand.
  With parliamentary elections scheduled for July, diplomats in 
Cambodia ought to be scrambling to protect and defend the rights of the 
democratic opposition to unseat Cambodia's unstable and violent 
dictator through peaceful and credible polls.
  Cambodians can thank Prime Minister Hun Sen for chasing away foreign 
investors and tourists. This recent charade only underscores that he 
and the CPP are part of Cambodia's problems, and not part of the 
solution.

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