[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 25, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S142-S143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONCERN FOR JUSTICE IN CAMBODIA
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate now
proceed to the consideration of Senate Resolution 353, which was
submitted earlier today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The resolution (S. Res. 353) expressing concern with the
deliberate undermining of democratic freedoms and justice in
Cambodia by Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Government of
Cambodia.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mr. FRIST. Today, the Prime Minister of Cambodia dropped the criminal
defamation lawsuits against five government critics and human rights
advocates.
Along with the administration, I welcome the Prime Minister's
decision and applaud his efforts to recognize the right of free
political exchange. I am hopeful that today's action represents
progress and a greater commitment to human rights and civil society on
the part of the ruling authority.
In recent months, we have had cause for alarm that the Government of
Cambodia is engaged in a campaign of political persecution and
intimidation. Prime Minister Hun Sen and his apparatus have
consistently and blatantly violated basic democratic principles, the
rule of law, and human rights as enshrined in the Cambodian
Constitution.
Tonight, the Senate stands unified in calling upon Prime Minister 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; to immediately release all political prisoners and drop
all politically motivated charges against opponents of the government;
and to demonstrate through word and deed the government's commitment to
democracy, the rule of law, and human rights;
We also call upon the King of Cambodia to play a more active and
constructive role in protecting the constitutional rights of Cambodian
citizens. And we urge international donors and multilateral
organizations, including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank,
and the United Nations, to hold the Prime Minister and his government
fully accountable for actions that undermine the investment of
international donors in the democratic and economic development of
Cambodia.
I would like to thank Senator McConnell and Senator McCain for their
leadership and commitment to the people of Cambodia. They deserve
special recognition for their unflagging support.
Let me close with a report today in the International Herald Tribune.
At a recent gathering of 800 impoverished farmers and townspeople in a
village south of the capitol of Phnom Penh, an elderly Cambodian woman
asked:
I have a question for government. You talk about democracy,
but how much right do the people of Cambodia have to speak
out? If we speak out, will we be arrested like Kem Sokha?
I put that question to Prime Minister Hun Sen. Will the people be
allowed to speak out as free citizens in an open and just democracy?
The people of Cambodia want to know. And on their behalf, the U.S.
Senate demands an answer.
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be
agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be
laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 353) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 353
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;
[[Page S143]]
(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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