[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 80 (Friday, June 7, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S4024]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 163--CALLING FOR MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE
FOR CAMBODIA
Mr. GRAHAM (for himself and Mr. Rubio) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
S. Res. 163
Whereas, according to the United States Agency for
International Development, from 1993 to 2011 the United
States provided Cambodia with over $1,247,000,000 in economic
and military assistance;
Whereas Cambodia is ranked 138 (out of 187) in the United
Nations Development Program's Human Development Report 2013,
a rank shared by the Lao People's Democratic Republic;
Whereas Cambodia is ranked 157 (out of 174) in Transparency
International's Corruption Perceptions Index 2012, a rank
below Yemen and one shared with Angola and Tajikistan;
Whereas Cambodia is ranked ``Not Free'' in Freedom House's
Freedom in the World 2013 report, which further states,
``Cambodia is not an electoral democracy. Elections are
conducted under often repressive conditions, and the
opposition is hampered by serious legal and physical
harassment.'';
Whereas the Department of State's Country Reports on Human
Rights Practices for 2011 notes that ``a leading human rights
problem'' in Cambodia is ``a weak judiciary. . .subject to
corruption and political influence'';
Whereas Human Rights Watch noted in a May 31, 2012, New
York Times op-ed that Prime Minister Hun Sen has remained in
power in Cambodia for 10,000 days ``through politically
motivated violence, control of the security forces, massive
corruption, and the tacit support of foreign powers'';
Whereas the July 16, 2012, Report of the United Nations
Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in
Cambodia (A/HRC/21/63) notes that ``there are major flaws in
the administration of elections in Cambodia and urgent and
long-term reforms are needed to give Cambodians confidence in
the electoral process and in the workings of the National
Election Committee'';
Whereas the July 16, 2012, report includes 18 specific
recommendations for improving the election framework and
environment in Cambodia to ensure greater transparency,
accountability, and political association and expression,
including the full participation of opposition leader Sam
Rainsy in upcoming parliamentary elections; and
Whereas Sam Rainsy and other opposition members and
activists continue to be the target of official harassment
through politically motivated accusations and charges, denied
due process of law, and excluded from participating in
upcoming national elections in Cambodia: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That--
(1) in order to be considered credible and competitive, the
July 2013 parliamentary elections in Cambodia must implement
the recommendations contained in the July 16, 2012, Report of
the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of
human rights in Cambodia (A/HRC/21/63), and must include the
full and unfettered participation of all political parties
leaders, specifically Sam Rainsy;
(2) the United States Department of State and the United
States Agency for International Development should refrain
from supporting national or local elections in Cambodia, or
deploying election monitors to the July 2013 parliamentary
elections, if such United Nations recommendations are
ignored, and if political parties and opposition leaders are
excluded or otherwise hampered from fully and freely
participating in electoral processes, including during the
campaign period and on election day;
(3) any election in Cambodia that the Secretary of State
determines is not credible and competitive should be deemed
as an illegitimate expression of the Cambodian peoples' will,
and an impediment to the democratic development of Cambodia;
and
(4) a Cambodian government formed as a result of such
illegitimate elections should not be eligible for direct
United States Government assistance, including for the
military and police, and the Department of State and United
States Agency for International Development should jointly
reassess and reduce assistance for Cambodia in subsequent
fiscal years, and urge international financial institutions
to do the same.
Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, the resolution I submit today with my
colleague from Florida is straight forward. Credible and competitive
parliamentary elections in Cambodia next month will be the measure or
U.S. foreign assistance provided to the central government of that
country in the future.
According to the United States Agency for International Development,
from 1993 to 2011 the United States provided Cambodia with over $1.2
billion in economic and military assistance. The President's fiscal
year 2014 budget request to Congress includes a total of $73.5 million
in aid for Cambodia. America's investment in that Southeast Asian
country has been anything but insignificant.
Unfortunately, we are not getting a return on this investment when it
comes to the advancement of the rule of law, democracy, and human
rights. A chorus of concern with the upcoming elections has been
expressed by the United Nations, Cambodian civil society, and
opposition political party leaders, including Sam Rainsy who is
prohibited from participating in the polls by the actions of courts
controlled by the ruling Cambodian People's Party, CPP. Given recent
comments by CPP Prime Minister Hun Sen that he intends to remain in
power until 2026, one wonders whether the CPP has already decided the
outcome of the elections.
Less than credible and competitive polls subverts the will of the
Cambodian people and perpetuates a level of corruption that ranks that
country below Yemen in Transparency International's Corruption
Perception Index, 2012. Equally troubling, Hun Sen's close ties with
Beijing may further draw Cambodia into the People's Republic of China's
sphere of influence--to the determinant of security and stability in
the region.
I encourage the State Department to pay close attention to events in
Cambodia and embrace the actions called for by this resolution should
illegitimate elections be held next month. For many Asia-watchers, the
response of the administration to these elections will help define the
proposed United States pivot toward Asia.
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