[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H7670]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             GENERAL LEAVE

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks on H.R. 5754.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, thank you for bringing this 
important and timely legislation to the House Floor.
  I want to begin by thanking Rep. Yoho, the Chairman of the Asia and 
Pacific Subcommittee, for authoring this bill, which is the product of 
his important oversight work. I would also like to recognize Rep. Alan 
Lowenthal for his tireless advocacy for this bill, as well as Ranking 
Member's Engel and Sherman for their strong support.
  In four days, Cambodians will vote for a new head of government. 
Unfortunately, this election will not be legitimate in any way. Hun Sen 
and his thugs long ago decided the outcome, by marginalizing, beating, 
and imprisoning members of the opposition.
  Since Cambodia's deeply flawed elections in 2013, we have seen 
intensifying attacks on Cambodians peacefully opposing their 
government. Hun Sen's thuggish regime continues to crack down on 
political opposition and other activists who oppose his rule. Freedom 
House consistently rates Cambodia as ``Not Free,'' noting harassment of 
the regime's political opposition.
  That's putting it mildly. Three years ago, opposition lawmaker and 
American citizen Nhay Chamreoun was severely and brutally attacked by 
plainclothes bodyguards, who repeatedly kicked and stomped him. He was 
hospitalized for months. Several months later, Kem Ley, a popular 
Cambodian political commentator, was murdered in broad daylight for his 
outspoken protests of the regime.
  Over the last year, Hun Sen has dispatched any notions of democracy 
in Cambodia. He dissolved the opposition party, CNRP, arrested its 
leader Kem Sokha--who now faces spurious treason charges--and 
completely dismembered the political system in Cambodia.
  Importantly, the Cambodia Democracy Act of 2018 imposes sanctions on 
all members of Hun Sen's inner circle for their role in undermining 
democracy in Cambodia and committing serious human rights violations. 
Specifically, it bars these individuals from entering the U.S. and 
blocks any assets or property they may possess.
  It will be up to the President to determine who should be designated 
for these sanctions. But given the brashness of this regime, we do have 
a good idea of who the President should target:
  Hun Sen: Prime Minister, President of Cambodian People's Party (CPP); 
Sar Kheng: Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior, Vice 
President of CPP; Tea Banh: Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National 
Defense, Member of the CPP; Aun Pornmoniroth: Minister for Economy and 
Finance; Koeut Rith: Secretary of State of Ministry of Justice; Sun 
Chanthol: Minister of Public Works and Transport; Prak Sokhonn: 
Minister of Foreign Affairs; Om Yentieng: President of Anti-Corruption 
Unit attached to the Office of the Council of Ministers, Advisor to the 
Prime Minister; Pol Saroeun: Four-Star General, Member of the Supreme 
Council of National Defense, Commander-in-Chief of RCAF; Neth Savoeun: 
Director-General of the National Police, Member of CPP Permanent 
Committee; Kun Kim: Four-Star General, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of 
RCAF, Chief of RCAF Joint General Staff, Chief of Personal Advisers and 
Cabinet of the Prime Minister; Sao Sokha: Four-Star General, Deputy 
Commander-in-Chief of RCAF, Commander of the National Royal Military 
Police; Hing Bunheang: Four-Star General, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of 
RCAF; Choun Sovann: Deputy Chief of National Police and Chief of Phnom 
Penh Municipal Police; Hun Manet: Deputy Chief of RCAF Joint General 
Staff; Sok Puthyvuth: CEO of SOMA Group conglomerate; and Hun Mana: 
Chair of Bayon Height Media System.
  Again, thank you Mr. Speaker for bringing up this very important and 
timely legislation. The people of Cambodia deserve far better than the 
Hun Sen's despotism. Political pluralism will soon reach Cambodia, and 
this legislation will not only help Cambodians attain that goal, but 
will also send a strong signal that Congress will not tolerate these 
human rights abuses.

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