US SLAMS PM IN RESOLUTION ON CAMBODIA

Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodian government were accused of demonizing and harassing opposition party members and human rights defenders in a harsh resolution passed by the US House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee last week.
 

Even though the bipartisan resolution, written by US Congressmen Alan Lowenthal and Matt Salmon, is largely ceremonial and has no power to force any action or sanctions by the US government, it was passed quickly along with a number of other measures and will now head to the full House Foreign Affairs Committee for a vote.
 

House Resolution 728, co-sponsored by 17 additional House of Representatives members, condemns all political violence allegedly perpetrated by the Cambodian government and calls for “truly” free and fair elections to take place in the country in 2017 and 2018.
 

It lists a selection of events since 2014 illustrating alleged violence faced by unionists, NGO and civil society workers as well as opposition members and supporters during dealings with the government.
 

“I am deeply concerned that there is an accelerated deterioration of democracy and human rights in Cambodia,” Mr. Lowenthal said during a House committee meeting.
 

“This resolution states, unequivocally, that the United States supports an environment in Cambodia that not only respects political opposition, but both human rights and the rule of law.”   
 

Mr. Lowenthal represents Long Beach, California, which has the second largest population of expatriate Cambodians outside Paris. He recently created a Cambodian Caucus in the House of Representatives alongside Ohio Congressman Steve Chabot.
 

Mr. Lowenthal spoke with Kem Sokha, the acting president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), at the party headquarters last Wednesday before slamming the government for putting Mr. Sokha under effective house arrest while also pursuing multiple defamation charges against opposition leader Sam Rainsy, which he contends are politically motivated.
 

This, along with the government’s arrest of National Election Committee official Ny Chakrya, could lead to a distorted and unfair election cycle in the coming years, Mr. Lowenthal said.
 

“It is critical for Cambodia’s standing in the global community that the upcoming general election in 2017 and 2018 be free and fair,” Mr. Lowenthal said. “Credibility for this election can only be achieved if the Hun Sen government ends all political repression and respects the rights and freedoms of the Cambodian people.”
 

The resolution directly addresses Mr. Hun Sen and his ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), asking them to end the “harassment and intimidation” of opposition party members, drop all charges against opposition leaders and civil society workers and “foster an environment where democracy can thrive and flourish.”
 

Government officials have previously criticized Mr. Lowenthal and the Cambodia Caucus, saying they only speak to opposition party members and seemed to ignore the positive relationship the US has with Cambodia, financially and otherwise.
 

“Our relationship is good. Prime Minister Hun Sen went to California and Mr. Obama did not mention anything related to human rights,” CPP spokesman Sok Ey San said earlier this year when asked about criticism from US lawmakers.
 

“Mr. Obama did not put any pressure on the Cambodian government over human rights issues following criticism by some human rights organizations and CNRP members. He said nothing.”  
 

Representative Dana Rohrabacher, one of the House resolution’s co-sponsors, told the Associated Press that it was “time for Hun Sen to go.”
 

“Whatever happened in the past does not justify Hun Sen’s continuing iron-fisted grip,” he said.
 

The resolution comes on the heels of the brutal murder of prominent government critic Kem Ley. Mr. Ley was murdered only days after speaking out on a recent Global Witness report tying Mr. Hun Sen and his family to some of the country’s largest corporations.

http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/27322/us-slams-pm-in-resolution-on-cambodia/

US LAWMAKERS CREATE ‘CAMBODIA CAUCUS’ IN CONGRESS

The creation of a bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Cambodia was announced by two United States lawmakers earlier this week, with both men hoping the US takes more of a role in the country’s growth economically and socially.
 

Representative Alan Lowenthal, a Democrat representing one of the largest Khmer communities outside Cambodia in Long Beach, California, and Representative Steve Chabot, a Republican from Ohio, came together to create the caucus and will serve as co-chairs.
 

Mr. Chabot is well-known to many Cambodians for his fruitless attempt to cut American aid to Cambodia ahead of the contentious election in 2013.
 

“On July 28, Cambodia will hold its fifth national election behind a false veil of democracy during which Hun Sen will win his fourth term as prime minister through the incitement of political violence, corruption and nepotism,” Mr. Chabot said during a congressional House Subcom¬mittee meeting on Asia and the Pacific in 2013.
 

“Cutting off direct aid to the Cambodian government, specifically foreign military financing and international military education and training funding, is a tangible action the US can take to show its condemnation of the upcoming fallacious and undemocratic election.”
 

Mr. Chabot and Mr. Lowenthal met with US Ambassador to Cambodia William Heidt last week to discuss the situation in Cambodia, and believe the caucus can assist in efforts to push human rights and economic development.
 

“The Cambodian Caucus offers a real opportunity for Congress and members of the public to vigorously discuss a full range of issues important to Cambodia’s development, and it will strengthen our bilateral relationship,” Mr. Lowenthal said.
 

“As the representative of so many Cambodian Americans, many of whom still have deep connections to Cambodia, I feel it is critical that Congress do everything it can to ensure that the United States continues to serve as a positive influence on Cambodia as it works to fully integrate into the international community.”
 

Mr. Chabot echoed his statement, saying Cambodia is “vital to the future of freedom and democracy in Southeast Asia.”
 

“Cambodia is fast becoming an important economic partner to the United States and it is imperative that we continue to foster Cambodia’s economic growth while promoting our core values like respect for human rights and rule of law,” he added.
 

Cambodia National Rescue Party spokesman Yim Sovann welcomed the effort, and said the caucus would “push Cambodia to improve freedoms, respect human rights and the rule of law.”
 

“Currently, Cambodia’s situation does not have enough respect for human rights. But this committee proves that Cambodia is not isolated,” he said.
 

He added that a number of US lawmakers have spoken to the opposition about their concerns on the arrest and detainment of party activists.  
 

Ruling party spokesman Sok Ey San said assistance provided by the US is welcome, and cited organizations like the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute as examples of ways the US can constructively contribute to Cambodia.
 

“But if this committee is just created for intervention into Cambodia, that is unacceptable,” he added. Mr. Ey San went on to say that despite opposition attempts to claim human rights are not respected in Cambodia, there has been very little pressure from the US on the issue.  
 

“Our relationship is good. Prime Minister Hun Sen went to California and Mr. Obama did not mention anything related to human rights,” Mr. Ey San said. “Mr. Obama did not put any pressure on the Cambodian government over human rights issues following criticism by some human rights organizations and CNRP members. He said nothing.”

This story ran on March 23.