H. Res. 361

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

March 17, 1998.

Whereas Cambodia continues to recover from years of political conflict, civil war, the era of Khmer Rouge genocide,

and subsequent foreign invasion;

Whereas the 1991 Paris Peace Accords contributed significantly to a process of political accommodation, national

conciliation, and the establishment of a state based on

democratic ideals;

Whereas the people of Cambodia overwhelmingly demonstrated their support for the democratic process

through the participation of over 93 percent of eligible

voters in the United Nations-sponsored 1993 elections;

Whereas the commitment of the Cambodian people to democracy and stability is reflected in the national constitution

guaranteeing fundamental human rights;

Whereas the international donor community has supported

the democratic process in Cambodia by contributing over

$3,000,000,000 to peacekeeping and national reconstruction efforts;

Whereas notwithstanding the notable societal and economic

reforms made subsequent to the 1993 elections, tensions

within the Cambodian Government continued to mount,

culminating in the July 5, 1997, military coup by which
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Second Prime Minister Hun Sen deposed the duly elected

First Prime Minister Prince Ranariddh;

Whereas the Hun Sen government has yet to adequately investigate the killings and human rights abuses which occurred at the time of the July 5, 1997, coup and which

were detailed in the August 21, 1997, Hammarberg report;

Whereas Second Prime Minister Hun Sen made a commitment to the United Nations High Commissioner for

Human Rights (UNCHR) to extend the mandate of

UNCHR;

Whereas an ongoing atmosphere of intimidation has prevented many of the political exiles who have returned to

Cambodia from carrying out their activities in preparation for the election scheduled for July 26 without fear;

Whereas questions remain concerning the independence and

impartiality of the newly created National Election Commission;

Whereas the failure of the Hun Sen Government to agree to

arrangements for the expeditious return of Prince

Ranariddh calls into serious question the possibility of a

credible election; and

Whereas the European Union has unwisely decided to provide

9,500,000 ECU’s (approximately $11,500,000) in aid to

the Hun Sen regime to prepare for the July election in

the absence of conditions that would allow a credible election: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) calls upon the Cambodian Government—
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(A) to fully implement the Paris Peace Accords;

(B) to enforce the rule of law and fully protect

human rights, including a thorough investigation of

the extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses

which occurred following the July 5, 1997, coup

and punishment of those involved;

(C) to restore a nonviolent and neutral political

atmosphere, including strict adherence to the ceasefire announced on February 27, 1998;

(D) to allow all exiled opposition leaders, including First Premier Ranariddh, to return to Cambodia and to engage in political activity without fear

of political or physical reprisal; and

(E) to take further measures to create mechanisms to help ensure a credible election, including

a truly independent and impartial election commission and provisions to allow domestic and international observers to monitor the entire election

process;

(2) commends the Association of Southeast Asian

Nations (ASEAN) for its efforts to restore democratic

governance in Cambodia and urges a continuation of

these efforts;
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(3) calls upon the European Union to reconsider its

decision to provide assistance to the election process

until such time as genuinely free and fair elections can

be conducted;

(4) urges the Secretary of State to continue to provide support through appropriate nongovernmental organizations to the courageous Cambodian human rights

workers who persevere in their difficulty task, despite

the considerable risk at which they put themselves;

(5) calls upon the Secretary of State to work with

members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

and with members of the Donors group in urging the

Cambodian Government to create the conditions which

would guarantee a free and fair election;

(6) calls upon the Cambodian Government to work

cooperatively with the Phnom Penh office of the United

Nations Centre for Human Rights and urges the United

States Government and the international community to

support the efforts of the Centre to promote human

rights in Cambodia by providing the additional financial

assistance needed to increase the number of United Nations human rights monitors in Cambodia; and

(7) states its unwillingness to accept as legitimate

or as worthy of United States assistance any Cambodian
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government that arises from a fraudulent electoral process.

Attest:

Clerk.