H. Res. 728 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
September 12, 2016. 
Whereas since the Paris Peace Accords in 1991, Cambodia 
has undergone a gradual, partial, and unsteady transition 
to democracy, including elections and multiparty govern-
ment; 
Whereas Prime Minister Hun Sen has been in power in Cam-
bodia uninterrupted since 1985 and is the longest-serving 
leader in Southeast Asia; 
Whereas Freedom House rated Cambodia as ‘‘Not Free’’ in 
its ‘‘Freedom in the World 2015’’ report, noting that 
‘‘political opposition is restricted’’, ‘‘harassment or 
threats against opposition supporters are not uncom-
mon’’, ‘‘freedom of speech is not fully protected’’, and 
‘‘the government’s tolerance for freedoms of association 
and assembly has declined in recent years’’; 
Whereas Cambodia held a general election on July 28, 2013, 
though widespread reports of irregularities largely related 
to the voter lists bring into question the integrity of the 
election; 
Whereas a coalition of election monitors, including the Na-
tional Democratic Institute (NDI), Transparency Inter-
national Cambodia, and other domestic and international 
organizations, in a joint report on the 2013 election
•HRES 728 EH 
found ‘‘significant challenges that undermined the credi-
bility of the process’’; 
Whereas Transparency International Cambodia, a nonprofit, 
nonpartisan organization, conducted a survey during the 
2013 election that found at 60 percent of polling sta-
tions, citizens with proper identification were not allowed 
to vote; 
Whereas the Cambodian National Election Committee (NEC) 
was accused of lack of independence and pro-government 
bias during its oversight of the 2013 election; 
Whereas the composition of the NEC was changed after the 
2013 election to include equal membership from both po-
litical parties, and the NEC’s continued independence is 
essential to free and fair elections; 
Whereas the United States Congress has taken steps to pro-
tect democracy and human rights in Cambodia, making 
certain 2014 foreign aid funds intended to Cambodia 
conditioned upon the Government of Cambodia con-
ducting an independent and credible investigation into 
the irregularities associated with the July 28, 2013, par-
liamentary elections and reforming the NEC or when all 
parties have agreed to join the National Assembly to con-
duct business; 
Whereas United States aid to Cambodia has funded work in 
areas including development assistance, civil society, glob-
al health, and the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, largely via 
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); 
Whereas both NDI and the International Republican Insti-
tute (IRI) operate in Cambodia, engaging local partners 
and building capacity for civil society, democracy, and 
good governance;
•HRES 728 EH 
Whereas the Government of Cambodia has acted to restrict 
the right to freely assemble and protest, including the fol-
lowing instances; 
Whereas, on January 3, 2014, Cambodian security forces vio-
lently cracked down on protests of garment workers, kill-
ing 4 people in Phnom Penh; 
Whereas, on March 31, 2014, Cambodian police beat 
protestors with batons and clubs during a protest calling 
for a license for the independent Beehive Radio to estab-
lish a television channel; 
Whereas in August 2015, the Government of Cambodia 
passed the ‘‘Law on Associations and Non-Governmental 
Organizations’’ which threatens to restrict the develop-
ment of civil society by requiring registration and govern-
ment approval of both domestic and international NGOs; 
Whereas, on October 26, 2015, 2 opposition lawmakers, in-
cluding dual United States citizen Nhay Chamreoun, 
were violently attacked by pro-government protestors in 
front of the National Assembly; 
Whereas, on November 16, 2015, the standing committee of 
the National Assembly expelled leader of the parliamen-
tary opposition and President of the Cambodian National 
Rescue Party (CNRP) Sam Rainsy and revoked his par-
liamentary immunity; 
Whereas Mr. Rainsy is the subject of a Government of Cam-
bodia investigation of 7-year-old defamation charges 
against him which is widely believed to be politically mo-
tivated; 
Whereas the United States Embassy in Cambodia has pub-
licly called on the Government of Cambodia to revoke the 
arrest warrant issued against Mr. Rainsy, allow all oppo-