H. Res. 361
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
March 17, 1998.
Whereas Cambodia continues to recover from years of politi-
cal conflict, civil war, the era of Khmer Rouge genocide,
and subsequent foreign invasion;
Whereas the 1991 Paris Peace Accords contributed signifi-
cantly to a process of political accommodation, national
conciliation, and the establishment of a state based on
democratic ideals;
Whereas the people of Cambodia overwhelmingly dem-
onstrated 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 democ-
racy 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 reconstruc-
tion 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
•HRES 361
Second Prime Minister Hun Sen deposed the duly elected
First Prime Minister Prince Ranariddh;
Whereas the Hun Sen government has yet to adequately in-
vestigate the killings and human rights abuses which oc-
curred at the time of the July 5, 1997, coup and which
were detailed in the August 21, 1997, Hammarberg re-
port;
Whereas Second Prime Minister Hun Sen made a commit-
ment to the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights (UNCHR) to extend the mandate of
UNCHR;
Whereas an ongoing atmosphere of intimidation has pre-
vented many of the political exiles who have returned to
Cambodia from carrying out their activities in prepara-
tion for the election scheduled for July 26 without fear;
Whereas questions remain concerning the independence and
impartiality of the newly created National Election Com-
mission;
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 elec-
tion: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) calls upon the Cambodian Government—
•HRES 361
(A) to fully implement the Paris Peace Ac-
cords;
(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 cease-
fire announced on February 27, 1998;
(D) to allow all exiled opposition leaders, in-
cluding First Premier Ranariddh, to return to Cam-
bodia and to engage in political activity without fear
of political or physical reprisal; and
(E) to take further measures to create mecha-
nisms to help ensure a credible election, including
a truly independent and impartial election commis-
sion and provisions to allow domestic and inter-
national 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;
•HRES 361
(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 pro-
vide support through appropriate nongovernmental orga-
nizations 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 Na-
tions human rights monitors in Cambodia; and
(7) states its unwillingness to accept as legitimate
or as worthy of United States assistance any Cambodian
•HRES 361
government that arises from a fraudulent electoral proc-
ess.
Attest:
Clerk.