Title: A resolution calling for the peaceful return to Cambodia of opposition party members and democracy activists.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution calls on Cambodia to release all political prisoners and restore full political rights to the Cambodia National Rescue Party. The resolution also condemns the deterioration of human rights and democracy in Cambodia.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 416 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 416

Calling for the peaceful return to Cambodia of opposition party members 
                        and democracy activists.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            November 7, 2019

   Mr. Markey (for himself, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. Cruz) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Calling for the peaceful return to Cambodia of opposition party members 
                        and democracy activists.

Whereas the people of the United States seek to strengthen relations with the 
        People of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and ensure that they enjoy free and 
        fair democratic elections, the rule of law, and the fundamental freedoms 
        of expression, association, and assembly;
Whereas the government of Cambodia has taken a series of steps to undermine 
        democratic institutions, human rights, and freedom of expression;
Whereas, on several occasions since 2017, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun 
        Sen, has urged opposition lawmakers to defect and join the ruling 
        Cambodian People's Party (CPP), and security forces coerced many such 
        defections under threat and duress;
Whereas Cambodian authorities arrested the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) 
        opposition leader Kem Sokha on September 3, 2017, for allegedly 
        committing treason, and continue to restrict his movements and 
        communications to conditions amounting to house arrest over two years 
        later;
Whereas, having outlawed the CNRP on November 16, 2017, having banned 118 of its 
        members from politics, and having passed amendments to its Law on 
        Political Parties that were intended to stifle independent political 
        parties, the CPP won all 125 National Assembly seats in the July 29, 
        2018, national election;
Whereas the Department of State noted in its 2018 Human Rights Report on 
        Cambodia instances of arbitrary deprivation of life and other unlawful 
        or politically motivated killings, arbitrary arrest or detention, denial 
        of fair public trial, and other violations;
Whereas Freedom House assessed Cambodia to be ``not free'' in its Freedom in the 
        World 2019 report;
Whereas the crackdown by the government of Cambodia on the political opposition 
        and other independent voices has caused many CNRP leaders to flee 
        abroad;
Whereas, according to Human Rights Watch, on March 12, 2019, a court criminally 
        charged and issued arrest warrants for eight leading members of the CNRP 
        who had left Cambodia ahead of the July 2018 election: Sam Rainsy, Mu 
        Sochua, Ou Chanrith, Eng Chhai Eang, Men Sothavarin, Long Ry, Tob Van 
        Chan, and Ho Vann;
Whereas the government of Cambodia has arrested many opposition party members 
        and democracy activists who remained in Cambodia, including bringing 
        charges against more than 70 former CNRP members and detaining at least 
        35 of them since CNRP members announced in August 2019 that they might 
        return to the country;
Whereas a Cambodian court ordered a new investigation into two Radio Free Asia 
        journalists charged with espionage even after two years of inquiry found 
        insufficient evidence of wrongdoing and after numerous human rights 
        experts and a bipartisan group of United States Senators in a March 15, 
        2018, letter to Hun Sen argued that the charges were meritless;
Whereas former CNRP leader, Sam Rainsy, and other members of the CNRP and 
        supporters of democracy intend to return to Cambodia on November 9, 
        2019;
Whereas Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened students that they would have one of 
        their ``remaining fingers cut off'' if they joined the cause of the 
        returning democracy activists and ordered the military to attack any 
        CNRP gatherings on November 9, 2019;
Whereas according to Amnesty International, two youth activists have been 
        arbitrarily detained since July for attempting to peacefully commemorate 
        the murder of a popular government critic;
Whereas, on November 16, 2017, the United States Senate unanimously passed 
        Senate Resolution 279 (115th Congress), a bipartisan resolution 
        reaffirming the commitment of the United States to promote democracy, 
        human rights, and the rule of law in Cambodia; and
Whereas the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-409) 
        prohibits the authorization of appropriations to the government of 
        Cambodia until the Secretary of State certifies that Cambodia is taking 
        effective steps in several areas, including the restoration of the civil 
        and political rights of the CNRP, media, and civil society 
        organizations: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) urges the government of Cambodia to immediately and 
        unconditionally--
                    (A) release all political prisoners;
                    (B) drop all politically motivated charges against 
                the CNRP and civil society activists; and
                    (C) restore full political rights to the CNRP;
            (2) deplores--
                    (A) the deterioration of democracy and fundamental 
                human rights in Cambodia;
                    (B) the continued imprisonment and judicial 
                harassment of journalists, prisoners of conscience, and 
                other political prisoners by the government of 
                Cambodia;
                    (C) the breakdown of the rule of law and the lack 
                of due process in Cambodia; and
                    (D) the potential for mass arrests and violence if 
                and when CNRP members currently overseas return to 
                Cambodia;
            (3) holds Prime Minister Hun Sen directly responsible for 
        the safety, health, and welfare of exiled CNRP leaders and 
        their supporters upon their return to Cambodia;
            (4) calls on other governments throughout the Indo-Pacific 
        to--
                    (A) urge the government of Cambodia to allow the 
                peaceful return of exiled CNRP leaders and their 
                supporters; and
                    (B) refrain from unjustly restricting the rights of 
                CNRP members to travel to and through their countries 
                as they return; and
            (5) recognizes, in the absence of systemic democratic 
        reforms, the need for additional United States Government 
        measures, including through legislation and executive action.
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