A joint resolution in support of the restoration of a free and independent Cambodia and the protection of the Cambodian people from a return to power by the genocidal Khmer Rouge.
PL 100-502 (H.J.Res.602), enacted 10/18/1988

102 STAT. 2504 
PUBLIC LAW 100-502—OCT. 18, 1988 
Public Law 100-502 
100th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
Oct 18 1988 
^^ support of the restoration of a free and independent Cambodia, the withdrawal of 
' 
Vietnamese forces, and the protection of the Cambodian people from a return to 
[H.J. Res. 602] 
power by the genocidal Khmer Rouge. 
Whereas the people of C£imbodia suffered terribly under the des-
potic regime of the Khmer Rouge and subsequently during the 
occupation by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; 
Whereas the people of Cambodia have been victims of genocide, 
enslavement, starvation, and other deliberate acts of cruelty per-
petrated by the Khmer Rouge, resulting in the deaths of over one 
million Cambodian people; 
Whereas the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has maintained armed 
forces within Cambodia, thereby perpetuating their domination 
and forestalling the realization of self-determination by the Cam-
bodian people; 
Whereas the Vietnamese-installed Government of the People's 
Republic of Kampuchea has seriously abused the human and civil 
rights of the Cambodian people; 
Whereas due to fears of persecution in their homeland, hundreds of 
thousands of Cambodians have become refugees or displaced per-
sons, seeking first Eisylum in other Southeast Asian nations and 
subsequent resettlement in third countries; 
Whereas the United States has supported the non-Communist resist-
ance led by Prince Norodom Sihanouk and Son Sann in order to 
end the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia and recover for the 
Cambodian people their sovereign rights; 
Whereas Prince Norodom Sihanouk has with courage and convic-
tion devoted his energies to restoring his homeland to independ-
ence, neutrality, peace, and harmony; 
Whereas the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has declared its in-
tention to withdraw forces from Cambodia by the end of 1990 and 
has pledged to join negotiations for a resolution of the Cambodian 
question; 
Whereas dialogue and diplomatic discussions have increased on a 
regional and international basis concerning the future of 
Cambodia; 
Whereas the stability of Southeast Asia can only be assured once 
peace is restored to Cambodia and the rights of the Cambodian 
people are universally respected; and 
Whereas it is a moral imperative of all nations that the people of 
Cambodia no longer be made to suffer at the hands of the Khmer 
Rouge or any other force that would do further harm to the 
Khmer people or further endanger their cultural and religious 
heritage: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled. That the United States— 
(1) declares that all parties seeking a settlement of the con-
flict in Cambodia, including the United States, should have 
among their highest priorities the restoration of a free and 
PUBLIC LAW 100-502—OCT. 18, 1988 
102 STAT. 2505 
independent Cambodia and the protection of the Cambodian 
people from a return to power by the genocidal Khmer Rouge; 
(2) calls on the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to fully withdraw 
its armed forces from Cambodia, and further calls on all parties 
to respect the territorial integrity of Cambodia and to deny safe 
haven to Khmer Rouge forces seeking the overthrow of a newly 
formed sovereign Cambodian government; 
(3) should seek a Cambodian settlement which contains work-
able measures to prevent a Khmer Rouge return to power, 
including a cessation of the flow of war materiel and the 
accumulation of caches of arms that might ultimately be used to 
terrorize the Cambodian people and to threaten a legitimate 
government of Cambodia; 
(4) declares that the United States must remain vigilant to 
ensure that genocide is never tolerated or forgotten anywhere 
in the world and that those responsible for such heinous crimes 
should be held accountable under international law, as pre-
scribed by the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of 
the Crime of Genocide; 
(5) declares that the United States in cooperation with the 
international community should use all appropriate means 
available to prevent a return to power of Pol Pot, the top 
echelon of the Khmer Rouge, and their armed forces, so that the 
Cambodian people might genuinely be free to pursue self-deter-
mination without the spectre of the coercion, intimidation, and 
torture that are known elements of the Khmer Rouge ideology; 
(6) should seek the support of the member nations of the 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other 
nations for the inclusion, in declarations and resolutions 
promulgated by the United Nations pertaining to the Cam-
bodian conflict, of the principle that those responsible for acts of 
genocide and massive violations of internationally recognized 
human rights shall not return to positions of political power in 
Cambodia upon withdrawal of the foreign occupation forces; 
(7) declares that the United States, in conjunction with the 
member nations of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations 
(ASEAN), should continue to provide assistance, support, and 
encouragement to the non-Communist Cambodian 
forces, 
particularly their efforts to achieve a negotiated settlement that 
would permit self-determination for the Cambodian people and 
the return of refugees in safety and dignity to their homeland; 
(8) declares that the United States, in consultation with the 
member nations of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations, 
should consider whether such a settlement could be facilitated 
by the convening of an international conference on Cambodia 
and the provision of an international peacekeeping force that, 
in addition to performing other appropriate peacekeeping 
duties, could also supervise the withdrawal of Vietnamese 
forces and the holding of free and fair elections in Cambodia; 
(9) should seek to ensure— 
(A) that the refugee camps controlled by the Khmer 
Rouge are opened to inspection by international organiza-
tions, and 
102 STAT. 2506 
PUBLIC LAW 100-502—OCT. 18, 1988 
(B) that those within those camps have the freedom to 
move to non-Khmer Rouge controlled camps if they desire 
to do so; and 
(10) should attempt to halt the flow of arms and military 
equipment to the Khmer Rouge by urging those nations provid-
ing assistance to the Khmer Rouge to cease doing so. 
Approved October 18, 1988. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.J. Res. 602: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 134 (1988): 
Aug. 8, considered and passed House. 
Sept. 16, considered and passed Senate. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 24 (1988): 
Oct. 18, Presidential statement.