US Senator Bill Frist (R. - Tennessee) sponsored, along with Senators Norm Coleman (R. - Minnesota), Richard Lugar (R. - Indiana), John McCain (R. - Arizona), Mitch McConnell (R. - Kentucky), and Harry Reid (D. - Nevada), a resolution titled: "A resolution expressing concern with the deliberate undermining of democratic freedoms and justice in Cambodia by Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Government of Cambodia." The resolution passed the US Senate on 25 January 2005. The following provides a transcript of the speech provided by Senator First on the US Senate floor along with the text of Senate Resolution 353.
SPEECH BY US SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BILL FRIST FROM THE SENATE FLOOR
Mr. FRIST. Today, the Prime Minister of Cambodia dropped the criminal defamation lawsuits against five government critics and human rights advocates.
Along with the administration, I welcome the Prime Minister's decision and applaud his efforts to recognize the right of free political exchange. I am hopeful that today's action represents progress and a greater commitment to human rights and civil society on the part of the ruling authority.
In recent months, we have had cause for alarm that the Government of Cambodia is engaged in a campaign of political persecution and intimidation. Prime Minister Hun Sen and his apparatus have consistently and blatantly violated basic democratic principles, the rule of law, and human rights as enshrined in the Cambodian Constitution.
Tonight, the Senate stands unified in calling upon Prime Minister Sen and the government of Cambodia: To immediately cease and desist from its systematic campaign to undermine democracy, the rule of law, and human rights; to immediately release all political prisoners and drop all politically motivated charges against opponents of the government; and to demonstrate through word and deed the government's commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and human rights;
We also call upon the King of Cambodia to play a more active and constructive role in protecting the constitutional rights of Cambodian citizens. And we urge international donors and multilateral organizations, including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations, to hold the Prime Minister and his government fully accountable for actions that undermine the investment of international donors in the democratic and economic development of Cambodia.
I would like to thank Senator MCCONNELL and Senator MCCAIN for their leadership and commitment to the people of Cambodia. They deserve special recognition for their unflagging support.
Let me close with a report today in the International Herald Tribune. At a recent gathering of 800 impoverished farmers and townspeople in a village south of the capitol of Phnom Penh, an elderly Cambodian woman asked:
I have a question for government. You talk about democracy, but how much right do the people of Cambodia have to speak out? If we speak out, will we be arrested like Kem Sokha?
I put that question to Prime Minister Hun Sen. Will the people be allowed to speak out as free citizens in an open and just democracy? The people of Cambodia want to know. And on their behalf, the U.S. Senate demands an answer.
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 353) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
TEXT OF THE SENATE RESOLUTION S. Res. 353
Whereas the United States affirms its support and respect for the welfare, human rights and dignity of the people of Cambodia;
Whereas, under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen, the Government of Cambodia has engaged in a systematic campaign to undermine the democratic opposition, stifle critics of the Government, and silence and intimidate civil society in Cambodia;
Whereas, despite constitutional guarantees of freedom of _expression and association in Cambodia, Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Government of Cambodia have consistently and blatantly violated basic democratic principles, the rule of law, and human rights in Cambodia;
Whereas the United States, the United Nations, and other international donors have publicly expressed concern with Prime Minister Hun Sen's authoritarian conduct (including inappropriate influence and control over the judiciary) and the official corruption and climate of impunity that exist in Cambodia today;
Whereas evidence of the campaign to undermine the democratic opposition in Cambodia is found in the revocation of parliamentary immunity of opposition leaders Sam Rainsy, Chea Poch, and Cheam Channy, and the 7-year prison sentence of Cheam Channy for allegedly forming "a secret army to overthrow the government'' and 18-month sentence in absentia of Sam Rainsy on charges of allegedly defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen;
Whereas evidence of the campaign to stifle critics of the Government of Cambodia is found in the detention and charges of criminal defamation of radio journalist Mom Sonando and Rong Chhum, president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association;
Whereas the decision by Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Government of Cambodia on January 25, 2006, to drop all charges against Mom Sonando, Rong Chhum, Kem Sokha, and Pa Nguon is a welcome step, but does little to alleviate the underlying climate of intimidation in Cambodia;
Whereas evidence of the campaign to silence and intimidate civil society is found in the arrest and detention of human rights activist Kem Sokha, Yeng Virak, and Pa Nguon on charges of criminal defamation;
Whereas other champions of democracy in Cambodia, including former parliamentarian Om Radsady and labor leader Chea Vichea, were brutally murdered in Cambodia, and no one has been brought to justice for committing these heinous crimes;
Whereas Cambodia is a donor dependant country, and more than $2,000,000,000 has been invested by donors in the democratic development of that country; and
Whereas the current atmosphere of intimidation and fear calls into question the viability of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) affirms the support and respect of the United States for the welfare, human rights, and dignity of the people of Cambodia;
(2) calls on Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Government of Cambodia to immediately cease and desist from its systematic campaign to undermine democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in Cambodia;
(3) calls on Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Government of Cambodia to immediately release all political prisoners and drop all politically motivated charges against opponents of the government;
(4) calls on Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Government of Cambodia to demonstrate through words and deed the government's commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in Cambodia;
(5) calls upon the King of Cambodia to play a more active and constructive role in protecting the constitutional rights of all Cambodian citizens; and
(6) urges international donors and multilateral organizations, including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations, to hold Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Government of Cambodia fully accountable for actions that undermine the investment of international donors in the democratic and economic development of Cambodia.
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