Reaction from the European Parliament in favour of democracy in Cambodia

July 17, 2009

MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

INTERVENE IN FAVOR OF DEMOCRACY IN CAMBODIA

Members of the European Parliament from the Liberal Group (ALDE) issued yesterday the following statement. The Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) is affiliated with Liberal International and many MEPs from ALDE have visited Cambodia to support democracy here.

SRP Cabinet

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Distribution: immediate - July 16, 2009, 1:03 pm

LIBERALS AND DEMOCRATS CALL FOR EU TO UPHOLD HUMAN RIGHTS IN CAMBODIA Today the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) have tabled a question to the European Commission and Council demanding action to stand up for Cambodian opposition politicians, journalists and lawyers who are facing serious defamation charges for daring to criticise the governing authorities. The ALDE political initiative comes in support of a UN Human Rights report published last month indicating an increasing use of defamation and disinformation lawsuits to undermine freedom of opinion in the country and stifle any criticism of the ruling elite or the Cambodian People's party which has a huge majority in the Cambodian Parliament. In particular, in recent weeks the editor of a national newspaper (Khmer Mchas Srok) which has shown support for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party and published articles accusing the Deputy Prime Minister of corruption was arrested. Similarly, two deputies from the Sam Rainsy Party were stripped of their parliamentary immunity at the end of June and face a trial on 24th July. Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (FDP, Germany) and ALDE first Vice-President initiated the appeal to EU leaders to intervene in defence of democracy in Cambodia with whom the European Union has had a trade and cooperation agreement since 1997. The first article of this agreement deals with "respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights" which are to "inspire the internal and international policies of the EU and Cambodia" and which "constitute an essential element of the agreement". "The EU has the vocation and obligation to export its values of democracy and human rights across the globe. Its soft power can and should be exerted through political and economic pressure on partner countries with which it has contractual relations," said Lambsdorff. "We expect the Cambodian Government to drop its lawsuits against members of the opposition and we call on the European Union to send an observer to monitor the trial in Phnom Penh on 24th July of Mu Sochua, member of the Sam Rainsy opposition or any other politician facing similar charges." The ALDE initiative has been co-signed by ALDE MEPs Niccolo Rinaldi (Italia dei Valori) and Annemie Neyts (OpenVLD, Belgium). See attached a copy of the full text of the parliamentary question.

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Les Démocrates et les Libéraux exhortent l'UE à faire respecter des droits de l'homme au Cambodge

Texte en français non disponible.

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For more information, please contact:
Neil Corlett: +33-3-88 17 41 67 or +32-478-78 22 84

e-mail: neil.corlett@europarl.europa.eu