The message to the Cambodian people: You are not alone. We know what you are going through and we want to assist you.

Dear Readers,

Please find below answers from an aid to Congressman James Moran (NOT from the Congressman himself). Rep. James Moran was one of the co-sponsors of the House Resolution 820 condemning the pervasive corruption of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
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1 - What is the status of the H. Res 820?

H. Res. 820 - Condemning the pervasive corruption of the Kingdom of Cambodia was introduced by Rep. Edward Royce and was refereed to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Oct. 8, 2009. It currently has three original co-sponsors (Rep. Anh “Joseph" Cao, Rep. Frank Wolf and Rep. Jim Moran) who sat on the Cambodia hearing on Sept. 10, 2009.

2 - Will it bypass committee and go straight to the House floor for consideration?

This is unknown yet.

If possible, I would like to see if you or a congressman can comment on:

1 - The importance of Cambodia-US relations –

While some would view Cambodia-US relations from a security perspective (ie., working with Cambodia's military to fight global terrorism), Congressman Moran views Cambodia-US relations as an opportunity to assist a country seeking a free and democratic way of life. As a strong advocate of human rights, Congressman Moran would like to use the strong ties the US holds with Cambodia to influence, in a positive way, the condition in which many Cambodians live, by increase the opportunities for a more fruitful and beneficial life for all Cambodians.

2 - Why the congressmen signed this particular resolution and what message they want/aim to send to the Hun Sen government and the Cambodian people?

As Congressman Moran stated in the hearing that took place last month, he is pleased to see the US begin to place a greater emphasis on preserving human rights and the rule of law around the world. Congressman Moran’s interest in Cambodia is not due to what the U.S. can gain, but how the U.S. can assist a country whose people strive for freedom of expression, thought, and movement, but whose own government is knowingly preventing those functions from taking place. Congressman Moran sees Cambodia, not only as a country in turmoil, but as a country that has a strong chance of changing course, if provided the tools and international backing to do so. Cambodia can still become what most of its people wish it to be – free from abuse of human rights, mistreatment of justice, and restriction on speech.

The Congressman believes, human rights can best be safeguarded through the preservation of democracy. While Cambodia holds some elements of democracy, true democracy must be based on more than the number of elections it holds. This includes the separation of powers and the freedom of the media to criticize their own government. Unfortunately, the Cambodian government has so far failed to separate those powers, and failed to allow the media to report on their own activities without fear of prosecution.

The message of the resolution to the Cambodian government is this: We, the United States government, are aware of what is going on within your borders; and while Cambodia is a sovereign country it is also part of the international community. We, the United States, cannot stand by idly when we see the people of Cambodia lack what we here in the US take for granted – the freedom to speak up, move around, and live where we wish, without the danger of persecution and prosecution. Saying this, the US would like to work with the government of Cambodia, rather than against it.

The message to the Cambodian people: You are not alone. We know what you are going through and we want to assist you.

Congressional Censure a Message of Solidarity: Official

(Photo: SRP Pennsylvania)

By Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
16 October 2009

A recent congressional reproach of Cambodia’s corruption and political repression is not meant as an attack on the government, a US official says, but it is meant to demonstrate to the Cambodian people they are not alone.

Four US congressmen issued a House resolution earlier this month censuring pervasive corruption and continued human trafficking, a message government officials have dismissed.

“We, the United States government, are aware of what is going on within your borders; and while Cambodia is a sovereign country it is also part of the international community,” the office of Rep. Jim Moran, who was among those sponsoring the resolution, said in a statement to VOA Khmer explaining the resolution’s intent.

“We, the United States, cannot stand by idly when we see the people of Cambodia lack what we here in the US take for granted—the freedom to speak up, move around and live where we wish, without the danger of persecution and prosecution,” the statement said.

The resolution—introduced Oct. 8 by representatives Ed Royce, a Republican from California; Frank Wolf, a Republican from Virginia; Moran, a Democrat from Virginia; and Anh Josept Cao, a Republican from Louisiana—calls on the House of Representatives to condemn the repression of opposition candidates by the ruling party and calls on the Cambodian government to better combat the “worsening problem” of human trafficking.

Cheam Yiep, a parliamentarian for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, told VOA Khmer earlier this week the resolution was one-sided and not accepted by the government.

“Everything we do is based on our laws,” he said. “Our laws and those of the US are different. You, the sharp-nosed, live more than 1,000 kilometers away, and I live in Asia. I, as a lawmaker voted in by voters, make laws based on what my people need. I thank you for sharing your concern, but the concern is unthoughtful, without analysis, without estimation, and without clear checks and balances.”

“You’ve based [the resolution] on only one side,” he said, referring to testimony by an opposition lawmaker, a leading rights advocate, and a union representative to the House’s Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission last month. “This is inappropriate and unacceptable.”

In fact, sponsors of the resolution cited the rights commission testimonies and reports from the US State Department, Human Rights Watch, a UN special envoy for human rights, and the international environmental watchdog Global Witness, as cause for the censure.

Moran’s statement, issued Tuesday, said the congressmen’s “interest in Cambodia is not due to what the US can gain, but how the US can assist a country whose people strive for freedom of expression, thought and movement, but whose own government is knowingly preventing those functions from taking place.”

The resolution has moved to the House Committee for Foreign Affairs, officials said.

US Embassy Asked to Monitor Witness’ Safety

By Men Kimseng and Taing Sarada
Washington
18 September 2009

Click here to listen to Men Kimseng's report
Click here to listen to Taing Sarada's report

A congressional committee has requested the US Embassy in Phnom Penh to monitor the safety of several rights and opposition figures, following their testimony in a rights hearing earlier this month.

The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission formally requested the embassy to monitor the three activists in a Sept. 15 letter, claiming, “dissidents and human rights defenders often face threats and discrimination by the government and government-controlled security forces.”

“The US embassy should represent an island of freedom in a country such as Cambodia,” wrote Frank Wolf, a Republican from Virginia and co-chairman of the commission.

Among those who testified was Mu Sochua, a National Assembly member of the Sam Rainsy Party representing Kampot province, who met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week. Mu Sochua was fined $4,500 after losing a defamation suit brought against her by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

“I really want the US to pay attention to other victims who are suffering from the court system,” Mu Sochua told VOA Khmer after the meeting.

US Ambassador Carol Rodley asked to ensure that Mu Sochua, Dr. Pung Chiv Kek and Moeun Tola do not come under the pressure of the PPenh regime

Click on the letter to zoom in

Congress of the United States
Washington, DC 20515

September 15,2009

Ms. Carol A. Rodley
Ambassador
Kingdom of Cambodia
c/o Department of State

Dear Ambassador Rodley:

We write today to ask the assistance of the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh in ensuring that three Cambodian individuals who recently traveled to the United States to speak at a congressional hearing do not come under any pressure from the government of Cambodia.

As you may know, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission held a hearing on Thursday, September 10, on human rights and the rule of law in Cambodia. We were fortunate to have the following individuals travel from Cambodia to share with us firsthand accounts of the current situation: Mu Sochua, member of Parliament; Pung Kek, founder of the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights, and Moeun Tola, head of the labor program at the Community Legal and Education Center.

The U.S. Embassy should represent an island of freedom in a country such as Cambodia where dissidents and human rights defenders often face threats and discrimination by the government and government-controlled security forces. Such is the case with Mu Sochua who was stripped of her Parliamentary immunity and sued for defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen.

We ask that the embassy monitor the fate of these individuals upon their return to Cambodia and keep members of Congress informed.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Best wishes.

Sincerely,

Frank R. Wolf
Member of Congress

James P. Moran
Member of Congress

Rights Key in US, Cambodian Relations: Officials

US Congressmen Jim Moran (Left, D-Va) and James P. McGovern (Right, D-MA) during the TLHRC hearing

By Poch Reasey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
14 September 2009

Two leading US lawmakers say as the United States moves towards improving relations with Cambodia, the administration must be firm on human rights issues and urge Cambodia’s government to improve its records. The congressmen want to send the message to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who plans to meet with Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong later this month.

Speaking after a hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Thursday in Washington, Jim Moran, a Democrat from Virginia, who initiated the hearing, told VOA Khmer that if Clinton meets with Cambodian Hor Namhong, she must be firm on one important issue.

“Human rights,” he said. “If we are going to provide assistance, if we are going to raise the status of Prime Minister Hun Sen as one of the world’s leaders, then he needs to clean up the mess of his own country in terms of the judicial system.”

The tentative meeting is a result of the current administration’s desire to intensively engage in Southeast Asia, according to Scot Marciel, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Asia and Pacific Affairs and US Ambassador to Asean.

“We are still working on when and where exactly, but certainly we want to keep that dialogue going,” he said.

Moran said he initiated the hearing because the United States has a responsibility towards the Cambodian people.

“If we don’t do anything and allow the opposition party to be repressed, if we allow the media to be silenced, if we allow the Cambodian people to lose their homes and be put out in the fields without any belongings, then we are complacent,” he said. “We bear responsibility if we allow that to happen and don’t speak up.”

James McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts, is the co-chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.

“My message is to stress that the United States wants a good relationship with Cambodia,” he said. “We want a strong alliance with Cambodia, but human rights is an important issue, and there are some serious concerns about the human rights situation in Cambodia. And we will urge the Cambodian government to try to address them.”

Cambodia has proven dangerous for critics of powerful officials. Last year a journalist and his son were gunned down in broad daylight after he published an article critical of a high-ranking Cambodian police official.

To ensure that the witnesses will be safe upon returning to Cambodia, Frank Wolf, the Republican co-chair of the Human Rights Commission, said he would write a letter to the US Embassy in Cambodia asking officials to keep a watchful eye on the returning witnesses.

Moran praised Cambodia’s past achievements in moving towards a democratic society. However, he said it was unfortunate Cambodia has moved backwards in human rights over the last few years.

“The relationship [between the US and Cambodia] is not going to warm up until [Hun Sen] cleans this up, because as far as Congress is concerned, this is unacceptable,” Moran said. “Cambodia has made tremendous progress, but now it’s going back. It’s moving towards Burma instead of towards Indonesia. That’s unacceptable.”

A day before the hearing, the Cambodian Embassy in Washington released a statement outlining the government’s accomplishments in the areas of human rights and freedom of speech since 1993.

Relations between the United States and Cambodia have thawed during the last few years. In June, the US removed Cambodia from a trade blacklist allowing US loans to companies doing business in Cambodia.