H.Res. 361 (ih) Calling for free and impartial elections in Cambodia. ...

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H. Res. 361

                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                        March 17, 1998.
Whereas Cambodia continues to recover from years of political conflict, civil 
        war, the era of Khmer Rouge genocide, and subsequent foreign invasion;
Whereas the 1991 Paris Peace Accords contributed significantly to a process of 
        political accommodation, national conciliation, and the establishment of 
        a state based on democratic ideals;
Whereas the people of Cambodia overwhelmingly demonstrated their support for the 
        democratic process through the participation of over 93 percent of 
        eligible voters in the United Nations-sponsored 1993 elections;
Whereas the commitment of the Cambodian people to democracy and stability is 
        reflected in the national constitution guaranteeing fundamental human 
        rights;
Whereas the international donor community has supported the democratic process 
        in Cambodia by contributing over $3,000,000,000 to peacekeeping and 
        national reconstruction efforts;
Whereas notwithstanding the notable societal and economic reforms made 
        subsequent to the 1993 elections, tensions within the Cambodian 
        Government continued to mount, culminating in the July 5, 1997, military 
        coup by which Second Prime Minister Hun Sen deposed the duly elected 
        First Prime Minister Prince Ranariddh;
Whereas the Hun Sen government has yet to adequately investigate the killings 
        and human rights abuses which occurred at the time of the July 5, 1997, 
        coup and which were detailed in the August 21, 1997, Hammarberg report;
Whereas Second Prime Minister Hun Sen made a commitment to the United Nations 
        High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNCHR) to extend the mandate of 
        UNCHR;
Whereas an ongoing atmosphere of intimidation has prevented many of the 
        political exiles who have returned to Cambodia from carrying out their 
        activities in preparation for the election scheduled for July 26 without 
        fear;
Whereas questions remain concerning the independence and impartiality of the 
        newly created National Election Commission;
Whereas the failure of the Hun Sen Government to agree to arrangements for the 
        expeditious return of Prince Ranariddh calls into serious question the 
        possibility of a credible election; and
Whereas the European Union has unwisely decided to provide 9,500,000 ECU's 
        (approximately $11,500,000) in aid to the Hun Sen regime to prepare for 
        the July election in the absence of conditions that would allow a 
        credible election: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) calls upon the Cambodian Government--
                    (A) to fully implement the Paris Peace Accords;
                    (B) to enforce the rule of law and fully protect human 
                rights, including a thorough investigation of the extrajudicial 
                killings and human rights abuses which occurred following the 
                July 5, 1997, coup and punishment of those involved;
                    (C) to restore a nonviolent and neutral political 
                atmosphere, including strict adherence to the cease-fire 
                announced on February 27, 1998;
                    (D) to allow all exiled opposition leaders, including First 
                Premier Ranariddh, to return to Cambodia and to engage in 
                political activity without fear of political or physical 
                reprisal; and
                    (E) to take further measures to create mechanisms to help 
                ensure a credible election, including a truly independent and 
                impartial election commission and provisions to allow domestic 
                and international observers to monitor the entire election 
                process;
            (2) commends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 
        its efforts to restore democratic governance in Cambodia and urges a 
        continuation of these efforts;
            (3) calls upon the European Union to reconsider its decision to 
        provide assistance to the election process until such time as genuinely 
        free and fair elections can be conducted;
            (4) urges the Secretary of State to continue to provide support 
        through appropriate nongovernmental organizations to the courageous 
        Cambodian human rights workers who persevere in their difficulty task, 
        despite the considerable risk at which they put themselves;
            (5) calls upon the Secretary of State to work with members of the 
        Association of Southeast Asian Nations and with members of the Donors 
        group in urging the Cambodian Government to create the conditions which 
        would guarantee a free and fair election;
            (6) calls upon the Cambodian Government to work cooperatively with 
        the Phnom Penh office of the United Nations Centre for Human Rights and 
        urges the United States Government and the international community to 
        support the efforts of the Centre to promote human rights in Cambodia by 
        providing the additional financial assistance needed to increase the 
        number of United Nations human rights monitors in Cambodia; and
            (7) states its unwillingness to accept as legitimate or as worthy of 
        United States assistance any Cambodian government that arises from a 
        fraudulent electoral process.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.

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