ROS CHANVEASNA AND JONATHAN GREIG
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| Alan Lowenthal at a ceremony in California in 2013. Supplied |
In a resolution backed by members of both political parties in the United States and passed by a committee in the House of Representatives, the US denounced the actions and “political repression” of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government.
Even though the bipartisan resolution, written by US Congressmen Alan Lowenthal and Matt Salmon, is largely ceremonial and has no power to force any action or sanctions by the US government, it was passed quickly in a House Foreign Affairs Committee vote on Monday.
Mr. Lowenthal, an outspoken critic of the Cambodian government and founder of the Cambodia Caucus in the US Congress, excoriated the ruling party for its conduct and demanded the government make more of an effort to ensure the freedoms of its political opponents.
“The 30-year government of Prime Minister Hun Sen, through intimidation, repression and violence, has created an environment that abridges the right of every Cambodian citizen to participate in fair and free elections,” Mr. Lowenthal said.
“If Cambodia wishes to become a full-fledged and respected member of the international community, the government of Hun Sen must respect the rule of law, human rights and democracy.”
Mr. Lowenthal went on to say that since the last election, the government has ratcheted up its attempts to shut down protests and demonstrations, using the judicial system and outright violence to back the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party into a corner.
“Since the 2013 elections, opposition parliamentarians have been expelled from parliament, harassed by the government and even attacked in the streets of Phnom Penh. Dr. Kem Ley, a noted political commentator and critic of the government, was assassinated in broad daylight in Phnom Penh earlier this year,” Mr. Lowenthal wrote in his statement.
Government spokesman Phay Siphan did not respond to requests for comment, but Sok Eysan, spokesman for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, vehemently disagreed with the US version of events and criticized them for attempting to dictate the actions of a sovereign nation.
“The US Congress does not understand the situation in Cambodia. They don’t know the facts. What they say is up to them, but it is not as bad as they say,” he told Khmer Times yesterday.
“Cambodia is an independent country. We are equals with the US. Cambodia is not a colony of the US.”
He went on to blast the US for supporting “criminals” and asking the government to meddle in the affairs of the judiciary.
“What the Cambodian government does is based on the constitution, rule of law and the Paris Peace Accords of 1991. Cambodia does not implement US constitutional law,” he said. “So are they saying that if the courts just released all of these people [opposition party members and human rights officials] that the courts will then be independent?”
Mr. Eysan specifically focused on the US’ support for opposition leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, slamming them for backing politicians who he claimed had broken the law.
“As we already know, Mr. Sokha and Mr. Rainsy violated Cambodian law. We cannot hide the reality of the situation,” he said. “Cambodia is an independent country and peaceful nation. We cannot allow criminals to act freely and then ask people to protect the guilty.”
Part of Mr. Lowenthal’s criticisms relate to Mr. Rainsy and Mr. Sokha, both of whom have been barred from standing as candidates in the next elections in 2017 and 2018 due to what he says are politically-motivated charges and convictions. He pointed to the most recent actions of the government – threats of violence against demonstrations and military scare tactics toward the opposition – as evidence that Mr. Hun Sen had learned little from the last election cycle.
“As the upcoming elections draw closer, we must do everything we can to assure that the people of Cambodia are able to express their voices fully and fairly at the ballot box, without the fear of intimidation, violence, or retribution,” Mr. Lowenthal said.
In the resolution itself, the House of Representatives “urged” the Cambodian government to “end all harassment and intimidation of Cambodia’s opposition, drop all politically motivated charges against opposition lawmakers, allow them to return to Cambodia and freely participate in the political process; and foster an environment where democracy can thrive and flourish.”
The US provides more than $80 million in aid to Cambodia every year.
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