CALD Resolution No. 4 S. 2015

CALD Resolution No. 4 S. 2015

CALD resolution condemning in strongest terms the 

harassment of the political opposition in Cambodia 

The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD):

Aware that in the morning of 26 October 2015, Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) lawmakers Nhay Chamroeun and Kong Sakphea were savagely beaten by a group of pro-government protesters as they were leaving the Cambodian National Assembly building following a parliamentary session;

Noting that the attacks were widely perceived as reprisals from the ruling party, the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), for the anti-government demonstrations held a day before in Paris, France where the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was received in a state visit;

Noting further that while in Paris, the Cambodian strongman warned opposition leader and CNRP President Sam Rainsy that the latter could be arrested for a Facebook post on a supposed 1979 Cambodia-Vietnam border treaty, which already led to the imprisonment of CNRP Senator Hong Sok Hour, who was arrested despite his parliamentary immunity;

Mindful that on 30 October 2015, CNRP Vice President Kem Sokha was ousted as Vice President of the Cambodian National Assembly in a vote which violated the Constitution and the political agreement between the CPP and CNRP;

Cognizant that today, 13 November 2015, an arrest warrant was issued against Sam Rainsy for a 7-year old defamation case, which was supposedly covered already by a royal pardon granted to him in 2013;

Conscious that 14 opposition activists and supporters are still languishing in jail for their role in anti-government demonstrations held in Freedom Park last year;

Hereby:

Condemns in strongest terms the use of violence in any form to intimidate and terrorize the political opposition and the broader population;

Calls on Prime Minister Hun Sen and the CPP to always respect freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly as hallmarks of modern, democratic society that Cambodia aspires to be;

Believes that the imprisonment of Hong Sok Hour, the ouster of Kem Sokha, and the warrant of arrest against Sam Rainsy are pure and simple political harrassment, and could be part of a broader plan to weaken the opposition ahead of crucial 2017 and 2018 elections;

Urges the Cambodian Prime Minister to create an atmosphere conducive to the continuation of the “culture of dialogue”, which the political opposition remains to be fully committed into; and

Calls on the international community to be vigilant in monitoring the disturbing political developments in Cambodia, which lay in stark contrast with Burma’s (Myanmar) dramatic democratic gains in the aftermath of recent historic elections.

For the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats:

Oyun Sanjaasuren, MP

Chairperson

Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats

13 November 2015

Categorised in: Resolutions

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