The US Senate has called on the government to “cease and desist” its attacks on human rights and democracy in Cambodia, and urged the international community to hold the government accountable for its actions.
Referring to the prosecution of opposition lawmakers Sam Rainsy and Cheam Channy, as well as the recent rash of defamation lawsuits filed against activists, senators adopted a resolution on Jan 25 demanding that the government release all political prisoners and drop all politically motivated charges.
“In recent months, we have had cause for alarm that the government of Cambodia is engaged in a campaign of political persecution and intimidation,” US Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said, according to a copy of the resolution received on Friday.
“The Senate stands unified in calling upon Prime Minister [Hun] Sen and the government of Cambodia to immediately cease and desist from its systematic campaign to undermine democracy, the rule of law and human rights,” Frist added.
Noting that Cambodia has received billions of dollars of foreign aid, senators also urged international donors and other organizations to hold the premier and government “fully accountable for actions that undermine the investment of international donors.”
Senators also asked that King Norodom Sihamoni “play a more active and constructive role in protecting the constitutional rights of all Cambodian citizens,” according to the resolution.
Cheam Yeap, chair of the National Assembly’s finance and banking commission, dismissed the resolution.
“The US Senate should investigate the truth in Cambodia,” he said Sunday, adding that the democratic process has not been damaged, as evidenced by the country’s vibrant civil society.
“The international community should offer justice to Prime Minister Hun Sen and not act according to those who are dissatisfied with the government,” Cheam Yeap said.
Royal Palace officials could not be reached for comment.
Lawyer Som Chandina, who is representing Sam Rainsy, said on Friday that he sent the prime minister a letter asking him to drop the charges against the exiled opposition leader. Sam Rainsy was sentenced in absentia last month to 18 months in prison for defamation.
Government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said Hun Sen has already told his lawyer to “consider the case according to the law.”