Resolution: Cambodia
The ELDR Congress
- Considering that Cambodia's budget is largely dependent on foreign - an in particular European - aid, further calls on the European Union to make continuation of its financial aid conditional upon an improvement in Cambodia's human rights record;
- Is deeply concerned by the continuation of attacks and intimidation against any vocal opponents of the Hun Sen government, particularly against several members of opposition parties in parliament and free and independent trade unions, and by the killing on 24 February 2007, of Hy Vuthy, president of the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC);
- Expresses serious concerns at the quality of collaboration that Cambodian Government's commitment to establish the Khmer Rouge Tribunal in accordance with international standards of judicial independence, fair trial and due legal process, as agreed with the UN in June 2003 and the deliberate drawing out of the process started in 2003, with for example the recent arrest of 'Brother Number Two' Nuon Chea coming to trial only at a predicted April 2008, or later;
- Calls on the European Union to take steps to ensure that fundamental freedoms, as enshrined in Article 1 of the EU-Cambodia Cooperation Agreement, are respected and that attacks on civil liberties have consequences;
- Calls on the Cambodian authorities to:
  ▪       engage in political and institutional reforms to build a democratic state governed by the rule of law and founded on respect for fundamental freedoms;
  ▪       demonstrate their will to combat effectively the endemic scourges of corruption, massive deforestation resulting in the displacement of people, and the sex tourism industry, to refuse the current culture of impunity and to bring to justice all those involved in such activities;
  ▪       to guarantee free and fair elections without intimidation and harassment;
Insists that the Cambodian Government must put an end to the prevailing climate of impunity;
-  Condemns the discrimination suffered by the Khmer Krom community;
- Urges its member Parties to actively support the struggle for freedom of the liberal Sam Rainsy Party and other pro-democracy groups as the main opposition in Cambodia to the corruption of the current regime;
- ELDR Congress notes the rise of crony capitalism and the control of key sectors by Hun Sens's political associates including the oil sector, tourism facilities and even the receipt of hundreds of $ millions in fees for tourists visiting the World Heritage Site, the Temples of Angkor Wat despite the neglect of these historically significant sites. ELDR Congress deplores the forcible displacement of poor communities in Phnom Penh to make way for commercial development via companies close to Hun Sen and his regime;
- ELDR Congress notes the official tolerance of the open and luxurious lifestyles of former genocidal Pol Pot regime stalwarts, including for example the officially-attended housewarming party on Dec 21st 2006 of the murderous Meas Muth, former Secretary of the notorious Central Committee Division 164, attended by 600 guests including senior Hun Sen regime personalities, and expresses dismay at his privileged status and his use of an official government 4wd car.