The European Parliament,

A.  whereas the situation in Cambodia has dramatically deteriorated since last year with further arrests of human rights workers on charges of defamation;

B.  whereas the Cambodian authorities are cracking down on critics of the government, taking legal action against human rights defenders, journalists, teachers, trade unionists and opposition leaders that appears to be politically motivated;

C.  concerned by the fact that Sam Rainsy, Member of the Cambodian Parliament and Leader of the opposition, was convicted and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment in absentia in Phnom Penh on 22 December 2005 on defamation charges filed by the Prime Minister and the President of the National Assembly;

D.  whereas Cheam Channy, Member of the Cambodian Parliament, was tried and convicted in August 2005 and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment;

1.  Is deeply concerned by the recent arrests and prosecutions and urges the Cambodian Government to consider very carefully the compatibility of such actions with the commitments it has made to the international community;

2.  Reminds the Cambodian Government that it has to meet its obligations and commitments regarding democratic principles and fundamental human rights;

3.  Calls on the Council and the Commission to take steps to ensure that fundamental freedoms are respected as enshrined in Art. 1 of the Cooperation Agreement of 1997 between the EU and Cambodia;

4.  Expresses its support for the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Human Rights in Cambodia and the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, whose mandate includes protection and monitoring;

5.  Expresses concern that the use of the Cambodian judiciary as a political instrument against the political opposition and civil society calls into question the Cambodian government’s commitment to establish the Khmer Rouge Tribunal on international standards of judicial independence, fair trials, and due process of law, as agreed with the UN in June 2003;

6.  Reiterates its demand that an EP ad hoc delegation visit Cambodia to evaluate observance of Art. 1 of the Cooperation Agreement and the situation of detained parliamentarians, media representatives and trade union leaders in the country and that an end be brought to the detention of all political prisoners;

7.  Instructs its president to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Human Rights in Cambodia and the Government and Parliament of the Kingdom of Cambodia.