MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Cambodia: notably the dissolution of CNRP Party

12.12.2017 - (2017/3002(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure

Petras Auštrevičius, Nedzhmi Ali, Beatriz Becerra Basterrechea, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Dita Charanzová, Gérard Deprez, Martina Dlabajová, María Teresa Giménez Barbat, Nathalie Griesbeck, Marian Harkin, Filiz Hyusmenova, Ivan Jakovčić, Petr Ježek, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Patricia Lalonde, Louis Michel, Javier Nart, Urmas Paet, Maite Pagazaurtundúa Ruiz, Jozo Radoš, Robert Rochefort, Marietje Schaake, Pavel Telička, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells, Ivo Vajgl, Johannes Cornelis van Baalen, Hilde Vautmans, Cecilia Wikström, Valentinas Mazuronis on behalf of the ALDE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0686/2017

B8‑0696/2017

European Parliament resolution on Cambodia: notably the dissolution of CNRP Party

(2017/3002(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its previous resolutions on Cambodia in particular that of September 13, 2017,

-having regard to the 2008 EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders,

-having regard to the 1997 Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Cambodia,

-having regard to the resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 8 March 1999 on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,

-having regard to the 1991 Paris Peace Accords, in which a commitment to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cambodia, including on the part of international signatories, is enshrined in Article 15,

-having regard to the statement of 1 April 2016 by the UN Special Rapporteur urging Cambodia to strengthen protection of women and indigenous peoples’ rights,

-having regard to the International Labour Organisation Convention on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise,

-having regard to the Cambodian Constitution, in particular Article 41 thereof, in which the rights and freedoms of expression and assembly are enshrined, Article 35 on the right to political participation and Article 80 on parliamentary immunity,

-having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948,

-having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966,

-having regard to Rules 135(5) and 123(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

 

A. Whereas on the 16th of November 2017 the Supreme Court of Cambodia has dissolved the country's main opposition party Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP); whereas this decision which was based on two rounds of controversial amendments to the Law on Political Parties, leaving the government with no competition ahead of next year’s General elections scheduled for July 2018;

 

B. whereas all CNRP office holders, including 489 commune chiefs and 55 MPs will lose their position and their seats will be allocated to other parties; Whereas dissolution of the CNRP means that it will lose all its elected representatives at the local and national level which will be redistributed to the government and extend Prime Minister´s former Khmer Rouge army commander Hun Sen 32 years rule;

 

C. whereas opposition party members have been prosecuted and harassed by the authorities of Cambodia for years; Whereas fewer than 40 percent of CNRP members of Parliament remain in Cambodia after others were forced to flee the country, having been threatened with arrests;

 

D. Whereas  Kem Sokha, main opposition leader,  remains imprisoned and Sam Rainsy, the former president of the CNRP, remains in self‑imposed exile; whereas both cases are motivated by trumped-up charges and without respect to the right to a fair trial; 

 

E. Whereas the court ruling to dissolve the CNRP takes place in the midst of a severe systemic crackdown and militarization of public live by Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) against the political opposition, civil society organizations and independent and critical media, whereas the crackdown intensified after the Cambodian communal  elections in June 2017 in which CNRP won 44 percent of votes; whereas general elections are scheduled for 29 July 2018, electing the members of the sixth National Assembly;

 

F. Whereas on the 26th of November, Hun Sen’s has ordered to close down the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR);

 

G. Whereas Cambodia benefits from the most favourable regime available under the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), namely the Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme; Whereas the EU has allocated up to €410 million to Cambodia for the financial period 2014-2020;

 

1. Reiterates its strong concerns expressed in the previous resolutions about the further worsening climate for opposition politicians, human rights activists  and members of civil society in Cambodia;

 

2. Questions the Supreme Court´s decision to dissolve CNRP part and believes it to be politically motivated;

 

3. Strongly urges the Government to immediately reverse the decision to dissolve the CNRP  and ensure free space for action for political parties media and civil society organisations and put an end to the climate of fear and intimidation as these are all preconditions for free, inclusive and transparent elections;

 

4. Calls on the government of Cambodia to repeal all recent amendments to the Law on Political Parties and to electoral laws limiting the freedom of speech and political freedoms;

 

5. Strongly condemns the arrest of Kem Sokha and other political activists; Urges the Cambodian authorities to immediately revoke the arrest warrant for, and drop all charges against, opposition leader Sam Rainsy  as well as immediately and unconditionally release Kem Sokha from prison and drop all charges against him and those against other opposition parliamentarians;

 

6. Reiterates that a credible democratic process leading up to the National Assembly election in July 2018 requires an environment in which political parties, civil society and the media are able to carry out their legitimate roles; Calls on the government of Cambodia to work with the international community and to make sure that the next year election is transparent, participatory and inclusive;

 

7. Calls upon High Representative Mogherini and commissioner Malmstrom to immediately review Cambodia’s obligations under the conventions in article 19 of the EBA regulation;

 

8. Emphasises that if Cambodia is acting in violation of its obligation under the EBA regulation, the tariff preferences it currently enjoys must be temporarily withdrawn; 

 

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the Vice‑President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European External Action Service, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the Government and National Assembly of Cambodia.