MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Cambodia
24.11.2015 - (2015/2969(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure
Charles Tannock, Mark Demesmaeker, Monica Macovei, Beatrix von Storch, Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Anna Elżbieta Fotyga, Karol Karski, Tomasz Piotr Poręba, Ryszard Czarnecki, Raffaele Fitto, Valdemar Tomaševski on behalf of the ECR Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-1263/2015
The European Parliament,
-having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Cambodia and in particular the European Parliament resolution on situation of rights defenders and opposition activists in Cambodia and Laos of 16 January 2014 and the European Parliament resolution on the situation in Cambodia, draft laws on the NGOs and trade unions of 9 July 2015,
-having regard to the 1997 Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Cambodia,
-having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966,
-having regard to the 2008 EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders,
-having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas on Friday 13 November Cambodia's parliament voted to remove the opposition leader Sam Rainsy's lawmaker status and strip him of his immunity following a court issued arrest warrant on a seven-year-old defamation conviction;
B. whereas Sam Rainsy, member of parliament of Cambodia and the leader of his country’s second largest political party, was sentenced in absentia to ten years in jail on 23 September 2010 after being found guilty of altering public documents and disinformation and accused by the government of manipulating a map to show that Vietnam had encroached on Cambodia's territory; whereas a royal pardon was given to Rainsy in 2013;
C. whereas the arrest warrant was issued after Sam Rainsy made a remark that the ruling party could ''derail'' elections in 2018 and also commented about his own prospects for overthrowing the authoritarian rule of Prime Minister Hun Sen after Aung San Suu Kyi's electoral success in Burma;
D. whereas despite a truce made between the two politicians last year after a deal was agreed on election reform, the political environment in Cambodia has remained tense; whereas more tensions have erupted in recent weeks with two opposition members of parliament beaten up following a demonstration by Cambodian People's Party supporters;
E. whereas as a result of the developments in Cambodia and the issuance of arrest warrant Sam Rainsy decided to delay his return to the country in order to avoid any possible spark of violence and confrontation of forces;
F. whereas the removal of Sam Rainsy's lawmaker status and the issuance of arrest warrant coincides with the recent weakening of Prime Minister Hun Sen's power as his government has strongly been affected by allegations of corruption and favouritism;
1. Condemns the decision by the National Assembly standing committee which is clearly politically motivated and calls on the Cambodian authorities to drop all charges against the leader of Cambodia's opposition party National Rescue Party and its activists;
2. Is particularly alarmed by the recent tensions arising on Cambodian political scene, i.e. string of arrests, convictions, threats and beatings orchestrated by the government against the opposition activists, causing a flaw in Cambodia's efforts to democracy and fundamental freedoms;
3. Reminds the Cambodian Government that it has to fulfil its obligations and commitments regarding the democratic principles and fundamental human rights which are an essential element of the Cooperation Agreement;
4. Calls therefore on the authorities to explore ways and means of resolving the issues at hand through political dialogue and to enable Mr. Sam Rainsy to resume his activities as rapidly as possible;
5. Calls on the Cambodian government to ensure impartial investigations following the recent attack on two members of the national Assembly and the Cambodian National Rescue Party during a demonstration organised by Cambodian People's Party supporters;
6. Calls on the Cambodian government to end arbitrary detentions and suspicious acts of disappearing and allow voluntary and human rights-defending organisations to operate freely;
7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government and National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the UN Secretary‑General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Human Rights in Cambodia, and the governments of the ASEAN Member States.