MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the continuous crackdown of political opposition in Cambodia

3.5.2022 - (2022/2658(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 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Abir Al‑Sahlani, Petras Auštrevičius, Nicola Beer, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Dita Charanzová, Olivier Chastel, Vlad Gheorghe, Klemen Grošelj, Bernard Guetta, Karin Karlsbro, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Javier Nart, Urmas Paet, Dragoş Pîslaru, Frédérique Ries, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Ramona Strugariu, Dragoş Tudorache, Hilde Vautmans
on behalf of the Renew Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0230/2022

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B9‑0234/2022

European Parliament resolution on the continuous crackdown of political opposition in Cambodia

(2022/2658(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-  having regard to its previous resolutions on Cambodia, in particular those of 14 September 2017, 14 December 2017, 12 September 2018 and 9 March 2021 on the mass trials against opposition and civil society in Cambodia,

-  having regard to the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia, on the situation in Cambodia from 2019 and 2020,

-  having regard to the 2008 EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders,  the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948,  and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966,

-  having regard to the UN Human Rights Committee report and its recommendations on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in Cambodia,

-  having regard to Cambodia’s Criminal Code and its Constitution,

-  having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

 

1. whereas since the Supreme Court dissolved the opposition party, the Cambodian National Rescue Party, in anticipation of the 2018 elections, the Cambodian government has been waging a crackdown against political opposition members, leading these members into exile due to fear of arbitrary arrest or retaliation;
2. whereas the senior and local members of the CNPR  have been held for two years in pre-trial detention, while only one convicted opponent has been released on medical grounds;
3. whereas since Cambodia started the trials of members of the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNPR), as well as hundreds of politically affiliated persons, and activists for alleged attempt to organize a coup d’état and overthrow the government and treason, the court convicted, 20 opposition members and activists in a mass trial;
4. whereas the Thom Penh Municipal Court sentenced on 17 March 2022 political opponents of the ruling party to imprisonment spanning between five and ten years, with bail being suspended;
5. whereas the trials were initiated on grounds of establishing an opposition formation overseas, as well as for creating social media content criticizing the ruling party, which culminated in prison sentences that are based on unsubstantiated charges of “incitement,” “inciting military personnel to disobedience,” or “conspiracy”;
6. whereas the Prosecutor’s Office was able to obtain arrest warrants for opposition members abroad, allowing the Office to undertake several trials in the absence of the defendants;
7. whereas over 60 documented political prisoners are being held in pre-trial detention, while representatives of the political opposition, community activists, and trade unionists experience arrest, detention and unlawful confinement;
8. whereas Cambodian authorities barred 100 candidates from participating in the June 2022 elections, while opposition leaders are being issued arrest warrants for allegations of forging documents for the elections;
9. whereas in light of the upcoming June 2022 local elections, the Cambodian electoral watchdog, namely the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia, criticized Prime Minister Hun Sen for violating the country’s election laws;
10. whereas Cambodia is holding Chairmanship of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the year 2022;

1. Expresses its deep concern over the backsliding on human rights in Cambodia in light of the local elections in June 2022 and the national elections in 2023, including the restrictions on independent reporting, the criminalization of free speech and the de facto ban on peaceful assembly.
2. Continues to condemn the alarming politically motivated arrests, detention and prosecution of persons expressing views critical of the government, of actors exercising peaceful activism, human rights work, and associating with members of the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNPR).
3. Condemns the dictatorial and human rights-violating practices of the Hun Sen regime and its Cambodian Peoples’ Party.
4. Strongly condemns the threats, arbitrary arrest, and violence targeting political opposition representatives and their families; and urges the Cambodian authorities to put an end to the unlawful restrictions concerning participation in public affairs.
5. Underlines that the trials of members of the political opposition, civil society activists, human rights defenders, journalists, and ordinary citizens are conducted in an absolute lack of international fair trials standards; calls on the government to reform the politicized judiciary, to secure the right to due process for all and for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners.
6. Calls on the Cambodian Prosecutor’s Office to put an end to the continuous delay of the trial of Kem Sokha, the CNRP leader, on unsubstantiated, politically motivated treason charges brought in September 2017.
7. Is deeply concerned about the online surveillance and the threats to free speech and the right to privacy; Calls on the Cambodian authorities to abolish the February 2022 law for a National Internet Gateway which allows the government to monitor all internet activity, and advance legal proceedings against persons covering governmental or police actions;
8. Urges the Cambodian authorities to abolish the law and reform the recent amendments that provide the authorities a mandate to arbitrarily arrest and detain persons expressing their opinion online and offline, as well as those exercising their fundamental right of association and peaceful assembly.
9. Stresses the Cambodian government to secure the space for equal, fair and transparent electoral campaigns for the upcoming elections.
10.  Stresses that the Cambodian chairmanship of the Association of South East Asian Nations for 2022 seems to legitimise the Cambodian government; Calls on the other Members of the ASEAN to address the illegitimacy of the Cambodia government;
11. Calls on the Commission to monitor the local elections very closely and to be prepared to use all tools available- including a complete withdrawal of Cambodia’s EBA status and other sanctions- should the electoral observations find evidence of unfair elections;
12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the Prime Minister, Government and Parliament of Cambodia.