MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Cambodia: the case of opposition leader Kem Sokha
14.3.2023 - (2023/2589(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure
Heidi Hautala, Viola von Cramon‑Taubadel, Francisco Guerreiro, Alviina Alametsä, Rosa D'Amato, Ignazio Corrao, Hannah Neumann
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0169/2023
B9‑0174/2023
European Parliament resolution on Cambodia: the case of opposition leader Kem Sokha
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Cambodia,
having regard to the Cambodian Constitution,
– having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas Cambodia is heading to national elections in June 2023; whereas Cambodian dictator Hun Sen has been in power for 38 years and the ruling Cambodian People’s Party holds absolute power over the state bodies;
B. whereas, in anticipation of the 2018 elections, the Cambodian Government has been waging and ever since continuing a crackdown against the political opposition, including mass trials, on civil society and independent media, including the shutdown of VOD, one of Cambodia’s last independent media outlets;
C. whereas on 3 March 2023, Kem Sokha, an opponent of Hun Sen and leader of the dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party, has been sentenced on politically-motivated charges to 27 years after a 3-year trial;
1. Strongly condemns the government’s relentless and further intensifying crackdown on dissent including violence against peaceful protesters, the adoption of repressive laws, harassment and arrest of civil society activists, politicians and ordinary citizens, and the government’s violent suppression of any political competition and political participation;
2. Urges Cambodian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Kem Sokha, reinstate his political rights, to immediately release all persons who have been detained for exercising their human rights, to drop all charges and revoke any convictions in those politically-motivated cases and create conditions conducive to transparent and credible elections, including allowing all political parties to compete for election;
3. Calls for the immediate reinstatement of VOD in Cambodia;
4. Urges the Cambodian Government to repeal any legislation, that is limiting political freedoms in violation of Cambodia’s obligations and international standards;
5. Urges the Council to adopt targeted sanctions, under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, against officials, including their economic interests, to hold accountable all persons responsible for serious human rights violations and the dissolution and subsequent repression of the Cambodian opposition;
6. Calls on the Commission and the EEAS to focus assistance on support for civil society and opposition parties and to send clear messages that future EU engagement is linked to progress on compliance with human rights obligations; asks the EU delegation and Member States’ embassies to monitor trials, conduct prison visits, and offer protection to people at risk of persecution, including by providing safe haven at embassies, and facilitating entry for asylum or temporary refuge, including emergency visas;
7. Regrets that the partial withdrawal of tariff preferences under the EBA scheme has not prevented the worsening of the situation; calls on the Commission and the EEAS to make a coordinated use of all available political avenues to maximise the leverage of tariff withdrawals with a view to remedying the serious violations;
8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the EEAS, governments and parliaments of EU Member States, the Government and National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Members of ASEAN and its relevant bodies and to relevant UN bodies.