1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 (2) calls upon the European Union to recon sider its decision to provide assistance to the election process until such time as genuinely free and fair elections can be conducted; (3) urges the Secretary of State to continue to provide support through appropriate nongovern-· mental organizations to the courageous Cambodian human rights workers who persevere in their dif ficulty task, despite the considerable risk at which they put themselves; and (4) calls upon the Secretary of State to work with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and with members of the Donors Group in 16 urging the Cambodian Government to create the 17 conditions which would guarantee a free and fair AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE TO H. RES. 361 OFFERED BY MR. BEREUTER Strike the preamble and insert the following: Whereas Cambodia continues to recover from years of political conflict, civil war, the era of Khmer Rouge genocide, and subsequent foreign invasion; Whereas the 1991 Paris Peace Accords contributed significantly to a process of political accommodation, national conciliation, and the establishment of a state based on democratic ideals; Whereas the people of Cambodia overwhelmingly demonstrated their support for the democratic process through the participation of over 93 percent of eligible voters in the United Nations-sponsored 1993 elections; Whereas the commitment of the Cambodian people to democracy and stability is reflected in the national constitution guaranteeing fundamental human rights; Whereas the international donor community has supported the democratic process in Cambodia by contributing over $3,000,000,000 to peacekeeping and national reconstruction efforts; Whereas notwithstanding the notable societal and economic reforms made subsequent to the 1993 elections, tensions within the Cambodian Government continued to mount, culminating in the July 5, 1997, military coup by which Second Prime Minister Hun Sen deposed the duly elected First Prime Minister Prince Ranariddh; 2 Whereas the IIun Sen government has yet to adequately investigate the killings and human rights abuses which occurred at the time of the July 5, 1997, and which were detailed in the August 21, 1997, Hammarberg report; Whereas Second Prime Minister Hun Sen made a commit ment to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNCHR) to extend the mandate of UNCHR; Whereas an ongoing atmosphere of intimidation has prevented many of the political exiles who have returned to Cambodia from carrying out their activities in preparation for the election scheduled for July 26 without fear; Whereas questions remain concerning the independence and impartiality of the newly created National Election Commission; Whereas the failure of the Hun Sen Government to agree to arrangements for the expeditious return of Prince Ranariddh calls into serious question the possibility of a credible election; and Whereas the European Union has unwisely decided to provide 9,500,000 ECU's (approximately $11,500,000) in aid to the Hun Sen regime to prepare for the July election in the absence of conditions that would allow a credible election: Now, therefore, be it 3 (A) to fully implement the Paris Peace Ac cords; (B) to enforce the rule of law and fully protect human rights, including a thorough investigation of the extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses which occurred following the July 5, 1997, coup and punishment of those involved; (C) to restore a nonviolent and neutral political atmosphere, including strict adherence to the cease-fire announced on February 27, 1998; (D) to allow all exiled opposition leaders, including First Premier Ranariddh, to return to Cambodia and to engage in political activity without fear of political or physical reprisal; and (E) to take further measures to create mechanisms to help ensure a credible election, including a truly independent and impartial election commission and provisions to allow domestic and international observers to monitor the entire election process; (2) commends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for its efforts to restore 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 democratic governance in Cambodia and urges a continuation of these efforts; (3) calls upon the European Union to reconsider its decision to provide assistance to the election process until such time as genuinely free and fair elections can be conducted; (4) urges the Secretary of State to continue to provide support through appropriate nongovernmental organizations to the courageous Cambodian human rights workers who persevere in their difficulty task, despite the considerable risk at which they put themselves; (5) calls upon the Secretary of State to work with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and with members of the Donors group in urging the Cambodian Government to create the conditions which would guarantee a free and fair election; (6) calls upon the Cambodian Government to work cooperatively with the Phnom Penh office of the United Nations Centre for Human Rights and urges the United States Government and the inter national community to support the efforts of the Centre to promote human rights in Cambodia by providing the additional financial assistance needed |