Doug Bereuter: “as the author of H.Res. 361, this Member rises to urge the government of Cambodia to create conditions which would…”

“as the author of H.Res. 361, this Member rises to urge the government of Cambodia to create conditions which would ensure a free, fair, and credible election in that troubled country. Mr. Speaker, this Member would tell his colleagues that 7 months after a violent coup ousted the democratically elected First Premier Prince Ranariddh from power, Cambodia's prospects for democracy remain a shattered dream. Those democratic hopes were considerably brighter in 1993 when an international effort led by the United Nations oversaw Cambodia's first democratic elections. Nearly 90 percent of the eligible electorate took part in that contest which chose FUNCINPEC's Prince Ranariddh as Prime Minister. Hun Sen, however, refused to accept the people's verdict and threatened a coup if not allowed a major role in the new government. Hun Sen's stand resulted in an unnatural, and ultimately unworkable, coalition government. The fragile coalition finally disintegrated last July when Hun Sen violently expelled Prince Ranariddh from the government. Many prominent opposition leaders fled into exile. Many of these politicians have now returned to Cambodia to prepare for the elections scheduled for July 26. However, because of continued intimidation by forces close to the Hun Sen regime, these politicians have not been able to conduct normal political activities. The media, as well, has been cowed by the same forces of intimidation.”