Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), passed H. Res. 728, as amended, bipartisan legislation supporting human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Cambodia.  Under Hun Sen’s leadership human rights in Cambodia have deteriorated dramatically.

On passage of H. Res. 728, Chairman Royce said:  “The recent violence against opposition leaders shows the true, thuggish nature of the Hun Sen regime.  We need to continue to press for a return to democracy for the sake of the Cambodian people.  That is why I applaud Rep. Lowenthal for introducing this important measure which reaffirms U.S. commitment to promoting democracy, human rights, and rule of law in Cambodia.  The legislation rightly calls on Hun Sen to respect freedom of the press and the rights of its citizens to protest, and it urges the government of Cambodia to end its political attacks on opposition party leaders.”

NOTE:  In December, Chairman Royce joined more than a dozen Members of Congress in sending a letter to Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, to express his great concern over disruptions to the development of democracy in Cambodia.

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