Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 111 Part 2.djvu/866

 Ill STAT. 1946 PUBLIC LAW 105-85—NOV. 18, 1997 President. (1) During the 1970s and 1980s, Cambodia was wracked by political conflict, war, and violence, including genocide perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979. (2) The 1991 Paris Agreements on a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodia Conflict set the stage for a process of political accommodation and national reconciliation among Cambodia's warring parties. (3) The international community engaged in a massive effort involving more than $2,000,000,000 to ensure peace, democracy, and prosperity in Cambodia following the Paris Accords. (4) The Cambodian people clearly demonstrated their support for democracy when 90 percent of eligible Cambodian voters participated in United Nations-sponsored elections in 1993. (5) Since the 1993 elections, Cambodia has made economic progress, as shown by the recent decision of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to extend membership in the Association to Cambodia. (6) Tensions within the ruling Cambodian coalition have erupted into violence. (7) In March 1997, 19 Cambodians were killed and more than 100 were wounded in a grenade attack on political demonstrators supportive of the Funcinpec and the Khmer Nation Party. (8) During June 1997, fighting erupted in Phnom Penh between forces loyal to First Prime Minister Prince Ranariddh and Second Prime Minister Hun Sen. (9) On July 5, 1997, Second Prime Minister Hun Sen deposed the First Prime Minister in a violent coup d'etat. (10) Forces loyal to Hun Sen have executed former Interior Minister Ho Sok and approximately 40 other political opponents loyal to Prince Ranariddh. (11) Democracy and stability in Cambodia are threatened by the continued use of violence and other extralegal means to resolve political tensions. (12) In response to the July 1997 coup in Cambodia referred to in paragraph (9)— (A) the President has suspended £dl direct assistance to the Cambodian Government; and (B) the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has decided to delay indefinitely admission of Cambodia to membership in the Association. (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS. —It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the parties in Cambodia should immediately cease the use of violence; (2) the United States should take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of United States citizens in Cambodia; (3) the United States should call an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to consider all options to restore peace and democratic governance in Cambodia; (4) the United States and the Association of Southeast Asism. Nations should work together to take immediate steps to restore democracy and the rule of law in Cambodia; (5) United States assistance to the Government of Cambodia should remain suspended until violence ends, the democratically elected Government is restored to power, and the

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