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CAMBODIA

CASE N° CMBD/02 - SON SOUBERT
CASE N° CMBD/03 - POL HAM
CASE N° CMBD/04 - SON SANN
CASE N° CMBD/05 - KEM SOKHA
CASE N° CMBD/06 - KOY CHHOERN

Resolution adopted without a vote by the Inter-Parliamentary Council at its 160th session
(Seoul, 15 April 1997)


The Inter-Parliamentary Council,

Referring to the outline of the case, as contained in the report of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians (CL/160/14(a)-R.1), and to the resolution adopted at its 159th session (September 1996) regarding the case of the above-mentioned parliamentarians, of Cambodia,

Taking into consideration the letter from the First Prime Minister, Prince Ranariddh, dated 15 February 1997 informing the Committee of the formation, on his initiative, of a United National Front,

Taking into consideration the information provided by one of the sources in April 1997,

Recalling that in May 1995 the Buddhist Liberal Democratic Party (BLDP), to which Mr. Son Soubert, Mr. Pol Ham, Mr. Son Sann, Mr. Kem Sokha and Mr. Koy Chhoern belong, split into two factions, one led by the Information Minister, Mr. Ieng Mouly, and the other by Mr. Son Sann, the party founder; that all the persons concerned joined the latter faction; that the Government recognized the faction of Mr. Ieng Mouly as the legitimate BLDP party and Mr. Ieng Mouly as the party's legitimate President,

Recalling also that, on 5 August 1995, Mr. Ieng Mouly's faction reportedly voted to expel Mr. Son Sann, together with the other MPs in question, and that Mr. Mouly expressed his intention to demand their removal from Parliament and replacement by other party members; considering, however, that no such action has been taken,

Considering that, on 27 February 1997, Mr. Son Sann's BLDP faction joined in a political alliance with FUNCINPEC and the Khmer Nation Party of Mr. Sam Rainsy, in the form of a United National Front; that the faction led by Mr. Ieng Mouly joined an alliance with the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) led by the Second Prime Minister Hun Sen,

Recalling the grenade attack of 30 September 1995 on the participants in a party congress organized by Mr. Son Sann, injuring 30 people,

Recalling the fear of the sources that the attack may have been Government-instigated, since Information Minister Ieng Mouly and Second Prime Minister Hun Sen had reportedly stated weeks before the congress that " unknown people may throw a grenade or two into the congress ",

Recalling that the First Prime Minister, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, and the Minister of the Interior strongly condemned the grenade attack, pledging diligent and thorough investigations,

Bearing in mind that, in his report to the 53rd session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (E/CN.4/1997/85), the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Human Rights in Cambodia requests that the problem of impunity now be resolutely addressed, stating that " the courts are still reluctant or have been prevented from charging members of the military and other security forces for serious criminal offences ",

Considering finally that Mr. Khem Sokha's personal security continues to be under threat,

  1. Thanks the First Prime Minister for the information he has provided and for his co­operation;
  2. Regrets that it has received no information regarding any progress in the investigations into the two grenade attacks of 30 September 1995 against the premises of the BLDP faction led by Samdech Son Sann and against a Buddhist temple occupied by the faction's supporters, and fears that this indicates a lack of will on the part of the competent authorities to ensure that these investigations go ahead;
  3. Recalls once again in the strongest terms that the Cambodian authorities have a duty, under national and international law, to bring to justice those responsible for these crimes, and urges the authorities, in particular Parliament, to ensure that the investigations are conducted with all due diligence in order that these crimes may not go unpunished;
  4. Stresses once again that impunity poses a major threat to democracy and respect for human rights and constitutes a violation of the right to justice;
  5. Requests the Secretary General once again to invite the competent authorities to inform the Committee of any progress in the relevant investigations;
  6. Expresses deep concern at the threat to the personal security of Mr. Kem Sokha and urges the competent authorities to afford him the necessary protection, in compliance with their duty;
  7. Requests the Secretary General to convey these consideration to the two Prime Ministers and the Minister of Justice, inviting them to provide the requested information;
  8. Also requests the Secretary General to inform H.M. the King of this decision;
  9. Requests the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians to continue examining the case and report to it at its next session (September 1997).


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