Cambodian Democracy and International Accountability - discussion at Heritage Foundation, Wash. DC, 26 July 2016

Cambodian Democracy and International Accountability

 

Venue: Lehman Auditorium, The Heritage Foundation

Date: 26 July 2016

On October 23, 1991, the U.S., Japan, Indonesia, Australia, the United Kingdom and France were among 19 countries to sign the Paris Peace Accords – formally ending the war in Cambodia. In so doing, the agreement provided the basis for a democratic transition and committed the parties to “promote and encourage respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cambodia.” Today, the democratic institutions it ushered in are again under threat.

The leadership of the opposition’s Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) is effectively silenced with opposition leader Sam Rainsy living in exile in Europe. Acting CNRP leader, Kem Sokha, is under de facto house arrest at CNRP headquarters. Cambodia has at least 23 political prisoners, many of whom are opposition leaders imprisoned in recent weeks and months. Human rights activists are also under duress, some in prison, and one political analyst, Dr. Kem Ley, was murdered on July 10th, 2016.

The situation is deteriorating quickly and the need for external accountability great. Please join us for a discussion on the need for U.S. leadership in holding Cambodia accountable to the democratic principles it agreed to respect in the Paris Peace Agreements.

Hosted By

 

Mike Gonzalez

Senior FellowRead More

More About the Speakers

Keynote Address by
Elizabeth Becker
Pulitzer Prize Winning Correspondent, New York Times in Cambodia, and Author of When The War Was Over, A Modern History of Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge

Followed by a Panel Discussion with
Sam LaHood
Regional Deputy Director, International Republican Institute

Walter Lohman
Director, Asian Studies Center, The Heritage Foundation