While U.S. has been has been a committed development partner of #Cambodia over past quarter century, recent setbacks to democracy are concerning & have compelled us to review our assistance to ensure American taxpayer funds are not being used to support anti-democratic behavior.
Visa Restrictions on Individuals Responsible for Undermining Cambodian Democracy
Press Statement
Heather Nauert Department Spokesperson
Washington, DC
December 6, 2017
As the White House stated in a November 16, press statement, the United States is taking concrete steps to respond to the Cambodian government’s actions that have undermined the country’s progress in advancing democracy and respect for human rights. These actions—which run counter to the Paris Peace Agreements of 1991 that ended a tragic conflict and accorded the Cambodian people democratic rights—include the dissolution of the main opposition political party and banning of its leaders from electoral politics, imprisonment of opposition leader Kem Sokha, restriction of civil society, and suppression of independent media.
In direct response to the Cambodian government’s series of anti-democratic actions, we announce the Secretary of State will restrict entry into the United States of those individuals involved in undermining democracy in Cambodia. In certain circumstances, family members of those individuals will also be subject to visa restrictions.
We call on the Cambodian government to reverse course by reinstating the political opposition, releasing Kem Sokha, and allowing civil society and media to resume their constitutionally protected activities. Such actions could lead to a lifting of these travel restrictions and increase the potential for Cambodia’s 2018 electoral process to regain legitimacy.
We will continue to monitor the situation and take additional steps as necessary, while maintaining our close and enduring ties with the people of Cambodia.
(1) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Cambodia;
(2) condemns all forms of political violence in Cambodia, and urges the cessation of ongoing human rights violations;
(3) urges Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodian People’s Party to end all harassment and intimidation of Cambodia’s opposition and foster an environment where democracy can thrive and flourish;
(4) urges the Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the Department of State, to consider placing all senior Cambodian government officials implicated in the abuses noted above on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list;
(5) urges the Government of Cambodia to free Mr. Kem Sokha immediately and unconditionally;
(6) calls on the Government of Cambodia to respect freedom of the press and the rights of its citizens to freely assemble, protest, and speak out against the government;
(7) supports electoral reform efforts in Cambodia and free and fair elections in 2018 monitored by international observers; and
(8) urges the President to communicate to the Government of Cambodia that if it ignores the recommendations of the international community and maintains the current restrictive and intimidating political environment, the United States Government will have no choice but to determine that the 2018 elections were not conducted freely or fairly because the results could not be an expression of the democratic will of the Cambodian people.
(1) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Cambodia;
(2) condemns all forms of political violence in Cambodia, and urges the cessation of ongoing human rights violations;
(3) urges Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodian People’s Party to end all harassment and intimidation of Cambodia’s opposition and foster an environment where democracy can thrive and flourish;
(4) urges the Department of State, in association with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Department of the Treasury, to consider placing all senior Cambodian government officials implicated in the abuses noted above on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list;
(5) urges the Government of Cambodia to free Mr. Kem Sokha immediately and unconditionally;
(6) calls on the Government of Cambodia to respect freedom of the press and the rights of its citizens to freely assemble, protest, and speak out against the government;
(7) supports electoral reform efforts in Cambodia and free and fair elections in 2018 monitored by international observers; and
(8) urges the President to communicate to the Government of Cambodia that if it ignores the recommendations of the international community and maintains the current restrictive and intimidating political environment, the United States Government will have no choice but to determine that the 2018 elections were not conducted freely or fairly because the results could not be an expression of the democratic will of the Cambodian people.
Nous vous demandons de concerter avec nos alliés régionaux et la communauté internationale plus large afin d’utiliser tous les moyens diplomatiques nécessaires pour forcer le gouvernement de HUN Sen à respecter les normes démocratiques et l’Etat de droit.
We urge you to work with our regional allies and the wider international community to use all necessary diplomatic means to compel the HUN Sen gouvernment to adhere to democratic norms and rule of law.
We urge you to address these concerns with Prime Minister Hun Sen and to press the Cambodian gouvernment to respect the rights of its own citizens by allowing for freedom of the press and respecting a free and fair election. Cambodia must take these steps if it wishes to seek greater economic and strategic ties with the United States.
L’Ambassade des Etats-Unis à Phnom Penh suspend l’attribution de visa B1 et B2, B1/B2 aux officiels du Ministère des Affaires Etrangères de HUN Sen (du rang de directeur au rang de ministre) et aux membres de leur famille.
We join the European Union in calling for Mr. Kem Sokha’s immediate release. The normal functioning of Cambodia’s media market should be restored. Pressure on civil society should cease. And, perhaps most importantly, the government, opposition, and civil society should begin a dialogue about the future of Cambodia’s democracy in an open, respectful, and pressure-free environment.
The U.S. ambassador to Cambodia rejected government accusations of interference by the United States as “inaccurate, misleading and baseless”
“All of the accusations you have heard in recent weeks about the United States – every one of them – are false.”
Heidt called for the release of Kem Sokha, the end to pressure on civil society and for dialogue between the government and opposition to “salvage” elections and restore the bilateral relationship between the countries.
Avant de s’envoler pour la Chine, HUN Sen a relancé de nouvelles attaques verbales contre les Etats-Unis, en les accusant d’être derrière les mouvements qui cherchent à changer son régime.
L’Ambassade des Etats-Unis à Phnom Penh a envoyé deux tweets ce matin :
Que font les Etats-Unis au Cambodge ?
Réponse 1 : Sauver les temples
Réponse 2 : Aider à sauver les forêts précieuses du Cambodge.
The U.S. ambassador to Cambodia rejected government accusations of interference by the United States as “inaccurate, misleading and baseless”
“All of the accusations you have heard in recent weeks about the United States – every one of them – are false.”
Heidt called for the release of Kem Sokha, the end to pressure on civil society and for dialogue between the government and opposition to “salvage” elections and restore the bilateral relationship between the countries.
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Merkel rejected Trump’s suggestion that individual European countries should negotiate free trade deals with the United States, rather than under existing EU-US negotiations.
R. Tillerson à Pékin : Changement de ton radical pour apaiser la tension en Asie Pacifique, après des propos fracassants qui visaient la Corée du Nord.
Les Etats-unis parlent à nouveau des valeurs universelles des Droits de l’Homme.
The U.S. side is ready to develop relations with China based on the principle of no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, said Tillerson.
“You said that China-U.S. relations can only be friendly. I express my appreciation for this,” Xi said.
“We both believe that China-U.S. cooperation henceforth is the direction we are both striving for. We are both expecting a new era for constructive development,” Xi said.
“We know that through further dialogue we will achieve a greater understanding that will lead to a strengthened, strengthening of the ties between China and the United States and set the tone for our future relationship of cooperation.”
President Xi Jinping met here Sunday with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, saying that cooperation is the only correct choice for both countries.
Tillerson said President Trump valued communication with President Xi, and looked forward to meeting Xi and the opportunity for a visit to China.
The U.S. side is ready to develop relations with China based on the principle of no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, said Tillerson.
U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE
It is important that the leaders of our two countries engage in further dialogue to develop a common understanding that will guide our relationship for the next half-century.
and we must both promote stability and growth
And I made clear that the United States will continue to advocate for universal values such as human rights and religious freedom.
The world is a lot more complicated than can be seen from a Predator drone or an F-35. A budget that slashes State Department and USAID funding, while further expanding the Pentagon, shows Trump is intent on undermining US government agencies that address pressing human rights issues, most of which are not dealt with by military force.
There are also indications that the Trump budget seeks to cut State Department programs, including those that fund independent media, civil society groups, and the rule of law. Doing so would reverse decades of bipartisan consensus that the United States benefits from a world where executive authority is constrained by these essential checks on democracy.
The most significant human rights problems included a politicized and ineffective judiciary; increased restrictions on freedoms of speech, assembly, and association; and the use of violence and imprisonment–both actual and threatened–to intimidate the political opposition and civil society as well as to suppress dissenting voices.
Other human rights problems included continued prisoner abuse, restrictions on press freedom and online expression, failure to grant equal access and fair treatment to asylum seekers, pervasive corruption, and trafficking in persons.
Press Statement Rex W. Tillerson Secretary of State Washington, DC March 1, 2017
As the President laid out in his address to Congress, the State Department will continue to engage to advance U.S. interests in the world in cooperation with our partners and allies. We will also continue to support policies and institutions that keep Americans safe, including a robust NATO where Allies meet their responsibilities, an immigration process that vets those coming into our country, and borders/ports of entry that are secure. We will work with allies to counter nations that threaten their neighbors or destabilize their regions. American foreign policy must promote our core values of freedom, democracy, and stability.
La Chine a t-elle peur d’un conflit militaire avec les Etats-Unis ?
La Chine serait encline à assouplir sa position en acceptant de négocier avec les pays de l’Asean sur la base d’un nouveau “code of conduct”. La Chine jusqu’à aujourd’hui a toujours privilégié la “discussion bilatérale” avec les pays avec lesquels elle est en conflit en Mer de Chine du Sud.
Defence ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said China had a “grasp” of the situation regarding the carrier group in the South China Sea.
“China hopes the U.S. earnestly respects the sovereignty and security concerns of countries in the region, and earnestly respects the efforts of countries in the region to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Ren told a regular monthly news briefing.
“Of course, we also respect freedom of navigation and overflight for all countries in the South China Sea in accordance with international law,” he added.
Statement by the United States on Amendments to Cambodia’s Political Party Law
The United States is deeply concerned about the amendments to Cambodia’s Law on Political Parties passed by the National Assembly on February 20 with little consultation or public debate. The amendments give the government broad authority to restrict freedom of expression and the legitimate activities of political parties and, under vaguely defined circumstances, to dissolve them.
Cambodia’s Constitution establishes the country as a liberal, multi-party democracy and guarantees its citizens the right to form political parties. Political parties play a critical role in every democracy. They are an important means by which the will of the people is carried out through governance and legislation.
Cambodians can take pride in their country’s development over the past 25 years: Cambodia has held five national elections, and the ongoing voter registration process holds out the prospect of a sixth. Any government action to ban or restrict parties under the new amendments would constitute a significant setback for Cambodia’s political development and would seriously call into question the legitimacy of the upcoming elections.
We call on the government of Cambodia to take all necessary steps to ensure that the electoral campaigns and elections in 2017 and 2018 are free, open, and transparent, that all political parties have the opportunity to compete on an equal basis.
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