*EPF508 01/31/2003
Text: Senator Blames Cambodian Leader for Destruction of Thai Embassy
(McConnell says Hun Sen wants pretext to attack opposition) (760)

The second most powerful Republican lawmaker in the U.S. Senate continued his attack on the Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen in remarks to the Senate January 30.

Assistant Majority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell (Republican of Kentucky) said Cambodians could thank their leader Hun Sen for "chasing away foreign investors and tourists."

He said Hun Sen was probably to blame for the riots that occurred in Phnom Penh on January 29 that destroyed the Thai embassy there.

McConnell, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, said the Cambodian leader was recklessly attempting to exploit the incident by using the riots as a pretext to crack down on his democratic opposition.

"I have heard credible reports that democratic opposition and human rights activists are being targeted for intimidation and arrest," the Kentucky Republican said.

"Given his tendency toward paranoia and violence, I do not doubt for an instant that these riots were staged by Hun Sen as, among other things, a pretext to crack down on the democratic opposition in the run up to the July parliamentary elections," McConnell said.

"It is imperative that the international community not be duped by Hun Sen and the Cambodian Government into laying blame for the riots on the democratic opposition," he added.

The Assistant Majority Leader went on that the attack on the embassy should put on notice other diplomats in Phnom Penh that "there is no law and order in Cambodia, your embassy could be next."

McConnell recalled an incident in the mid-1990s when Hun Sen made the threat that Cambodians might storm the American and French embassies.

Following is the text of Senator Mitch McConnell's January 30 remarks to the Senate from the Congressional Record:

(begin text)

PRIME MINISTER HUN SEN TO BLAME FOR RIOTS

Senate
January 30, 2003

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the Cambodia charade continues.

Recent riots in that Southeast Asian country -- reportedly sparked by unfounded rumors of Thai slights against Khmer culture and history -- caused extensive damage to Thai-owned businesses and property in Phnom Penh and the storming, looting, and destruction of the Thai Embassy. The failure of the Cambodian Government to defend Thai diplomats and the embassy compound from rioters is unacceptable, particularly in the post September 11 security environment. Further, the exploitation of the rumor by Prime Minister Hun Sen is as reckless as it is irresponsible.

In the aftermath of these riots, I have heard credible reports that democratic opposition and human rights activists are being targeted for intimidation and arrest. Given his tendency toward paranoia and violence, I do not doubt for an instant that these riots were staged by Hun Sen as, among other things, a pretext to crackdown on the democratic opposition in the run up to the July parliamentary elections.

Over the next few days, it is imperative that the international community not be duped by Hun Sen and the Cambodian Government into laying blame for the riots on the democratic opposition. It is time to help the Royal Government of Thailand to hold Hun Sen and the Cambodian government accountable for the destruction of property, the violation of democratic principles, and the damage to relations with its western neighbor.

The Cambodian authorities allowed the situation outside the Thai Embassy to escalate out of control. Riot and military police did nothing to maintain law and order until after extensive damage had been done throughout the capital. It is a simple and tragic fact that the Cambodian Government permitted this attack to take place. Their inaction during the riots stands in stark contrast to the brutal treatment illegal logging protesters received at the hands of the police a few short weeks ago.

The riots must serve as a wake-up call to complacent diplomats in Phnom Penh. As there is no law and order in Cambodia, your embassy could be next. I have not forgotten that in the mid-1990s Hun Sen threatened that Cambodians might "storm" the American and French embassies; unfortunately his warnings came true for Thailand.

With parliamentary elections scheduled for July, diplomats in Cambodia ought to be scrambling to protect and defend the rights of the democratic opposition to unseat Cambodia's unstable and violent dictator through peaceful and credible polls.

Cambodians can thank Prime Minister Hun Sen for chasing away foreign investors and tourists. This recent charade only underscores that he and the CPP are part of Cambodia's problems, and not part of the solution.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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