November 18, 1998

As WCC Chairman Professor Naranhkiri Tith stated, this coalition is irresponsible and immoral (Attachment 1). Irresponsible because although they have recently been Hun Senšs victims in the July 1997 coup d'etat, Ranariddh and Sam Rainsy are now once again joining the new coalition under CPP- dominance. Irresponsible because Ranariddh and Sam Rainsy are now legitimizing Hun Sen by ignoring all atrocities which have been committed by him and the CPP during the past twenty years, and especially during the 1997 bloody coup.

In this context, more than 100 killings have taken place and they are well documented by the United Nations Office of Human Rights in Cambodia. The recent agreement between Ranariddh and Hun Sen on the formation of a coalition government showed that the lives of those who stood up to defend democracy and the rule of law against the July 1997 coup and the rigged election of July 1998 were lost in vain.

- Is this how Cambodian leaders paid tribute to those valiant people?

- Must climate of impunity continue to prevail in Cambodia?

History is repeating itself again. "Coalition" is believed to be the magic word to justify any actions by pretentious, corrupt, and incompetent leaders and self-serving politicians who used it as excuses. When things do not turn out as expected they absolved themselves of any responsibility and blamed somebody else. They think they can get away with any wrong doing because the people do not fully understand their rights and do not know how to hold them accountable yet. With the same political actors in place and the same power structure (CPP-controlled army and administration), there is no reason to believe that any improvement can be expected from the presently agreed coalition government over the last one.

The promises of 1993 elections were not only all forgotten, but they were twisted to support the whim of those were then in power. While in power, they all shared the loots and practically succeeded in destroying the countryšs natural resources, especially forestry. We should not forget that while in power, Ranariddh claimed that human rights were a purely western concept and could not apply to Cambodia. Only after he was kicked out of power by Hun Senšs violent coup d'etat of July 1997 did he recognize that democracy is important and that he should not have allowed the devastating deforestation to take place with disastrous consequences on the livelyhood for the majority of the Cambodian people.

His dear partner Hun Sen shot his way to the top in that coup and justified it as legal action of a true law abiding champion against his opponents by simply accusing them of colluding with the outlaw Khmer Rouge. And now we all know who brought the same Khmer Rouge under his own protection since then.

After that July 1997 coup, Buor Hel, Norodom Ranariddh, Sam Rainsy and Son Soubert representing their respective parties joined forces to form the United Cambodians for Democracy (UCD). It received wide support, especially from the United States Congress and succeeded in denying Hun Sen/Ung Huot the rights to represent Cambodia at the United Nations and ASEAN despite a formal request made by King Norodom Sihanouk. With the help of the US Congress, multilateral aids from the IMF and the World Bank were also suspended. A solution to a request to put Hun Sen and his associates on Personae Non Greata list was almost at hand (Attachment 2) when Sam Rainsy broke rank with the UCD. Without consulting with his UCD allies, Sam Rainsy went to Cambodia and declared that he could form a "coalition" with Hun Sen.

The July 1998 election was rigged (Attachment 3 and 4). Those who demonstrated including the monks and students against the result of the elections and to support the will of the people were savagely suppressed by Hun Senšs private security forces under the command of Hok Lundy, the executioner of Ho Sok and many opposition officials during the 1997 coup. The Kingšs contempt for democracy was once again revealed when he gave advice to those who were weak (the opposition) that they must abide by the rule of those who have guns and declared that he could not help anybody who did not follow his advises.

Despite repeated warnings from concerned friends, Ranariddh went ahead and again agreed to form a "coalition" with Hun Sen last week while Rainsy declared that he would go back to Phnom Penh SOON. They conveniently believed in the words of the American Ambassador, but not in those of the Congress who is prepared to put Hun Sen and his associates on War Criminal List. Heavy pressure on Ranariddh and Sam Rainsy from the King and the Ambassadors from Japan, France, Canada and the United States was again used to justify their actions. Ignoring totally the issue of impunity and injustice, they immorally and blindly put their faith in Hun Sen's promise of safety while ignoring the faith of Kem Sokha - former Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of the National Assembly, who was championing the struggle against the CPPšs tyranny - who is still in hiding and is not allowed to leave!

Peace lovers and defenders of justice and the rule of law are taken aback by such glaring lack of principles displayed by so many (the so-called international community) involved in helping Cambodia and its people to redeem itself after long suffering. It is also easy and very fashionable amongst Cambodian politicians and self-proclaimed leaders to blame foreigners for bad things but to take credit for good results. However, they should not be allowed to get away with their bad judgments and decisions; they should be held accountable for their actions. Cambodians must insist on demanding accountability from all public servants and not to continue to blindly submit to their rhetoric and sophistry.

Finally, WCC agrees with Vice President Gore in his open support for democracy and Anwar Ibahim Former Deputy Prime minister of Malaysia duirng the Summit of Leaders of the countries which particiapted in the Asia and Pacific Economic summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur by openly critizing Dr. Mahathir - the current prime minister and dictator of Malaysia. To be consistent with this fundamental tradition of this great country, he should now apply the same treatment against dictator Hun Sen in Cambodia as he so rightly did for Mahathir of Malaysia. The New York Times has best summarized Mr. Gorešs commendable stand for democracy in Malaysia in its iditorial dated November 18, 1998 entitled "Championing Democracy in Malysia" as follows;

"Diplomatic protocol calls for speaking posotively of onešs host. Mr. Gore, Ms. Albright and the others were right to be rude. Americašs interest in Asia is to encourage human rights and democratic change, not flatter embattled autocrat."

Signed: Prof. Naranhkiri Tith, Chairman of the Board
Mr. Sokhom Taing, Vice Chairman
Mr. PekThov Tan, President of WCC Executive Committee
Mr. Sambath Ouk, Board Member Mr. Setthivuth Oung, Board Member

Attachments:

Notes: All attachments are in WCCPD website: www.wccpd.org