CNRF: Demand for Immediate Release of Seven CNRP MPs-Elect and Activists without any Conditions

HIGH POINT, N.C., July 21, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a joint statement by Cambodia National Rescue Party Chapters in USA (CNRP-USA), Cambodia National Rescue Foundation (CNRF), Kampuchea-Krom Federation​​ (KKF), Cambodian-American for Human Rights and Democracy (CAHRAD), and Cambodian-American Community:

Cambodian Americans across the United States of America as well as other Cambodian community members around the world condemn the acts of violence against civilians and official MPs-Elect by the illegal and illegitimate Cambodian People's Party government for the "Free the Freedom Park" campaign on July 15th, 2014 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia that caused the arrest of Seven MPs-Elect and activists, and scores of injuries.

The arrests of opposition members of the parliament undermine the democratic principles and the rule of law. The use of violent tactics to crackdown on peaceful protesters is a human rights violation. The international community, especially the signatory nations of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements have the obligation to restore the foundation of human rights and democracy in Cambodia.  Mr. Brad Adams at Human Rights Watch called on the Cambodian government to immediately drop charges against five parliamentarians from the opposition party because there is zero evidence of using violence during the clash between CNRP's supporters and Phnom Penh's authority forces.

We join the international community to enhance the pressure on the current regime to repeal its abusive policies and practices. Time and time again, this government continues to ignore the basic human rights and freedom of speech, press, and assembly by using violent tactics to suppress civilians, and MPs-elect alike. The security forced who initiated the violence faced no legal ramification and were rewarded with 5 million riels each.

The unrest and lawlessness in Cambodia will face the reality of the anger from the people who are already dissatisfied with the magnitude of the continued acts of violence against them. Should the violent practices by the CPP government continue, the social unrest and persistence of civil war in Cambodia is inevitable in the near future, which UN Human Rights envoy, Surya Subedi in his recent visit, claimed, "Cambodia will return to violence if the government does not reform properly."

We support former senior State Department Rights official, Lorne Craner, who recommended the US government to avoid high-level contacts with the Cambodian government until it resolves its dispute with the main opposition party, CNRP, which is boycotting the Parliament and pressing its demand for an independent investigation into election irregularities of July 28, 2013.

We urge the US government to stop doing businesses as usual with the CPP government and demand for the Immediate Release of Seven MPs-Elect and other activists without any conditions.

For further information, please contact Vibol Touch, tel:1-703-350-7911—e-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.CambodiaNationalRescue.org

SOURCE Cambodia National Rescue Foundation (CNRF)