Washington, DC – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) today called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to address the alarming deterioration in human rights and democratic rule in Cambodia, as Cambodia’s leader Hun Sun has ramped up government crackdown on dissent since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. As of October 2020, 55 political prisoners are being arbitrarily detained for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, including opposition activists, environmental and youth activists, and journalists.
In their letter, the bipartisan group of lawmakers call on the Trump administration to work with the Department of Treasury to impose targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act or other appropriate measures against the senior leadership of the Cambodia People’s Party and undertake an immediate review of Cambodia’s tariff privileges in light of the worsening environment for labor leaders and unions.
“The U.S. government must respond in concert with its allies to send a strong message to Hun Sen that his crackdown on opposition and freedom of speech is unacceptable,” write the lawmakers in their letter. “We urge you and the State Department to convey this message in both your private and public communications with the Cambodian Government without delay.”
Also signing the letter are Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Penn.), and Representatives Seth Moulton (MA-06), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), and Ted Yoho (FL-03).
