Joint Statement on The Necessity of the Full Implementation of the Cambodia’s Paris Peace Accords

Joint Statement on

The Necessity of the Full Implementation of the Cambodia’s Paris Peace Accords

Phnom Penh, October 23, 2021

Happy the 30^th Anniversary of the Cambodia’s Paris Peace Accords (October 23, 1991-2021)!

The Paris Peace Accords is an important national day that has historical significance for the entire Cambodian nation. October 23 is the day on which Cambodians of all tendencies or political parties and 18 signatory countries reached a consensus to end wars (decades of tragedy and foreign invasion to Cambodia that had caused millions of Cambodians suffered, deprived and lost their lives), to ensure territory and sovereignty, independence and neutrality of Cambodia, unite and  rebuild the nation to become an “Island of Peace” based on the spirit of peace, liberal multi-party democratic system, guarantee human rights and respect of the law to prevent the return of a tragic history.

Prior to having this day of the Paris Peace Accords, millions of people had sacrificed their lives for the cause of peace and national reconciliation. Imagine, without the Paris Peace Accords, would those indescribable tragedies could be stopped, and what can other pains and dangers will be continuing?

Recognizing the essential values of the spirit of October 23, 1991, of the Paris Peace Accords; we, the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Associations, Unions and Cambodian citizens, urge the governments and all signatory countries to fully and effectively implement the spirit of the Paris Peace Accords for Cambodia. In addition, the Cambodian government should consider including October 23 in the national holiday calendar because it is necessary that we should celebrate this day as an annual national day to commemorate our heroism of those who sacrificed physical and mental strength and lives for the cause of peace in Cambodia, and to remind all Cambodians from generation to generation to remember this historic day in order to continue to maintain and promote the spirit of peace and to stand up for national unity with a strong will, and to take responsibility to progressively develop the prosperity and glory of our nation.

This statement is endorsed by the members of the Civil Society Organization Working Group for the 30^th Anniversary of the Paris Peace Accords:

1. The Alliance for Conflict Transformation (ACT)
2. Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
3. Cambodian Journalist Alliance Association (CamboJA)
4. Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC)
5. Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union (C-CAWDU)
6. Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM)
7. Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community (CCFC)
8. The Cambodian Center for the Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR)
9. Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
10. Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF)
11. Cambodian Human Rights Action Coalition (CHRAC)
12. Cambodian Institute for Democracy (CID)
13. Coalition for Integrity and Social Accountability (CISA)
14. Cambodian Youth Network Association (CYN)
15. Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL)
16. Community Legal Education Center (CLEC)
17. Fisheries Action Coalition Team (FACT)
18. Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA)
19. Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of Naga World​ (LRSU)
20. Peace Bridges Organization (PBO)
21. People Center for Development and Peace (PDP-Center)
22. Rural Friend for Community Development (RCFD)
23. Star Kampuchea (SK)
24. Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT)
25. Transparency International Cambodia (TI-Cambodia)
26. Youth For Peace Organization (YFP)
27. Youth Resource Development Program (YRDP)

Download here: PPA30 Statement