The Associated Press
The International Bar Association has canceled a scheduled training program for Cambodian attorneys seeking to participate in the upcoming Khmer Rouge genocide trial, saying Friday it could not work around the obstacles created by Cambodia's main lawyer's group.
The London-based IBA had planned to train Cambodian attorneys to represent defendants in the long-awaited genocide trial of surviving Khmer Rouge leaders that is being jointly organized by Cambodia and the United Nations. The tribunal could begin next year.
The plan had angered the Cambodian Bar Association, which accused the international group of encroaching on its sovereignty, saying that under Cambodia law the local bar was the only body mandated to regulate legal professionals in the country.
Ky Tech, president of Cambodian Bar Association, called the planned training illegal on Thursday and prohibited Cambodian lawyers from taking part in the IBA's training program, scheduled to start Monday.
The IBA's executive director, Mark Ellis, responded in a statement Friday, saying that the training was intended to improve the quality of legal services and the administration of justice in Cambodia but the group was unable to operate with the hurdles posed by the Cambodian Bar Association.
Ellis questioned the group's motives and called their actions a "disturbing development" that places "obstacles in the path of bringing those accused of international crimes to trial."
"The prohibition by the Cambodian Bar is part of a wider scheme of opposition designed to obstruct the operation of the tribunal," the IBA said. "In consequence, the IBA has canceled the program."
Ky Tech dismissed the accusation that his group was standing in the way of justice.
"We are happy to see Cambodian lawyers learn from experienced foreign lawyers," he said. "But we are also unhappy with any acts encroaching on our rights."
He said the IBA's decision to cancel its training was "appropriate."
The tribunal was created by a 2003 agreement between Cambodia and the United Nations after years of difficult negotiations to try to seek justice for crimes committed when the Khmer Rouge held power from 1975-79. The radical policies of the now-defunct communist group led to the deaths of some 1.7 million people from execution, overwork, disease and malnutrition.
Prosecutors are currently working on building cases for trials that could start sometime next year. They are expected to indict about 10 defendants, including the few surviving top Khmer Rouge leaders.
The London-based IBA had planned to train Cambodian attorneys to represent defendants in the long-awaited genocide trial of surviving Khmer Rouge leaders that is being jointly organized by Cambodia and the United Nations. The tribunal could begin next year.
The plan had angered the Cambodian Bar Association, which accused the international group of encroaching on its sovereignty, saying that under Cambodia law the local bar was the only body mandated to regulate legal professionals in the country.
Ky Tech, president of Cambodian Bar Association, called the planned training illegal on Thursday and prohibited Cambodian lawyers from taking part in the IBA's training program, scheduled to start Monday.
The IBA's executive director, Mark Ellis, responded in a statement Friday, saying that the training was intended to improve the quality of legal services and the administration of justice in Cambodia but the group was unable to operate with the hurdles posed by the Cambodian Bar Association.
Ellis questioned the group's motives and called their actions a "disturbing development" that places "obstacles in the path of bringing those accused of international crimes to trial."
"The prohibition by the Cambodian Bar is part of a wider scheme of opposition designed to obstruct the operation of the tribunal," the IBA said. "In consequence, the IBA has canceled the program."
Ky Tech dismissed the accusation that his group was standing in the way of justice.
"We are happy to see Cambodian lawyers learn from experienced foreign lawyers," he said. "But we are also unhappy with any acts encroaching on our rights."
He said the IBA's decision to cancel its training was "appropriate."
The tribunal was created by a 2003 agreement between Cambodia and the United Nations after years of difficult negotiations to try to seek justice for crimes committed when the Khmer Rouge held power from 1975-79. The radical policies of the now-defunct communist group led to the deaths of some 1.7 million people from execution, overwork, disease and malnutrition.
Prosecutors are currently working on building cases for trials that could start sometime next year. They are expected to indict about 10 defendants, including the few surviving top Khmer Rouge leaders.
14 comments:
Int'l Bar Association=Internation standard!
Cambodia Bar Association= AH HUN SEN Vietcong standard!
This Cambodian bar association president has demonstrate to the world that Cambodian present lawyers are not allow to learn anything from international standard which can harm to all corrupted individuals in Cambodia. It also prove that Cambodia is still very primitve country which cannot accepte overseas training which will reform their own local bad practice of corruption and carry on to the culture of injustice toward to their own citizen.
Ah Ky Tech DO NOT want become standard, he is feared of people will revolved if the people become more standard.
In his eyes, it's better to be an incompetent.
Also,
(*) International Bar Association (IBA) = Justice by proper and transparent trial procedures, everyone is equal before the law.
(*) Cambodia Bar Association (CBA) = Justice by bribery to Cambodian judges, the rich and powerful are above the law.
CBA = Corrupt Bar Association.
Many Cambodian lawyers are professional in their work, but the bar association president and his cohorts are just lackeys of Hun Sen. No wonder he tried to hang on to that position even though he had been ousted in the previous election.
how awesome it would be if every Khmer filled the editorial page of all of Phnom Penh's newspaper, including Khmner from oversea, to condemn this Ky guy and call him stupid, igorant, and hinder to Cambodia's advance and legitimacy over case. He is a stupid person acted by stupid primitive thoughts. And he maybe be working on behest of the Hanoi-Hunsen Federational Complex institution.
He needs to get a death threat like the way Khmer oppositions and human rights people have been getting from affiliated groups of his belonging.
Ah Sva. Kmin komnud. ke khom lok prak dol domnach nis hoi bongkut oi yong bunte alou mol chi yong vinh te chi niak skang muk plov de trol tov.
I think we all know where this is actually leading to? The only thing that is free and fair in Cambodia is staning inside the embassy ground and looking back into cambodia, that is if you can make it pass the guard who hassle embassy visitors.
This Ky Tech animal must take full responsiblity about the KR trial in Cambodian history. If this trial become a joke that is because of this animal. He must be a vietcong spie working in Cambodia to create chaos and injustice society.
How can the CBA knows better to file IBA lawsuit for canceling the traing of legal training? When the CBA themselves are seeking the IBA's knowledge of legality. It sounds like the stupids are pretending to know more... Get lost Ky Tech and Hun Sen bastard.
Where has he been when CPP used the court to silence its critics?
Doesn't CBA have rigorous standards for its members for handling Hun Sen and Companies? May be he is following the three rules: see nothing, hear nothing and say nothing?
More power to Mr. Ky! and you IBA let them off the hook that easily? You know better that they are bunch of corrupt people. How could you?
How many more times do we have to tell you that they don't deserve any respect from you? How Many more?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ky Tech is destroying peace and justice in Cambodia.
How come he can do that? CRAZY!!!!!!!!
This guy (Ky Tech) deserves to be a Kmeng Heut Kav rather than the president of CBA. He try very hard to gain this position in order to serve Hun Zen.
go to hell... Ky Tech!
WHAT EVERYBODY SHOULD CONCENTRATE NOW IS TO MILITARILY OVERTHROW HUN SEN BY CREATING GUERRILLA WARFARE , IT MAY TAKE 10 YEARS OR LONGER IT DOESN'T MATTER AND PUT HIM AND ALL HIS CRONIES ON TRIAL BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT DESTROYING COUNTRY NOW, KHMER ROUGE IS THE PAST WE HAVE TO DESTROY THIS CRUEL REGIME NOW. IT HAS MORE PRIORITY THAN THE DEFENSELESS KHMER ROUGE.
The Viet-engineered-Killing Fields had crushed KHMER's spirit already. Hanoi's satellite government of HUN SEN and his cronies are there to finish khmer off...they will do exactly as told by HANOI. HUN SEN's regime is by Viet, for VIET to cover up the genocide and rewrite history. You Xmers must be ready to kiss the Viets's ass from now on if not already done so! Learn to read and write Viet language if you Xmers are smart..Good luck!
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