VOA Khmer
Washington
21/02/2007
Opposition and NGO leaders say a trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders could be further delayed by the tribunal’s decision to sever ties with a group accusing government officials of requiring kickbacks from local judges.
The Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) has said judges must pay significant portions of their salaries for postings to the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), a claim the ECCC denies.
Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, says the tribunal’s success depends on participation from NGOs and the public. He urges the courts to reconsider, as Sean Visoth, director of the ECCC’s administration office, bars OSJI personnel from entering tribunal offices and ceases all dealings with them.
Tribunal prosecutor Robert Petit says OSJI is influential in the court of justice.
The Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) has said judges must pay significant portions of their salaries for postings to the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), a claim the ECCC denies.
Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, says the tribunal’s success depends on participation from NGOs and the public. He urges the courts to reconsider, as Sean Visoth, director of the ECCC’s administration office, bars OSJI personnel from entering tribunal offices and ceases all dealings with them.
Tribunal prosecutor Robert Petit says OSJI is influential in the court of justice.
1 comment:
A typical aspect of the culture of enmity: you're either with me or against me. We simply kill messengers who brings bad news: UN Special Envoy for Human Rights Prof Yash Ghai brought bad news about human rights, we asked UN Secretary General to sack him; a Cambodian citizen questioned the political affiliation of Khmer Rouge Trial judges, he was then branded an animal; a Cambodian economist found out about corruption in tax collection and ensuing loss of revenue for the national budget, he was branded an ignorant scholar.
We need to change this destructive culture and welcome all ideas including criticism that help improve our governance from all, even from the most miserable person.
Let's remember that the king in the folks story Thminh Chey who set out to destroy his boy enmy Thminh Chey, needed him in the end to overcome the fatal challenge posed by the Chinese thereby saving him -the king- and his country.
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
Post a Comment