03/28/07By Huy Vannak Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Khieu Kanharith, the government spokesman said that the government is currently considering revoking the visa to all OSJI (Open Society Justice Initiative) representatives and expel them out of Cambodia.
This reaction took place after OSJI recently issued an open letter accusing the government of not being committed to judge the former Khmer Rouge leaders, as well as improperly using foreign aids.
Khieu Kanharith said the accusations are baseless and that OSJI is politicizing Cambodia beyond its bounds. “The government has not taken any decision yet. We will see if OSJI’s attitude will change, or will it keep on politicizing the ECCC. However, based on what I know, it will only be revoking their visas, and expelling them out. If they keep on providing [their opinions] to the tribunal one way or another, they will always be against this or that. First of all, they accused Hun Sen of not being committed to have this tribunal, and second, they accused the government of wasting international aids, and of not doing anything. Therefore, they are stepping over their bounds when they are coming here only to help the tribunal. They are politicizing all these issues.”
An OSJI representative in Phnom Penh declined to comment on the issues raised by the Cambodian government.
This is the second reaction from a Cambodian government official against OSJI. Last February, Vice-Prime Minister Sok An also said that the Khmer Rouge tribunal will stop cooperating with OSJI.
In 14 Feb, New York-based OSJI issued a statement claiming that corruption exists among the Cambodian judges who have to pay kickbacks in order to preserve their position within the KR Tribunal.
On 08 March, Judge Kong Srim sent a letter, in the name of all Cambodian judges working for the KR Tribunal, asking OSJI director to issue a correction to OSJI’s statement.
Kong Srim said that his letter was issued in his position as a judge, and not because he was pressured by or he had promised anybody as OSJI’s accusations stated. However, OSJI did not reply to Kong Srim’s letter.
A number of diplomats in Cambodia, including the US, German and Canadian ambassadors told the local media that the decision to expel OSJI out of Cambodia is very regrettable, and that this action will hurt Cambodia more than it will OSJI.
Mrs. Chea Vannat, the former director of the Cambodian Social Development (CSD) organization, said that an independent organization could help preserve the balance, just like equal partners must be honest towards each other.
This reaction took place after OSJI recently issued an open letter accusing the government of not being committed to judge the former Khmer Rouge leaders, as well as improperly using foreign aids.
Khieu Kanharith said the accusations are baseless and that OSJI is politicizing Cambodia beyond its bounds. “The government has not taken any decision yet. We will see if OSJI’s attitude will change, or will it keep on politicizing the ECCC. However, based on what I know, it will only be revoking their visas, and expelling them out. If they keep on providing [their opinions] to the tribunal one way or another, they will always be against this or that. First of all, they accused Hun Sen of not being committed to have this tribunal, and second, they accused the government of wasting international aids, and of not doing anything. Therefore, they are stepping over their bounds when they are coming here only to help the tribunal. They are politicizing all these issues.”
An OSJI representative in Phnom Penh declined to comment on the issues raised by the Cambodian government.
This is the second reaction from a Cambodian government official against OSJI. Last February, Vice-Prime Minister Sok An also said that the Khmer Rouge tribunal will stop cooperating with OSJI.
In 14 Feb, New York-based OSJI issued a statement claiming that corruption exists among the Cambodian judges who have to pay kickbacks in order to preserve their position within the KR Tribunal.
On 08 March, Judge Kong Srim sent a letter, in the name of all Cambodian judges working for the KR Tribunal, asking OSJI director to issue a correction to OSJI’s statement.
Kong Srim said that his letter was issued in his position as a judge, and not because he was pressured by or he had promised anybody as OSJI’s accusations stated. However, OSJI did not reply to Kong Srim’s letter.
A number of diplomats in Cambodia, including the US, German and Canadian ambassadors told the local media that the decision to expel OSJI out of Cambodia is very regrettable, and that this action will hurt Cambodia more than it will OSJI.
Mrs. Chea Vannat, the former director of the Cambodian Social Development (CSD) organization, said that an independent organization could help preserve the balance, just like equal partners must be honest towards each other.
9 comments:
The World's three most learned men got their uni degrees since the first instance they got out of their mother's front passage, i.e. Khiev Kanharith, Khiev Sopheak and Om Yin Tieng. Why? Because at that time, their were Oxford, Cambridge, Sorbonne, Howard and Sydney Universities set up together inside their mother's womb just for their private and specific education. So Brad Adams, Kofi Annan, Joseph A. Mussomeli, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Yash Ghai, Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac and Ban Ki-Moon would be no match with the trio mentioned above even if these world's statesmen combined their experience, knowledge and wisdom all together. Cambodia's Hun Sen is so blessed to have these three men working for him!!!
what the Justice Initiative has said about corruption was true. Many staff of the ECCC, in spite of the fact that some of them are being qualified for the post, they need to be pro cpp person and they need to pay 10 percent...or something to some one there, to get the post. 10 or 20 or even 30% of their salary is nothing as they get about 3000US$ to 5000$ even more. So, in Cambodia, this amount is still high after teh deduction in corruption required by someone there!
Those working there are some friends of mine, they did tell that!
Khmer Rouge flaws were the top officials claimed ignorance of what the lower level wrong doings.
Hun Sen is in Pol Pot position,and whose words are golden.His close allies and worshipers like Ong Kannharith who loves Congac more than his wife and kids,often made statements under influence.There goes,justice in the eyes of beholders.Tuk ea or envelope please, is Hun Sen crony and ignorance.
OSJI people are educated and unselfish to spend their time and life to seek justice for real human race in Cambodia.
It is imbecile of Ong Congac Kannharith to intimidate them. Stupid is stupid does,when was the last time only having effect with no cause.
YES WE NEED NO BULSHIT FOREIGNERS, KICK THEM ALL OUT.
WE ARE AND INDEPENDENT COUNTRY WE NEED ONLY REAL FRIENDS LIKE VHINA AND VIETNAME.
REMEMBER THE GOLDEN YEAR OF 1996? WE KICK THE YANKEE OUT!
DO IT AGAIN MR. PRIMINISTER AND DO WHAT YOU THINK IS RIGHT, DON'T LET THE WEST DICTATE US.
WHO IS DICTATOR AFTER ALL THEIR BULLSHIT?
Dear 10:36:
"Bullshit" has two "l"s.
WHO CARE, SHIT IS SHIT, ALL THE SAME.
YOUR SHIT OR MY SHIT!
LET MR. HUN SEN DO HIS JOB.
Sahtouk, brother!!!
Oh GOD please forgive Anonymous @10:36PM because his mother is a YUON's whore. He doesn't know any better!!!
KHMENG WAT KNONG SROK
AH HUN SEN KBAL YOUN KHLOUN SAT' JIT DERECHHAN
AH HUN SEN JEA JUN AKATIH
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