By Den Surin
Moneakseka Khmer
Translated from Khmer and posted online
A senior Interior Ministry official who asked to remain anonymous said that 300 pistols and 30,000 rounds of ammunition for protecting the Khmer Rouge tribunal [KRT] have arrived in Cambodia through the Pochentong international pass. A team of 50 Cambodian and 10 UN armed personnel was said to be created for the protection of the KRT and the jail in the KRT compound.
KRT spokesman Foster said that the UN personnel sent here have been assigned to train Cambodia's security personnel who will guard the KRT and the jail for the KR around the clock. According to Foster, the import of the arms and ammunition was part of the agreement to set up the KRT and their purpose is to ensure security for this court.
The government has appointed Hok Lundy, director general of the National Police Department [NPD], to be chairman of the security committee for the KRT. This committee includes a number of important army and police commanders, such as Pol Saroeun, chief of the joint staffs and deputy supreme commander of the armed forces, and Sau Sokha, commander of the National Military Police. However, in charge of protecting the compound of the KRT or the permanent leadership of the forces, Hok Lundy has appointed Mau Chandara, NPD chief of staff, to be his personal representative.
According to Foster, these 30,000 rounds of ammunition could be used for shooting drills, and every 6 month from 300 to 500 rounds could be test fired. The 10-man UN team would have the main task of training the 50 Cambodian security personnel who would be permanently charged with ensuring security for this KRT. This group would not be used to escort the KR leaders to court or to protect the witnesses. The government police forces under the direct command of Hok Langdi would play the important role of protecting witnesses when this court needs and summons them.
A source close to the KRT said that during the trial of the KR leaders many witnesses would be needed and these witnesses also would need protection for fear that there might be attempts to silence them. Nevertheless, the government has assured the United Nations that it would have all the necessary forces for the safe protection of the accused, the plaintiffs, and the witnesses. Therefore, if anything untoward happened, the government would bear full responsibility.
According to the Interior Ministry official, some 200 personnel under Hok Langdi's command would provide security for the accused, plaintiffs, and witnesses. This does not include the 50 men trained by the UN squad for the protection of the KRT compound and KR jail under Mau Chandara's personal management.
The Interior Ministry source said that the weapons and ammunition for the protection of the KRT are under UN custody but they are now stored at the Interior Ministry arms depot and temporarily placed under the Interior Ministry's control. No details about the type of handguns are available. It is reported only that 300 pistols and 30,000 rounds of ammunition have arrived in Cambodia through the Pochenton international gate.
According to Foster, these weapons and rounds are brought in to protect the 3-year-long operations of the KRT. However, some diplomats and observers have expressed doubt that the KRT would take off because of so many obstacles, including the one created right from beginning by the Cambodian Bar Association [CBA].
A Western diplomat said that some KR leaders want foreign lawyers to defend them more than Cambodian attorneys because the former are independent. Besides, the appointment of Cambodian defense lawyers for Ta Mok was already a good example for other KR leaders who do not trust Cambodian lawyers. However, the CBA has created a big obstacle by insisting that foreign lawyers must pay a very high fee if they want to defend the KR leaders.
A source familiar with the KRT said that if a trial of the KR leaders really takes place, Tep Khunnal, Pol Pot's former secretary, and Nate Thayer of the Far Eastern Economic Review will be the main witnesses.
KRT spokesman Foster said that the UN personnel sent here have been assigned to train Cambodia's security personnel who will guard the KRT and the jail for the KR around the clock. According to Foster, the import of the arms and ammunition was part of the agreement to set up the KRT and their purpose is to ensure security for this court.
The government has appointed Hok Lundy, director general of the National Police Department [NPD], to be chairman of the security committee for the KRT. This committee includes a number of important army and police commanders, such as Pol Saroeun, chief of the joint staffs and deputy supreme commander of the armed forces, and Sau Sokha, commander of the National Military Police. However, in charge of protecting the compound of the KRT or the permanent leadership of the forces, Hok Lundy has appointed Mau Chandara, NPD chief of staff, to be his personal representative.
According to Foster, these 30,000 rounds of ammunition could be used for shooting drills, and every 6 month from 300 to 500 rounds could be test fired. The 10-man UN team would have the main task of training the 50 Cambodian security personnel who would be permanently charged with ensuring security for this KRT. This group would not be used to escort the KR leaders to court or to protect the witnesses. The government police forces under the direct command of Hok Langdi would play the important role of protecting witnesses when this court needs and summons them.
A source close to the KRT said that during the trial of the KR leaders many witnesses would be needed and these witnesses also would need protection for fear that there might be attempts to silence them. Nevertheless, the government has assured the United Nations that it would have all the necessary forces for the safe protection of the accused, the plaintiffs, and the witnesses. Therefore, if anything untoward happened, the government would bear full responsibility.
According to the Interior Ministry official, some 200 personnel under Hok Langdi's command would provide security for the accused, plaintiffs, and witnesses. This does not include the 50 men trained by the UN squad for the protection of the KRT compound and KR jail under Mau Chandara's personal management.
The Interior Ministry source said that the weapons and ammunition for the protection of the KRT are under UN custody but they are now stored at the Interior Ministry arms depot and temporarily placed under the Interior Ministry's control. No details about the type of handguns are available. It is reported only that 300 pistols and 30,000 rounds of ammunition have arrived in Cambodia through the Pochenton international gate.
According to Foster, these weapons and rounds are brought in to protect the 3-year-long operations of the KRT. However, some diplomats and observers have expressed doubt that the KRT would take off because of so many obstacles, including the one created right from beginning by the Cambodian Bar Association [CBA].
A Western diplomat said that some KR leaders want foreign lawyers to defend them more than Cambodian attorneys because the former are independent. Besides, the appointment of Cambodian defense lawyers for Ta Mok was already a good example for other KR leaders who do not trust Cambodian lawyers. However, the CBA has created a big obstacle by insisting that foreign lawyers must pay a very high fee if they want to defend the KR leaders.
A source familiar with the KRT said that if a trial of the KR leaders really takes place, Tep Khunnal, Pol Pot's former secretary, and Nate Thayer of the Far Eastern Economic Review will be the main witnesses.
2 comments:
Hok Lundy? LOL the expert on negotiation. Have you seen the prison guard kidnapping? His tatic to disarm them was to kill everyone including the guard.
Love it!
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