A Cambodian boy (R) and a tourist (C) look at human skulls at the Cheoung Ek killing fields on the outskirts of the capital Phnom Penh, 17 April 2007. Judges at Cambodia's Khmer Rouge tribunal opened talks Monday to end a long-running dispute in what many see as a last-ditch bid to save the country's genocide trials. (AFP/File/Suy Se)PHNOM PENH (AFP) - Judges at Cambodia's Khmer Rouge tribunal opened talks Monday to end a long-running dispute in what many see as a last-ditch bid to save the country's genocide trials.
The meeting is the fourth attempt since November to approve internal court regulations necessary to move ahead with prosecuting those responsible for one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century.
Despite a high degree of optimism, judges were warned not to expect easy negotiations.
"It is not yet time to be confident we will reach a satisfactory conclusion," said Silvia Cartwright, one of the international trial judges.
Previous attempts bogged down over disagreements on legal fees and other procedures, sparking allegations of political interference and throwing the trials into question.
But judges are hopeful that they will be able to strike a resolution by the end of talks on June 13.
"People feel rather optimistic," co-investigating judge Marcel Lemonde, one of the 19 jurists who will vote on the rules, said before the judges went into session.
"The general mood is that the judicial process is going to begin at last," he said.
The talks follow separate meetings by foreign and Cambodian jurists last week to shore up their respective positions going into Monday's full plenary session.
An agreement on rules would be a major step forward in a process that over the past decade has been repeatedly stalled by fighting between the Cambodian government and the United Nations, which is jointly sponsoring the tribunal.
The trials are the last chance for Cambodians to find justice for crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge more than 30 years ago.
Up to two million people died of starvation and overwork, or were executed, during the communist regime's 1975-79 rule.
The Khmer Rouge abolished religion, schools and currency, exiling millions onto vast collective farms with the aim of creating an agrarian utopia.
Rights groups and legal advocates have called for swift trials amid concern that ageing former regime leaders will die before being brought to justice.
So far only one possible defendant is in custody, while several live freely in Cambodia.
The only other person to have been arrested for crimes committed during the regime, military commander Ta Mok, died in prison last July. Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot died in 1998.
The first trials of former Khmer Rouge leaders had initially been expected this year.
However, the delays mean trials are unlikely to start before early 2008, officials say.
The meeting is the fourth attempt since November to approve internal court regulations necessary to move ahead with prosecuting those responsible for one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century.
Despite a high degree of optimism, judges were warned not to expect easy negotiations.
"It is not yet time to be confident we will reach a satisfactory conclusion," said Silvia Cartwright, one of the international trial judges.
Previous attempts bogged down over disagreements on legal fees and other procedures, sparking allegations of political interference and throwing the trials into question.
But judges are hopeful that they will be able to strike a resolution by the end of talks on June 13.
"People feel rather optimistic," co-investigating judge Marcel Lemonde, one of the 19 jurists who will vote on the rules, said before the judges went into session.
"The general mood is that the judicial process is going to begin at last," he said.
The talks follow separate meetings by foreign and Cambodian jurists last week to shore up their respective positions going into Monday's full plenary session.
An agreement on rules would be a major step forward in a process that over the past decade has been repeatedly stalled by fighting between the Cambodian government and the United Nations, which is jointly sponsoring the tribunal.
The trials are the last chance for Cambodians to find justice for crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge more than 30 years ago.
Up to two million people died of starvation and overwork, or were executed, during the communist regime's 1975-79 rule.
The Khmer Rouge abolished religion, schools and currency, exiling millions onto vast collective farms with the aim of creating an agrarian utopia.
Rights groups and legal advocates have called for swift trials amid concern that ageing former regime leaders will die before being brought to justice.
So far only one possible defendant is in custody, while several live freely in Cambodia.
The only other person to have been arrested for crimes committed during the regime, military commander Ta Mok, died in prison last July. Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot died in 1998.
The first trials of former Khmer Rouge leaders had initially been expected this year.
However, the delays mean trials are unlikely to start before early 2008, officials say.
2 comments:
Will that be the last trying moments to bring the Khmer Rouge to trial?
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
Great more negociation, talking, meeting,and time waisting.
Meanwhile, where is justics?
Post a Comment