AP
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA: Cambodian staff on the U.N.-backed genocide tribunal have been asked to sign a code of conduct pledging that they will not take or solicit bribes, an official statement said Wednesday (26 Sept).
The move follows allegations earlier this year that some Cambodian personnel on the court - set up to try former leaders of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime for crimes against humanity - kicked back some of their salaries to Cambodian officials in return for their positions.
The code of conduct bars Cambodian personnel from receiving or soliciting payments other than their official salaries, the tribunal office and the United Nations development agency, UNDP, said in a joint statement received Wednesday. It was dated Tuesday (25 Sept).
The UNDP is administering some US$6.3 million that donors have contributed to the Cambodian side of the tribunal, officially known as the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, or ECCC.
The hybrid tribunal is staffed by Cambodian and U.N.-appointed officials and budgeted at US$56.3 million _ with the world body covering US$43 million _ over three years.
It has been set up to seek justice in the atrocities that caused the death of some 1.7 million people when the Khmer Rouge held power in 1975-79.
"A code of conduct _ to be signed and followed by all staff _ will be developed. This code prohibits, among other things, ECCC staff from receiving or soliciting payments other than salaries for the performance of official duties," the statement said.
The tribunal was rocked this year by allegations of corruption from a New-York based legal group.
The Open Society Justice Initiative, or OSJI, alleged that Cambodian judges and other court personnel had kicked back some of their wages to Cambodian government officials in exchange for their positions on the court.
The Cambodian side of the tribunal quickly dismissed the allegation as unsubstantiated.
Nonetheless, the UNDP said at the time that it was conducting an internal audit of the funds following various reports late last year that raised concerns about transparency of hiring procedures of the tribunal.
Helen Jarvis, an Australian woman appointed by the Cambodian government as the tribunal's public affairs chief, could not be reached for comment on the latest statement Wednesday.
The statement noted that a board comprising of Cambodian and U.N. officials have been formed to oversee implementation of recommendations aimed at improving "recruitment procedures of national staff to ensure greater transparency and effectiveness" of the tribunal.
"Important aspects of these procedures include open advertising and competitive selection through transparent screening procedures," it said.
It added that "these actions could help to ensure the quality of support to the court and the integrity of public funds."
Corruption permeates the society and administration of Cambodia, one of Asia's poorest countries.
The move follows allegations earlier this year that some Cambodian personnel on the court - set up to try former leaders of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime for crimes against humanity - kicked back some of their salaries to Cambodian officials in return for their positions.
The code of conduct bars Cambodian personnel from receiving or soliciting payments other than their official salaries, the tribunal office and the United Nations development agency, UNDP, said in a joint statement received Wednesday. It was dated Tuesday (25 Sept).
The UNDP is administering some US$6.3 million that donors have contributed to the Cambodian side of the tribunal, officially known as the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, or ECCC.
The hybrid tribunal is staffed by Cambodian and U.N.-appointed officials and budgeted at US$56.3 million _ with the world body covering US$43 million _ over three years.
It has been set up to seek justice in the atrocities that caused the death of some 1.7 million people when the Khmer Rouge held power in 1975-79.
"A code of conduct _ to be signed and followed by all staff _ will be developed. This code prohibits, among other things, ECCC staff from receiving or soliciting payments other than salaries for the performance of official duties," the statement said.
The tribunal was rocked this year by allegations of corruption from a New-York based legal group.
The Open Society Justice Initiative, or OSJI, alleged that Cambodian judges and other court personnel had kicked back some of their wages to Cambodian government officials in exchange for their positions on the court.
The Cambodian side of the tribunal quickly dismissed the allegation as unsubstantiated.
Nonetheless, the UNDP said at the time that it was conducting an internal audit of the funds following various reports late last year that raised concerns about transparency of hiring procedures of the tribunal.
Helen Jarvis, an Australian woman appointed by the Cambodian government as the tribunal's public affairs chief, could not be reached for comment on the latest statement Wednesday.
The statement noted that a board comprising of Cambodian and U.N. officials have been formed to oversee implementation of recommendations aimed at improving "recruitment procedures of national staff to ensure greater transparency and effectiveness" of the tribunal.
"Important aspects of these procedures include open advertising and competitive selection through transparent screening procedures," it said.
It added that "these actions could help to ensure the quality of support to the court and the integrity of public funds."
Corruption permeates the society and administration of Cambodia, one of Asia's poorest countries.
3 comments:
I am glad to see Cambodian staff on the U.N.-backed genocide tribunal have been asked to sign a code of conduct pledging that they will not take or solicit bribes, it is a good start. In addition to that I also would like to see the mechanism to punish those office who take bribery and corruption.
But I wonder why donor community only pay attention currution in the Khmer Rouge tribunal. Corruption in court of Cambodia is widespread, everybody knowing it. The corruption of the court effect the daily live of Cambodian people. Please donor community focusing more in corrution in court and assist government to reform this body as soon as possible.
The yoyoyo.. TRIAL for 60 Million USD. They said oh we have the UN.
Oh yeahhh? The UN has no troops to even protect the witnesses.
Who pays the UN? Not surprise to me if the Youn gave a big fat envelop with $$$ to the UN, OK keeps the KRT in Cambodia make Cambodian silent.
Who says the the UN is not corrupted? Everybody needs money to feed themselves.
Ah Yuon is win-win again. Ah Yuon killed Khmers using Khmers to kill KHmers then ah Yuon now are holding high positions in Cambodia such as Ah Nguyen Van Son Hok Lundy.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ALL AH YUON ARMY LEFT CAMBODIA IN 1975. THEY WERE IN WITH KHMER ROUGH, THAT'S WHY THEY FOUGHT AND KILL EACH OTHER. AH YIEK CONG ALREADY KNEW ALL THE ROUTES HOW TO SNEAK INTO CAMBODIA AND TO SNEAK OUT, SO WHAT THOSE MINES CAN HELP IF AH YIEK CONG ALREADY KNEW EVERYTHING INSIDE CAMBODIA?
"Who says the the UN is not corrupted?"
Sorry Dude, but someone with a PhD from the UK named Dr. Lao said the UN is not corrupted.
Post a Comment