By Brewin Rasmei Kampuchea
Unofficial Translation by KRtrial.org
Phnom Penh: The royal pardon given by Former King Norodom Sihanouk could not protect Ieng Sary, former deputy prime minister, foreign minister of the Khmer Rouge regime, said an official at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) on November 13, 2007.
Since Ieng Sary was given a royal pardon by the former king in August 1996 when he contributed to the ending of the Khmer Rouge movement, it leads to a question, “Can he escape the trial in the Khmer Rouge Tribunal?”
However, the Khmer Rouge Tribunal’s official who requested anonymity said that the pardon by the former king was related to the genocidal crimes. “The pardon is not related to other charges,” said the official, “therefore, the pardon could only protect him from genocidal crimes, not crimes against humanity and war crimes.”
Ieng Sary was sentenced in absentia by the court of Cambodia on August 15, 1979 during the People’s Republic of Kampuchea. He was sentenced to death under genocidal crimes. The official said that the pardon issued by the former king had been made to help him escape the charge, adding that it had not been related to the charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Ieng Sary was given the royal pardon by Prince Norodom Sihanouk in late August, 1996 after he contributed in building peace in Cambodia through the integration of the Khmer Rouge soldiers.
Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam), said that the discussion over the case of Ieng Sary by the United Nations and Cambodia had taken so long in order to establish the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. “The negotiation already focused on the royal pardon,” he said, “And the royal pardon by Prince Norodom Sihanouk cannot prevent the current court from bringing Ieng Sary to trial.”
He recalled that since the beginning there had always been doubts why the negotiation had taken so much time. He explained that the case of Ieng Sary had been among other tough issues which needed so much time to negotiate.
Ieng Sary and his wife Ieng Thirith were arrested in their home in Phnom Penh and brought to the Khmer Rouge Tribunal on November 12. On the same day, Co-Prosecutors You Bunleng and Marcel Lemonde decided to detain them immediately in ECCC detention facility up to 48 hours from time they were informed of the arrest. According to the decision, they will be brought before the court on November 14. On November 13, the man and wife were brought to Calmette Hospital for a medical checkup.
Since Ieng Sary was given a royal pardon by the former king in August 1996 when he contributed to the ending of the Khmer Rouge movement, it leads to a question, “Can he escape the trial in the Khmer Rouge Tribunal?”
However, the Khmer Rouge Tribunal’s official who requested anonymity said that the pardon by the former king was related to the genocidal crimes. “The pardon is not related to other charges,” said the official, “therefore, the pardon could only protect him from genocidal crimes, not crimes against humanity and war crimes.”
Ieng Sary was sentenced in absentia by the court of Cambodia on August 15, 1979 during the People’s Republic of Kampuchea. He was sentenced to death under genocidal crimes. The official said that the pardon issued by the former king had been made to help him escape the charge, adding that it had not been related to the charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Ieng Sary was given the royal pardon by Prince Norodom Sihanouk in late August, 1996 after he contributed in building peace in Cambodia through the integration of the Khmer Rouge soldiers.
Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam), said that the discussion over the case of Ieng Sary by the United Nations and Cambodia had taken so long in order to establish the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. “The negotiation already focused on the royal pardon,” he said, “And the royal pardon by Prince Norodom Sihanouk cannot prevent the current court from bringing Ieng Sary to trial.”
He recalled that since the beginning there had always been doubts why the negotiation had taken so much time. He explained that the case of Ieng Sary had been among other tough issues which needed so much time to negotiate.
Ieng Sary and his wife Ieng Thirith were arrested in their home in Phnom Penh and brought to the Khmer Rouge Tribunal on November 12. On the same day, Co-Prosecutors You Bunleng and Marcel Lemonde decided to detain them immediately in ECCC detention facility up to 48 hours from time they were informed of the arrest. According to the decision, they will be brought before the court on November 14. On November 13, the man and wife were brought to Calmette Hospital for a medical checkup.
7 comments:
The Royal pardon cannot save Sary from prosecution because his crime against humanity is too enormous to be pardoned by the King who used to cooperate with this act.
“therefore, the pardon could only protect him from genocidal crimes, not crimes against humanity and war crimes.” -- anonymity ECCC official.
What is a stupid rhetoric? The King pardon was clearly a full pardon for all crimes associated within the KR regime. It did not stated that it was for only genocidal crimes or for crimes against humanity or for war crimes, but for all crimes. Who in their right mind will make deal based on a pardon for only one third of the crimes? That is sick. All crimes are closely tied to each order and inseparable. But if you are above the law, you can always re-interpreting the pardon or the law to favoring your view.
Khmer killed Khmer is on trial but those foreigners who killed Khmer is not on trial and this is such a shame! Shame on AH HUN SEN government! Shame on United Nation! Shame, shame, and nothing shame!
The water is clear, but sihanouk is still in the foxhole.
Well, there is nothing to be a shame off if we just admit that our law is full of flaws, and we tailored it to whatever we wanted it to be, and w can imposed it on any group of people as we pleased... . Law or Rule-of-law had/have/and will be as joke for eternity.
Your turn is next for sdach toeur sihanouk.Stop running around like chicken with the head cut off and blaming other people for the crime you has committed.Shame on you!!!!!!!!!!!!
It has been written, "Thou shall not mess around with thy king hero immunity".
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