All in the CPP family: Chea Leang (L) and her powerful CPP uncle, Sok AnWednesday, 31 December 2008
Written by Brendan Brady
The Phnom Penh Post
With the first trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders expected in early 2009, prosecutors clash on whether to add new suspects to the tribunal's docket
CHEA Leang, Cambodia's co-prosecutor to the Kingdom's Khmer Rouge tribunal, has reaffirmed her opposition to investigating more potential defendants, her foreign counterpart Robert Petit said Tuesday, setting the stage for further possible delays to the war crimes court.
Chea Leang filed a response at the tribunal's Pre-Trial Chamber to Petit's own "statement of disagreement" lodged earlier this month after the pair failed to agree on Petit's proposal to submit more suspects for investigation.
While Petit has refused to confirm any figures, sources close to the court say that six additional former regime members have been targeted.
Chea Leang could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, but Petit said their difference of opinion was "significant ... [and] fundamental".
"We're going ahead with the disagreement procedure," Petit told the Post.
He said, however, the rebuff by his counterpart would not change his mind. "I proceeded ... because I believed there was evidence [to try additional suspects] and it's in our mandate to do so," he said.
While he was "not optimistic" he could reach an agreement with Chea Leang on his own, he said they would "continue to speak regularly and cooperate".
Even as the Pre-Trial Chamber has no timeline for resolving the impasse, court officials insisted it would not delay the legal proceedings of the five former regime leaders in custody.
Reach Sambath, spokesman for the Cambodian side of the hybrid court, said the disagreement would not affect the substance or timing of the current docket since the pretrial and trial proceedings are presided over by a different team of judges.
Spokeswoman Helen Jarvis said the disagreement was inherent to the tribunal's evolution. "You can't expect everyone to have the same point of view," she said.
Meanwhile, legal observers like Open Society Justice Initiative have urged the Cambodian side of the court to demonstrate its independence by allowing further investigations to begin.
Many senior government posts are currently held by former Khmer Rouge cadre, and experts say the government fears a wider roundup could expose them to scrutiny.
CHEA Leang, Cambodia's co-prosecutor to the Kingdom's Khmer Rouge tribunal, has reaffirmed her opposition to investigating more potential defendants, her foreign counterpart Robert Petit said Tuesday, setting the stage for further possible delays to the war crimes court.
Chea Leang filed a response at the tribunal's Pre-Trial Chamber to Petit's own "statement of disagreement" lodged earlier this month after the pair failed to agree on Petit's proposal to submit more suspects for investigation.
While Petit has refused to confirm any figures, sources close to the court say that six additional former regime members have been targeted.
Chea Leang could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, but Petit said their difference of opinion was "significant ... [and] fundamental".
"We're going ahead with the disagreement procedure," Petit told the Post.
He said, however, the rebuff by his counterpart would not change his mind. "I proceeded ... because I believed there was evidence [to try additional suspects] and it's in our mandate to do so," he said.
While he was "not optimistic" he could reach an agreement with Chea Leang on his own, he said they would "continue to speak regularly and cooperate".
Even as the Pre-Trial Chamber has no timeline for resolving the impasse, court officials insisted it would not delay the legal proceedings of the five former regime leaders in custody.
Reach Sambath, spokesman for the Cambodian side of the hybrid court, said the disagreement would not affect the substance or timing of the current docket since the pretrial and trial proceedings are presided over by a different team of judges.
Spokeswoman Helen Jarvis said the disagreement was inherent to the tribunal's evolution. "You can't expect everyone to have the same point of view," she said.
Meanwhile, legal observers like Open Society Justice Initiative have urged the Cambodian side of the court to demonstrate its independence by allowing further investigations to begin.
Many senior government posts are currently held by former Khmer Rouge cadre, and experts say the government fears a wider roundup could expose them to scrutiny.
14 comments:
Hou Nim,Sihanouk,Pol POt,Nuon Chhea,Kiev sam phan,Ieng sary ,ieng thirith,Duch,Hun sen,Chea sim,Heng samrin,Pen savan,Hor 5 hong,Sun sen,Keat chhun,Chea leang,sok an.....etc FBI will show all to the world thanks!
MAO+HO+Chou eng Lai=Big leaders of communism.
ស្តេចតា ៉នរោត្តម សីហនុ គួរតែមានសេចក្តីក្លាហាន ចូលបង្ហាញខ្លួននៅមុខតុលាការហើយ។
AH CHROUK MI CHOUK HAINAN !
to king Norodom Sihanouk
We know every thing it pass already..and you are old , Most cambodian people waitting for your answer .... Why dont you clear yourself.. before you pass away..If you good get to go to the court...proof it...Dont bring all bad thing with you when you dies...
Khmer P.p
Ah chrouk Sok Anh and Mi chrouk
Chea leang were the Yeak Cong Agents and former khmer rouge leaders in Srok Kirivong Takeo.
Folks, these two are HANOI secret spy..Khmer people just take a looks at the most corrupted people in dept. of interior!
Ah jrook sok ann..
11:05, you have a good piont! i a gree with your comments, i think Sdach Sihanouk is guilty..with all charge, he should clarify himself, when he's gone, he gonna bring all bad things along with him! Khmer people will curse his name until the end of the world....
Sdach Pleur is responsible for 2,1/2 millions souls of khmer pople
Guys, that dumbass king should answer khmer people also..why he let Samdach Pen Nut signed and gave a way KOH TRAL...he's got something to do with VietCong...
អា pig សុខអាន!
Norodom Sihanouk needed to be summoned in for this tribunal. Sihanouk was the main reason that caused Khmer Rouge to win the war and came to power in 1975. He announced on the radio that broadcasts from Peking before it changed its name to Beijing telling his followers (older generation) to join Khmer Rouge in the jungle. He even went to meet Khiev Samphan and other leaders in KR rank; we all saw his pictures taken with KS hugging each other in the jungle.
Sihanouk, please go to ECCC and tell the court all ... the truth before you die and take along with you. If you don't, you have betrayed your own people.
From a former student at Yukuntor High School supposed to be class of '75
He', King Sihanouk created KHMER ROUGE..of course he's main reason, and responsible for 2,1/2 millions souls!! Him, Ah Sdach Pleur should put on trial....i wanted to see they put him on trial!!
faith in a woman who looks like that? having connection to a man such high ranking?
To win the case Robert Petit needs to find somebody that is dead serious about prosecuting the criminal and not her. She is lame.
What are we waiting for it's time to prosecute ah yuon murderer Sok Anh.
Post a Comment