Thursday, December 11, 2008

Tribunal Prosecutors Differ on Added Suspects

Tribunal judges will determine whether more suspects should be investigated.

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
10 December 2008


Cambodian and international prosecutors at the Khmer Rouge tribunal disagree on a plan to investigate and charge more than the currently five jailed leaders of the regime, officials said.

International prosecutor Robert Petit would like to investigate as many as six more suspects, a plan that was vetoed by his Cambodian counterpart, Chea Leang, a source close to the tribunal process said.

“This disagreement rests upon the appropriateness of opening new judicial investigations into crimes committed in various locations throughout Cambodia by certain persons considered to be senior leaders of the Khmer Rouge or persons most responsible for crimes under that regime,” the co-prosecutors said in a statement.

No new suspects or charges have been announced beyond the five already in jail, including prison chief Kaing Kek Iev, whose trial is expected to begin early in 2009.

The Pre-Trial Chamber of the courts will now have to rule over the discrepancy, tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath said.

The disagreement comes as the tribunal faces delays in getting five leaders already in jail to trial and charges of corruption and mismanagement.

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Peter Taksoe-Jensen arrived in Cambodia Sunday to discuss the functioning of the courts with senior Cambodian officials.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

those judge just need money and go home do at Homework that make all of you much better, This is shock all khmer who wait for the truth of killing field .that judge keep delay and delay at last ,no money in the system of judge.
Ah HUN and Yuon ingrease their power and influence on keeping killer .

Anonymous said...

what is the real purpose of the khmerouge judgement?just for ah jea leang or the victims of ah red coulors,the hunxaen?

Anonymous said...

The foreign prosecutor could be legally right to propose to charge more people. But I don't believe that the Cambodian co-prosecutor, Ms. Chea Leang, will agree. The reason is, I think, as follows:

Everyone knows that Cambodian judicial officers are politically affiliated and appointed. They have to serve the party if they want their positions maintained. Coming to the point: Thus, if Chea Leang agrees to charge, say, 6 more then how could she guarantee that even the three Samdeches would not be prosecuted?

Raja

Anonymous said...

Yes, I support the foreign Judges to
expand more investigation for the crime against humanity. At least 6 more that MUST be bring to trial. They are the 5 H, Hun Sen, Hor Nam Hong, Heng Samrin, Chea Sim etc....

Please Mr Petite, bring those to the
International Court asap.

Thanks.

Proleung Khmers.

Anonymous said...

Ah Scam Rainxy is accountable if the ECCC fails to prosecute those murderer. We had sentenced them to dead, but Ah Scam Rainxy saved them.

Anonymous said...

With those money its better spend on education and let the nation find the truth instead. Right now they are making money out of your family death.

Anonymous said...

That will be a waste. Just look in the US, billions has been spend on Ah Pleu-Oversea education, but nothing is gaining for the investment.