Minister of Information and government spokesman Khieu Kanharith. (Photo by: SOVANN PHILONG)THURSDAY, 12 MARCH 2009
Written by Neth Pheaktra and Georgia Wilkins
The Phnom Penh Post
A SPOKESMAN for the Cambodian government on Wednesday lashed out at foreign judges at the Khmer Rouge tribunal, saying that instead of "dragging their feet" over issues like detaining more suspects, they should think about accelerating the trials of the five suspects they already have in jail.
Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith told the Post after speaking on a local radio station Wednesday that the tribunal should "just go ahead with the first few [trials] to show that [the court] is working".
"Because [foreign judges] have a lot of money, they can afford to drag their feet.... The longer they drag their feet, the more money they get," he said.
"Every day it's another issue. It's unacceptable.... The most important thing is just to start.... We cannot please them all the time," he added.
International co-prosecutor Robert Petit has announced that he wants to bring more former Khmer Rouge leaders to court, but Cambodian co-prosecutor Chea Leang disagrees, citing a perceived threat to national stability. The issue is now in the hands of judges at the pretrial chamber, who have no deadline to make a decision.
Petit told the Post that he was unconcerned about the comments.
"He's allowed to have his opinion, just like any other Cambodian," he said.
Co-investigating Judge Marcel Lemonde said he did not want to be involved in any dispute between the government and the court.
"We do not want to comment on the Cambodian government official's declaration. We would not want to create a polemic over this issue," he told the Post.
Judges announced last week that the Cambodian side of the court would go bankrupt this month without more infusions of donor funds.
In the earlier radio interview, Khieu Kanharith suggested that the Cambodian government would have enough money to cover costs alone if UN or donor funds did not come through, given that they would not have to pay the large salaries of foreign judges.
But Helen Jarvis, public affairs officer at the court, said it was "not up to the government" to give more money.
"I think most donors are aware we are out of funds, so we are hopeful."
Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith told the Post after speaking on a local radio station Wednesday that the tribunal should "just go ahead with the first few [trials] to show that [the court] is working".
"Because [foreign judges] have a lot of money, they can afford to drag their feet.... The longer they drag their feet, the more money they get," he said.
"Every day it's another issue. It's unacceptable.... The most important thing is just to start.... We cannot please them all the time," he added.
International co-prosecutor Robert Petit has announced that he wants to bring more former Khmer Rouge leaders to court, but Cambodian co-prosecutor Chea Leang disagrees, citing a perceived threat to national stability. The issue is now in the hands of judges at the pretrial chamber, who have no deadline to make a decision.
Petit told the Post that he was unconcerned about the comments.
"He's allowed to have his opinion, just like any other Cambodian," he said.
Co-investigating Judge Marcel Lemonde said he did not want to be involved in any dispute between the government and the court.
"We do not want to comment on the Cambodian government official's declaration. We would not want to create a polemic over this issue," he told the Post.
Judges announced last week that the Cambodian side of the court would go bankrupt this month without more infusions of donor funds.
In the earlier radio interview, Khieu Kanharith suggested that the Cambodian government would have enough money to cover costs alone if UN or donor funds did not come through, given that they would not have to pay the large salaries of foreign judges.
But Helen Jarvis, public affairs officer at the court, said it was "not up to the government" to give more money.
"I think most donors are aware we are out of funds, so we are hopeful."
23 comments:
If you voted for CPP (Cambodian People's Party):
Also known as:
Communist People's Party
Khmer Rouge People's Party
Khmer Krorhorm People's Party
Khmer Revolution Party
You're support the killing of 1.7 million innocent Khmer peoples from 1975 to 1979 in Cambodia.
You're support the killing at least twelve innocent men, women and children on March 30, 1997 Grenade Attack in Cambodia.
You're support assassination of journalists in Cambodia.
You're support political assassination and killing in Cambodia.
You're support attempted assassination and murder of leader of the free trade union in Cambodia.
You're support corruptions in Cambodia.
You're support murder of Piseth Pilika (Hun Sen's affaire).
You're support Hun Sen Regime burn poor people's house down to the ground and leave them homeless.
Hun Sen, Chea Sim and Heng Samrin was a former Khmer Rouge commanders.
Now, Hun Sen, Chea Sim and Heng Samrin are Khmer Rouge leaders, since their leader (Pol Pot) is dead.
From 1975 to 1979, these Khmer Rouge commanders responsible for killing 1.7 million innocent Khmer peoples in Cambodia.
From 1980 to present, these Khmer Rouge leaders responsible for killing innocent men, women and children on March 30, 1997, assassinated journalists, political assassination and killing, murder of Piseth Pilika (Hun Sen's affaire) and attempted assassinate and murder of leader of the free trade union in Cambodia.
When is the ECCC going to bring these three criminals to U.N. Khmer Rouge Tribunal?
Khmer Rouge Regime is a genocide organization.
Hun Sen Regime is a terrorist organization.
Hun Sen Bodyguards is a terrorist organization.
Hun Sen Death Squad is a terrorist organization.
Cambodian People's Party is a terrorist organization.
I have declare the current Cambodian government which is lead by the Cambodian People's Party as a terrorist organization.
Whoever associate with the current Cambodian government are associate with a terrorist organization.
Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:
Torture
Execution
Massacre
Atrocity
War Crimes
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvation
Overwork to Death
Slavery
Rape
Abuse
Assault and Battery
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Regime had committed:
Assassination
Murder
Killing
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Intimidation
Death Threat
Threatening
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Mass Eviction
Land Grabbing
Corruptions
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Acid Attacks
Injustice
Steal Votes
Violate the Constitution
These are the Trade Marks of Hun Sen's Khmer Rouge Regime.
Under Hun Sen Regime, no criminals that has been committed murder and all other crimes within Hun Sen's government ever been brought to justice.
Information change without notice as it become available.
agree that judges should go on with the trial with what they have right now instead of further delaying the trial because they want to bring in more suspects. one step at a time!
Ah Chhkai Khieu Kanharith(Hun Xen 's dog)I hate him so!!!
This guy will die soon the same ah Hok Lundy,Ah Hun Xen will kill him the same Ah Hun Xen kill ah Hok lundy.
This guy Kheiv Kanharith is YOUN. I knew this guy way back since Sangkom Reah Niyum. He is a former Vietcong. He served Khmer-Vietminh. He is one of former YOUN agent that you all know most of YOUN agents is taken high position in HUN SEN's administration.
Khmer/Thai
tired to see these yuon kantop chinese piggy faces who ruled and committed crimes endlessly against Cambodia and Cambodian people over decades
hey, i have nothing against him. he did a good job so far for cambodia! god bless cambodia.
The current Cambodian government are run by Cambodian People's Party, the CPP leaders are former Khmer Rouge Regime leaders, therefore they are criminals.
Please read comment by 12:23 AM.
Beware when Khiev Kanharith and Chea Leang said anything. These will say and do what ever they can to prevent their Khmer Rouge leader from taking the stand at Khmer Rouge Tribunal.
1:07 AM, if you agree with these peoples, you are support the killing of innocent Khmer peoples.
UN staff work and live with their salary, while governemnt staff work and live with corruption. They cannot work together.
You do it your way; we do it our way. It's called "freedom."
This idiot Khieu Kanharith is a fool,
Drunk talking!!! Who is listening to asshole? LOL.
While judges should focus on current KR suspects, other suspects that got connections with current suspects should be focus on those as well, you drunken spokesperson! Too much cognac?
Local judges should also concentrate only justice, why worry about reconciliation and stability of the country while those should be left out for the government to worry.
No wonder those murderers got away without held any accountability!
What a corrupt and unreliable court system under this nonsense bureaucracy!
Ah Khieu Kanharith! Ah promeuk!
Kanjeah baat cheung Hun Sen!
I agreed with the excellency (Khieu Kanharith) 100%. The ECCC doesn't have the money to trial what they got right now. They should just pack up and go back west. What a bunch of fools?
if give 100 millions will see all worms from viet and under table eat up in months.
Mr. Khiev Kannaridh, what is the purpose of the trial? Is it for fun or fun justice?
How instability can be happened when everything is in Hun Sen's hand?
Are you kidding? Or are you intimidating Cambodian peoples?
8:55 you are so dumb.
7:59 is right.
The judge should do both
1/speed up the prosecution of existing KR leaders.
2/Also they should focus on bring more Former Khmer Rouge high ranking an well know leader currently living free and get them arrested and prosecuted immediately.
All male and female dogs who are working at KRT bribed of their salary to the bastard dog yuon puppet hun sen. Ah dog kanharit barking to be jealous the foreign judges because his corruption is less than them and they want moe and more bribes from the staff salary and the staff are demended to interprete and translate.
Ah dogs and yuon puppet.
He look like once of his brother, prefering only young women.
Sounds like the guy got class. Only loser would go for an older worn out women.
Just another usless old fart!
Remembered this old fuck never paid electric bills also! why skip his house?
Well, there are some benefit that come with the job. Ah potato digger (6:26) is just jealous because he have to pay for all of his utilities and expenses.
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