Thursday, September 03, 2009

Tribunal moves on additional inquiries

Thursday, 03 September 2009
Robbie Corey-Boulet
The Phnom Penh Post

THE Khmer Rouge tribunal opened the door to investigations of additional suspects Wednesday, ending a nine-month disagreement between the national and international co-prosecutors and reigniting a debate about whether further indictments would jeopardise national stability.

The disagreement emerged in November, when former international co-prosecutor Robert Petit told his Cambodian colleague, Chea Leang, that he wished to file supplementary submissions for the court's second case - currently set to try four top Khmer Rouge leaders - as well as introductory submissions for two additional cases.

Chea Leang opposed the idea, arguing in later filings that peace, stability and national reconciliation could be compromised, and that "ex-members and those who have allegiance to Khmer Rouge leaders may commit violent acts" if additional investigations were allowed to proceed.

In a filing dated August 18 and made public Wednesday, the tribunal's five-person Pre-Trial Chamber said it had failed to reach a decision on the disagreement. The tribunal's internal rules held that Petit's proposed submissions with the Office of the Co-Investigating Judges would be allowed to go forward in the absence of a "supermajority", or four-to-one vote.

The chamber split along national and international lines, with the three Cambodian judges ruling against the filing of additional submissions.

Acting international co-prosecutor William Smith told the Post that he was "pleased to get the decision". Chea Leang declined to comment in detail before conferring with Smith.

Petit, whose resignation went into effect Tuesday, had reportedly identified six more suspects as of December, though he declined to comment on the number in his farewell press conference.

Smith said Wednesday that his office had yet to decide whether to make the number or other details public when submissions are filed.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has said more indictments could jeopardise national stability, and in March he said he would "prefer to see the court fail than for war to come back to Cambodia".

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said Wednesday that he could not comment on the August 18 filing because he had not seen it.

Long Panhavuth, a court monitor for the Cambodia Justice Initiative, dismissed concerns that more investigations would lead to violence.

He said the decision to allow further submissions was evidence of the court's "independence and integrity".

Sharp criticism of the decision came from former Khmer Rouge cadres, including Meas Muth, an army divisional commander who was cited as a possible suspect in the 2001 report "Seven Candidates for Prosecution: Accountability for the Crimes of the Khmer Rouge", by Stephen Heder and Brian D Tittemore.

"Why are they trying to make problems for living persons to find justice for the dead?" Meas Muth asked. "To satisfy the dead will not bring any good results and will instead lead to splits in society."

He added, though, that he was not concerned for himself.

"I have nothing to worry about," he said. "I have rice, vegetables and fruit to eat, and I sleep well. I did not commit any crimes directly. Only the top leaders did, and they know who they are."

Also Wednesday, former Tuol Sleng prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, testified that he became a Christian in part to prevent his daughter from becoming a whore.

Duch said he became particularly concerned about the welfare of his children after his wife was slain in 1995.

"I picked Christianity because I wanted to make sure that my children would be taken care of after I passed away," Duch said. "When I die, my children will be under the good care of the people at the church, and my daughter will not end up being a whore."

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY THET SAMBATH AND CHEANG SOKHA

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Robert Petit had met his family members in Siemreap city to see that his family members were not physically harmed.

It must be reminded that Robert Petit had asked the ECCC to put six more people on trial such as NORODOM SIHANOUK, HENG SAMRIN, CHEA SIM, HUN SEN, HO NAM HONG and KEAT CHHON.

HUN SEN representatives ordered Mr. Robert Petit to stop asking the ECCC to put more people to trial. If he doesn’t stop, he must resign, ordered HUN SEN people or else (Police HUN SEN threatened on the lives of Robert Petit’s family members).

We have witnesses to support the above facts.

Anonymous said...

Sihanouk runs away from Cambodia to hide in Beijing from all CRIMES in Cambodia that he had committed to it own people and country.

Anonymous said...

In order to serve new investigations properly;
The UN Back KRT should be charged Mee Chea Leang, Ah Sok Anh and ah Om Yintien in obstructing of UN justice, otherwise the UN-KRT will not serve justice for all Cambodian's victims at all. And the Criminals are still living free and continues to kill more small khmer everyday.

Anonymous said...

To ECCC,

Please bring those Criminals cited above to testify in ECCC court for their involvement in Khmer Killing Fields.

And Chea Leang should be fired and prosecute for Obstructing the Justice for khmer victims of KR official high ranks in the Viet puppet regime such Heng Saqm Rin, Chea Sim, plus some more like Meas Muth to clarify the Crimes committed against Humanity orchestrated and set up by Hanoi.

Anonymous said...

Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:

Tortures
Executions
Massacres
Atrocities
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvations
Overwork to Death
Slavery
Rapes
Human Abuses
Assault and Battery


Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime had committed:

Assassinations
Assassinated Journalists
Assassinated Political Opponents
Assassinated Leader of the Free Trade Union
Attempted Assassinations on Chea Vichea and Sam Rainsy
Attempted Murders on Chea Vichea and Sam Rainsy
Executed members of FUNCINPEC Party
Murders members and activists of Sam Rainsy Party
Killings
Extrajudicial Execution
Grenade Attack
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Tortures
Intimidations
Death Threats
Threatening
Human Abductions
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Corruptions
Bribery
Illegal Mass Evictions
Illegal Land Grabbing
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Illegal Deforestation
Illegally use of remote detonation on Sokha Helicopter, while Hok Lundy and others military official on board.
Illegally Sold State Properties
Illegally Remove Parliamentary Immunity of Parliament Members
Plunder National Resources
Acid Attacks
Turn Cambodia into a Lawless Country
Oppression
Injustice
Steal Votes
Bring Foreigners from Veitnam to vote in Cambodia for Cambodian People's Party.
Abuse the Court as a tools for CPP to send political opponents and journalists to jail.
Abuse of Power
Abuse the Laws
Abuse the National Election Committee
Abuse the National Assembly
Violate the Laws
Violate the Constitution
Violate the Paris Accords
Impunity

Under the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, no criminals that has been committed crimes against journalists, political opponents, leader of the Free Trade Union, innocent men, women and children have ever been brought to justice. 

Anonymous said...

UNDER AGE CHILD SEX
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime had committed under age child sex.
Svay Sitha is a senior government official from Cambodian People's Party.
Svay Sitha had a sexual relationship with Tat Marina, she was only 16 years old.
Source: Human Rights Watch

ACID ATTACK ON TAT MARINA
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime had committed acid attack.
"On December 5, 1999, Tat Marina, age 16, was severely disfigured in an acid attack in Phnom Penh. The attack was allegedly committed by Khun Sophal, the wife of a senior government official, Svay Sitha, because she was angry her husband had a sexual relationship with Tat Marina. Neither Khun Sophal nor those suspected of being her accomplices in the attack were brought to justice. Intense media publicity compelled the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Khun Sophal for attempted murder, but the police claimed that they could not locate her, although journalists reported that she was living at home as usual."
Source: Human Rights Watch

TORTURE AND MURDER ON PRAK SITHA WHILE IN CUSTODY BY MISNISTRY OF INTERIOR OFFICIAL
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime had committed torture and murder.
"On the night of January 16, 2003, a street youth named Prak Sitha was beaten to death at the Ministry of Interior (MOI) headquarters after he was arrested and detained by off-duty MOI officers on suspicion of theft. His body - bearing numerous injuries to the head, torso, arms, and legs - was dumped at a Phnom Penh pagoda the following morning by ministry officers, in violation of police regulations regarding deaths in custody. No criminal charges were filed in connection with this death. In December 2004, the case was cited by the UN secretary-general's special representative for human rights in Cambodia - who stated that Prak Sitha died at the ministry "following beatings by a known police officer" - as an example of a "consistent and continuing pattern of impunity" in Cambodia."
Source: Human Rights Watch

PUT SAMPHORS WAS SHOT DEAD BY MEAN SOKCHEA, A RCAF MAJOR WORKING IN BRIGADE 70.
Hun Sen's personal Bodyguards Unit (Brigade 70) is a terrorist organization.
Hing Bunheang is a March 30, 1997 Grenade Attack suspect identified by the FBI.
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime had committed murder, again.
"On September 4, 2008, Mean Sokchea, a RCAF major working in Brigade 70, shot dead 21-year-old waitress Put Samphors at a restaurant in Kandal province. Mean Sokchea, in a drunken stupor, fired his gun and apparently mistakenly hit Put Samphors in the stomach. She was taken to a hospital but later died of her wounds. Mean Sokchea was detained by the police overnight but was then released, allegedly after intervention by Hing Bun Heang. Put Samphor's family received US$2,700 from Mean Sokchea, and the police told them that their daughter was shot while authorities were chasing robbers."
Source: Human Rights Watch

Anonymous said...

Chea Leang and Sok An is accessory to Khmer Rouge Genocidal. Put them both on trial for obstruction of justice, and interference the court. They try to set the murderer free while victim and families seeking for justice. Shame on both of them.
Here are top Khmer rouge leader
1 Norodom Sihanouk
2 Pol Pot
3 Ieng Sary
4 Kiev Samphan
5 Hun Sen
6 Chea Sim
7 Kaing Kek Eiv.
8 Chea Leang
9 Sok An
10 Hor Nam Hong
and the list still go on. For get the Khmer Rouge soldier. They're brother and sister that force to joint them against their will. Please have more UN Envoy deploy to Cambodia in case these murderer make escape to Beijing and Ho Chi Minh City.
There'll be bo peace if these top Commander are still free.
KHMER ROUGE VICTIM

Anonymous said...

3:40 AM . I agree with you 100 % but is it possible ? Hun Sen loss the first election but he didnt step down because he got his own army . Hun Sen is just a mad dog .. its not easy to deal with .

Anonymous said...

To KHMER ROUGE VICTIM

I am 100% agree with you.

I cannot wait to see these mother fuckers (Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime) get indict, prosecute, sentence and jail.

Anonymous said...

6:03Am
You know Sadam Hussen have his own military and equipted with more modern weapons, But still hide in a hole and captured. At the end he face execution. We don't want these dictators to rule our country. It's 21 Century. Our country need to keep up with the world.

Khmer Rouge Victim

Anonymous said...

Dear all,

Now, we should wake up and identify who we are because individual or interest group who created this English website (KI media)in which almost information provided only in favor of oppositition party, but it is not so helpful to the public interest in terms of sensibility, creativity, contructivity, productivity, and neatral judgement. If u say that Cambodia is not a demoncratic country, u a 100% wrong.

By the way, if u say that the demoncracy in Cambodia is not fully applied or partially carried out, of course your idea or judgement is sensible and valuable. But, it is still acceptable because Cambodia case is not as the same as other countries cases, we need sometime to make change.

If were u, anyway, I may be very shame due to the fact that information provided is only attacked individual person that lead to conflict of interests (your own problem). My suggestion is that u should provide fair and neatral information that would help our country and people. Especially; foreigners shall not be able to look down our nation due to the fact that we a in unique unity. Why? Because it does not matter even we fight with each other. We attack just in the purpose of progress and future develpment of ow own nation. We should learn from the past experiece, we lost when we broke, we won when we united.

From Thana
I am sorry, I am not intellectual person. My education backgrownd is little and my English is poor too.

Anonymous said...

Dear all,

Now, we should wake up and identify who we are because individual or interest group who created this English website (KI media)in which almost information provided only in favor of oppositition party, but it is not so helpful to the public interest in terms of sensibility, creativity, contructivity, productivity, and neatral judgement. If u say that Cambodia is not a demoncratic country, u a 100% wrong.

By the way, if u say that the demoncracy in Cambodia is not fully applied or partially carried out, of course your idea or judgement is sensible and valuable. But, it is still acceptable because Cambodia case is not as the same as other countries cases, we need sometime to make change.

If were u, anyway, I may be very shame due to the fact that information provided is only attacked individual person that lead to conflict of interests (your own problem). My suggestion is that u should provide fair and neatral information that would help our country and people. Especially; foreigners shall not be able to look down our nation due to the fact that we a in unique unity. Why? Because it does not matter even we fight with each other. We attack just in the purpose of progress and future develpment of ow own nation. If we try to attack individual, we can not change because of conflict of interest between supporters and oppositors. We can achieve a goal and do thing change unless we break difference and combine into commond interest,goal and vision.

We should learn from the past experiece, we lost when we broke, we won when we united.

From Thana
I am sorry, I am not intellectual person. My education backgrownd is little and my English is poor too.

Anonymous said...

To Thana

"Now, we should wake up and identify who we are because individual or interest group who created this English website (KI media)in which almost information provided only in favor of oppositition party, but it is not so helpful to the public interest in terms of sensibility, creativity, contructivity, productivity, and neatral judgement."

If you looking to join a website in which almost all information provided only in favor of the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, you needs to go to the CPP website.

The Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime who is killing innocent Khmer peoples during the Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime for 3 years 8 months 20 days and the last 30 years that the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime continue to kill journalists, political opponents, leader of the free trade union, innocent men, women and children.

Why are you complaining?

Are you supporter of Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime?

Why do you need to identify individual or interest group who created this English website (KI media)?

Thana, you're support the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime who is killing innocent Khmer peoples.
Do me a favor don't ever tell anyone that you are Khmer, because you make Khmer peoples look bad.

Anonymous said...

To Khmer Rouge supporters

You're support Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime who is killing innocent Khmer peoples.
Please do me a favor don't ever tell anyone that you are Khmer, because you make Khmer peoples look bad.