Sixth UN official resigned from the KR Tribunal

22 June 2011
By Den Ayuthyea
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soy
Click here to read the original article in Khmer

"What I want to say is that, in Case 003/004, there was 20 months of inactivity where the Investigating Judges did not investigate these cases. This affects our justice as victims who are looking for clarifications on the darkness under the KR regime” - Theary Seng, AKRVC President

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Theary Seng

After 5 UN legal officials announced their resignation from the KR Tribunal (KRT) investigation office in April, on Wednesday 22 June, a KRT information official indicated that another UN legal official also resigned from his position.

On 22 June, Netr Preaktra, the KRT spokesman, indicated that the KRT learned that a 6th UN legal official resigned from his position at the KRT investigation office. However, Netr Pheaktra said that this resignation does not affect the function or the mission to find justice for the victims of the KR regime. (sic!)

Netr Pheaktra added: “The KRT administrative office guarantees that it will find an able official to continue its investigation work at the Co-Investigation Judges’ office, yes!”

Netr Pheaktra did not reveal the name of the 6th official at the investigation office who resigned from his position, nor the latter’s nationality.

Regarding this issue, Theary Seng, President of the Association of Khmer Rouge Victims in Cambodia (AKRVC), indicated that the resignation announcement by another UN legal official from the KRT investigation office shows that there are irregularities or dissent with the Cambodian and International Co-Investigating Judges regarding the investigation into the KR leaders involved in Case 003/004.

Theary Seng, who is also President of CIVICUS, added: “I think that he cannot accept the irregularities and the injustice pushes him to resign from this office. What I want to say is that, in Case 003/004, there was 20 months of inactivity where the Investigating Judges did not investigate these cases. This affects our justice as victims who are looking for clarifications on the darkness under the KR regime.”

Nevertheless, Lars Olsen, the UN public relation representative at the KRT, did not comment on this resignation. However on 21 June, he told news media that the recent resignations of UN investigation officials will not affect the legal aspect or any other aspects of the KRT, including the Co-Investigating Judges office, i.e. the KRT guarantees that it will have enough employees to fulfill its duty or mission.

The KRT spokesman indicated that the KRT will bring forth Case 002 during its hearing to be held on 27 June 2011. Case 002 involves 4 former KR leaders: Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith. This group of leaders are responsible for the killing of almost 2 millions innocent victims during the KR regime which they ruled between 1957 and 1979.