Thursday, June 16, 2011

U.N. defends role in Khmer Rouge tribunal

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, June 15 (UPI) -- Allegations that the United Nations pressured judges at the war crimes tribunal for the Khmer Rouge are baseless, a U.N. spokesman said.

Non-governmental monitoring group Open Society Justice Initiative called on U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to investigate the conduct of the U.N.-backed Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. The tribunal is investigating alleged atrocities committed by the ruling Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s.

OSJI asked the U.N. Office of Legal Affairs to monitor the court and "if deemed necessary," advise the United Nations to end its support for the tribunal.

OSJI complained after two judges ended their investigation into a pending case thought to involve former Khmer Rouge military officials despite not visiting alleged criminal sites, questioning witnesses or interviewing the suspects.


The United Nations dismissed allegations that it played a role in the dismissal of the case, dubbed Case 003.

"The United Nations categorically rejects media speculation that we have instructed the co-investigating judges to dismiss Case 003," the statement read.

An estimated 2 million people died under the Khmer Rouge regime, which ruled Cambodia from 1975-79.

"Support for the independence of the judiciary is a fundamental principle that the United Nations upholds in Cambodia as elsewhere," the U.N. statement added.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

The UN did not pressure the judges to bow to the Cambodian government, BUT its staffs (judges) representing the UN and the international community bow to pressure from the Cambodian government. It is a sad fact indeed. The poor and powerless Cambodian people put their faith in the UN to give them some sense of overdue justice, but the UN fails and shamelessly let them down.

Anonymous said...

Mr Sam Rainsy, Why don't you sue PM Hun Sen as you promise to us Cambodian people and your true supporters?

Are you tried to bargain or negotiate with PM Hun Sen again like 2005 lawsuit at America??? Why?? Why??

We want to see Mr Sam Rainsy act as he said to sue PM Hun Sen in every democracy Countries court of justice around the world.

We want the results as transparency, from your progress in suing PM Hun Sen in every court of justices!!!

We are Cambodian people afraid that you are just using the lawsuit to scare PM Hun Sen than when PM Hun Sen gives you (Mr Sam Rainsy) green light. You again, hang your Lawsuit like 2005.

Mr Sam Rainsy, You must do as you said, otherwise you the same as Mr Kim Soka.

Mr Sam Rainsy, where are your law suit VS Hun SEn in America Court of justice? We want to see and hear the stories transparency because we afraid that you are just try to bargain with Hun Sen like 2005 again.

We Cambodian people as well as your supporters are waiting to see your real action in suing PM Hun Sen (In America Court of justice, all countries’ court of justice in Europe, Japan Court of justice, Australia Court of justice, New Zealand court of justice, Canada court of Justice, UN court of justice, World Human Right court of justice, NATO court of justice…) as you Mr Sam Rainsy said.

Mr Sam Rainsy must do as you said OK. Don’t you dare to bargain with PM Hun Sen like 2005 again?

May be you can’t be Prime Minister of Cambodia because of unfair election as 5-6 million Vietnamese votes for Hun Sen and Hun Sen add up his cheating skill in every election but you can be a great Khmer Hero by suing PM Hun Sen about the facts that he has done to Cambodia and Cambodian people so far.

If you Can’t be Prime Miniter due unfair election all the times but Mr Sam Rainsy, you can gives a great stain to PM Hun Sen and CPP Vietnam slave about their crimes against Cambodian people since 1970 until today.

Anonymous said...

Please don't try to remove the comment above 9:23 AM again. We khmer people are waiting to see the real action not words!

Anonymous said...

9:23 AM
អញប្រាប់ថា កុំអន្ទះសារពេក រឿងនេះទុកឲ្យមេជា
អ្នកដោះស្រាយ សន្សឹមៗ កុំមាត់ទុកមាត់ស៊ីអាចម៏។

Anonymous said...

Mr Sam Rainsy! Can you get back Koh Tral sea lands of over 30 000Km2 back from Vietnam that PM Hun Sen gives to Vietnam treties from 1979 to 1986.

Please demonstrate that You (Mr sam rainsy ) can get our lands sea koh back from Vietnam.

Can KI media demonstrate that over 30 000km2 that PM Hun Sen gives to Vietnam, we khmer can get them back.

Please KI media as well as Mr Sam Rainsy enlighten us khmer