Legal eagles, officials hail tribunal’s legacy

Friday, 14 September 2012
Stuart White
The Phnom Penh Post

Hopeful projections for the future of Cambodia’s courts butted heads with harsh realities as Khmer Rouge tribunal officials and legal professionals gathered to discuss the legacy of the tribunal, practically within earshot of the trial of jailed Beehive Radio director Mam Sonando.

Experts spoke of the lasting domestic impact of the tribunal, which has long been pointed to as a “model court” meant to offer an example to Cambodia’s oft-maligned court system (sic!), but some saw a celebration of the court’s legacy as premature, coinciding as it did with Sonando’s trial, which rights groups have pointed to as an embodiment of local courts’ shortcomings.

“There’s already a lot of legacy created at the ECCC and there’s a lot more to come in the years ahead,” keynote speaker David Scheffer, the UN-appointed special expert to the tribunal, said, while noting that “as with all things in international justice, we have to be patient.”

Judge James A. Wynn talks media, legislation and democracy in Cambodia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLjLOS0QREA

Secret SRP recording to be probed by court

Mok Ra

18 June 2012

By Mu Sochua

This is another story of travesty of justice. Cambodia justice is justice for hire. This is a pure case of political persecution and as a revenge against a very principled local opposition member who refuses to sell his vote and he even won his case when SRP filed complaint against the CPP official who is a deputy secretary general at the Ministry of Interior.

I remember vividly when the Penal Code Bill was presented by the Ministry of Justice and how the Sam Rainsy Party MPs, pointed to the danger of keeping the article in the Code. We pointed out that this particular article is purely meant to prevent and discourage any type of recording or taking photographs of officials caught in a criminal act.

In this case, Mok Ra's only evidence to protect himself is to record the conversation he had with those who intended to buy his vote.

It should be pointed out that the courts are becoming active again during this post election period.

The courts have taken action against:

1. an elected SRP commune official in Kandal with arrest;
2. further questioning Mok ra;
3. summon MP, Mu Sochua for her "rehabilitation" case.

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Secret SRP recording to be probed by court

Monday, 18 June 2012
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

The Battambang Provincial Court has summoned an opposition party council member to appear for questioning 10 days from now in connection with the secret and illegal recording of a Cambodian People’s Party official who was caught on tape offering hundreds of dollars in exchange for support in January’s Senate elections.

Click to read more...

Xmer kangaroo courts are so bad that it needs to burnish its reputition

Members of Cambodia’s judicial system participate in a workshop focusing on judicial ethics yesterday in Phnom Penh. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia courts a good reputation

Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodian judges and prosecutors needed to work hard to shake a bad reputation for corruption, Justice Minister Ang Vongvathana told a delegation of senior judges and prosecutors yesterday.

His comments came at the start of a two-day workshop hosted by the ministry geared towards building judicial integrity and people’s belief and trust in the court system.

“In our judicial system, and the role of courts, national and international opinions have been focusing on corruption, because it was a strong mechanism affecting people’s belief in judicial systems in Cambodia,” Ang Vongvathana said.

The training, administered with the assistance of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and representatives of the Asia Regional Trafficking in Persons Project, is aimed at strengthening, understanding and implementing a code of conduct for court officials.

Hoon Xhen: Trust government ... and you will be shot, evicted and sent to jail

Villagers in Kratie province block the road in January after four people in a group of villagers protesting against alleged land grabbing by the TTY company were shot. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post

Trust govt, PM tells protesters


Monday, 28 May 2012
May Titthara and Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

the very reason people take to the streets is because they cannot expect help from Cambodia’s dysfunctional legal system

Prime Minister Hun Sen has told villagers they should not to protest in land disputes but rather seek help from authorities following a spate of violent crackdowns on demonstrations.

The premier said protests affect public order and claimed they sometimes become violent in a statement signed last Tuesday and obtained by the Post yesterday.

“In settling to divide land or land ownership to villagers, there is no other means to resolution than authorities to tackle [the problem] (sic!),” the statement reads.

Protesters must avoid “all forms of violence” and not employ disruptive actions such as blocking national roads, it continues.

SRP MPs condemn the use of force and the court to kill and jail innocent people

Press Release by the International Reserve Co-Investigating Judge

4 May 2012

PRESS RELEASE OF THE RESERVE INTERNATIONAL CO-INVESTIGATING JUDGE

Since he took office at the ECCC, the Reserve International Co-Investigating Judge, out of respect for the law and the victims, has focused all his energy to continuing the judicial investigation of the highly contentious Cases 003 and 004. In addition to conducting field investigations, the suspects were informed of their rights and were granted access to the case file. By way of a decision on the jurisdiction of the ECCC to continue Case 003, the facts under investigation were made public with a view to ensuring that the victims are properly informed and able to exercise their rights.

For reasons which are manifestly more political and financial than strictly judicial, the Reserve International Co-Investigating Judge – whose prerogatives were constantly called into question by his national counterpart for no material legal reason – found himself in a highly hostile environment and was severely impeded in the day-to-day performance of his duties, as a result of which he tendered his resignation to the United Nations Secretary General.

In light of the internal investigations into the violation of ECCC Internal Rule 35, the Reserve International Co-Investigating Judge has reason to believe that several individuals, both current and former staff members of the ECCC, have interfered with the conduct of the investigation in Case File 004. The Reserve International Co-Investigating Judge has therefore reported this to the criminal prosecution authorities of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Moreover, the Reserve International Co-Investigating Judge is of the view that the role played by the National Co-Investigating Judge as described in his Note of 21 March 2012 amounts to a serious interference with the conduct of the judicial investigation in Case Files 003 and 004. The Reserve International Co-Investigating Judge has therefore brought this matter to the attention of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Finally, the Reserve International Co-Investigating Judge hereby invites all the competent authorities of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the United Nations to take a clear and common stand concerning the future of Case Files 003 and 004 so as to restore the image and dignity of the ECCC and uphold international justice.

សហជីព​កម្មករ​អន្តរជាតិ​ជំរុញ​ឲ្យ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា​នាំ​ខ្លួន​ឈូក ​បណ្ឌិត​ទៅ​កាត់​ទោស

លោក ឈូក បណ្ឌិត អតីត​អភិបាល​ក្រុង​បាវិត​ ជាប់​សង្ស័យ​ថា​បាន​បាញ់​កម្មករ​របួស

​ថ្ងៃ ព្រហស្បតិ៍ 26 មេសា 2012
ដោយ លី ម៉េងហួរ
Radio France Internationale
​
សហព័ន្ធ​​សហជីព​​អន្តរជាតិ​ ជំរុញ​​ឲ្យ​​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​​កម្ពុជា​នាំ​​ខ្លួន​​ជន​ល្មើស​​លោក​ ឈូក ​បណ្ឌិត​ អតីត​​អភិបាល​ក្រុង​​បាវិត​ដែល​​​បាន​​បាញ់​​កម្មការិនី​​រោងចក្រ​​កាត់​ដេរ​​៣​នាក់​ឲ្យ​​របួស​ធ្ងន់​កាលពី​​ខែ​​កុម្ភៈ​​យក​​មក​​កាត់​ទោស​។​ តាម​​​សហជីព​​កម្មករ​​អន្តរជាតិ​គ្មាន​​អំពើ​​ហិង្សា​​ណា​មួយ​ ត្រូវ​​យក​មក​ប្រើ​នៅ​ក្នុង​​វិស័យ​​ទំនាក់​ទំនង​​ឧស្សាហកម្ម​​កាត់ដេរ​​ឡើយ​។​ មួយ​វិញ​ទៀត​ សកម្ម​ភាព​​​ប្រឆាំង​​នឹង​​កម្មករ​​យ៉ាង​​នេះ​វា​​មិន​​គ្រាន់តែ​​ជា​​ទង្វើ​​ឧក្រិដ្ឋកម្ម​​ដ៏​​គួរ​​ភ័យខ្លាច​​ប៉ុណ្ណោះ​​ទេតែ​​វា​​ក៏​​ជា​​សកម្មភាព​​រំលោភ​​យ៉ាង​​ធ្ងន់ធ្ងរ​​ទៅ​​លើ​​អនុសញ្ញា​នៃ​​អង្គការ​​ពលកម្ម​​អន្តរជាតិ​​ផង​​ដែរ​។​​

​សហព័ន្ធ​សហជីព​អន្តរជាតិ ( International Trade Union Confederation ) ដែល​មាន​ទីស្នាក់កា​រ​កណ្តាល នៅ​ប្រទេស​សឹង្ហ​បុរី បាន​ជំរុញ​អោយ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា នាំ​ខ្លួន​ជនល្មើស ជា​អតីត​អភិបាលក្រុង​បាវិត លោក ឈូក បណ្ឌិត ដែល​បាន​បាញ់​ស្ត្រី​កម្មករ​រោងចក្រ​កាត់ដេរ ឲ្យ​របួស ស្ទែរ​តែ​ស្លាប់ មក​កាត់ទោស​។


​ការជំរុញ​ដូច្នេះ បាន​ធ្វើឡើង​តាមរយៈ​លិខិត​មួយច្បាប់ ដាក់​ទៅ​កាន់​លោក វង សូ​ត រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​​ការងារនិង​បណ្តុះបណ្តាល​វិជ្ជាជីវៈ កាលពី​ថ្ងៃ​២៣​មេសា​។

អ្នក​រងគ្រោះ​ពី​ជម្លោះ​ដីធ្លី​ទទួល​យុត្តិធម៌​តាម​រយៈ​ជំនឿ​អរូបិយ

ពលរដ្ឋរងគ្រោះ​ជម្លោះ​​ដី​ធ្លី​បុណ្យ​ស្រន់​មុខ​ព្រះអង្គ​ចេក​ព្រះចម។ សហ​ការី

Tuesday, 24 April 2012
ម៉ៃ ទិត្យថារ៉ា
The Phnom Penh Post

ភ្នំពេញៈ ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​នៅ​ក្នុង​ខេត្ត​ចំនួន​៨​ក្នុង​ចំណោម​ខេត្ត​ក្រុង​ទាំង​២៤​ ដែល​មាន​ជម្លោះ​ដី​ធ្លី​ជាមួយ​ក្រុម​ហ៊ុន​ឯកជន និង​អ្នក​មាន​អំណាច​នោះ​ត្រូវ​បាន​ផ្ដល់​ឲ្យ​នូវ​យុត្តិធម៌​តាម​រយៈ​ជំនឿ​ អរូបិយ​បន្ទាប់​ពី​ពួក​គាត់​បាន​ប្រារព្ធ​ពិធី​បួង​សួង​តាម​បែប​ប្រពៃណី ខ្មែរ​ដោយ​​ដាក់​បណ្ដាសា​ដល់​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​មួយ​ចំនួន​។ នេះ បើ​តាម​ទិន្នន័យ​ដែល​បាន​ចេញ​ផ្សាយ​ដោយ​មន្ត្រី​បម្រើ​ការ​នៅ​មជ្ឈ​មណ្ឌល ​សិទ្ធិមនុស្ស​កម្ពុជា។

លោក អ៊ូច ឡេង មន្ត្រី​សម្រប​សម្រួល​គម្រោង​កំណែ​ទម្រង់​ដី​ធ្លី​នៅ​មជ្ឈ​មណ្ឌល​សិទ្ធិ​មនុស្ស​កម្ពុជា​បាន​មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ថា តាំង​ពី​ឆ្នាំ​២០០៩​ រហូត​មក​ទល់​បច្ចុប្បន្ន​នេះ​ អ្នក​ភូមិ​មួយ​ចំនួន​ដែល​មាន​ជម្លោះ​ដី​ធ្លី​ជា​មួយ​ក្រុម​ហ៊ុន​ឯក​ជន​ និង​អ្នក​មាន​អំណាច​មិន​អាច​ទទួល​យុត្តិធម៌​តាម​ផ្លូវ​ច្បាប់​បាន​ទេ​ ដូច្នេះ​ហើយ​ពួកគាត់​បាន​សម្រេច​ចិត្ត​ធ្វើ​ពិធី​បួង​សួង​ដាក់​បណ្ដាសា ក្រុមហ៊ុន​និង​អ្នក​មាន​អំណាច​ទាំង​នោះ​។ លោក​បាន​ថ្លែង​ថា៖​ «​យុត្តិធម៌​ពី​តុលាការ​សម្រាប់​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ក្រីក្រ​គឺ​ពិបាក​នឹង​ទទួល​ បាន​ខ្លាំង​ណាស់ តែ​ប្រជា​ពលរដ្ឋ​ក្រីក្រ​អាច​ទទួល​យុត្តិធម៌​បាន​តាម​រយៈ​ជំនឿ អរូបិយ​ប៉ុណ្ណោះ»។

លោក​បាន​បន្ថែម​ថា ក្រុម​អ្នក​ភូមិ​បាន​បួង​សួង​ដាក់​បណ្ដាសា​ដល់​ក្រុម​ហ៊ុន ហើយ​ពួក​គាត់​បាន​ទទួល​ជោគជ័យ​ពីព្រោះ​មាន​មនុស្ស​មួយ​ចំនួន​បាន​ស្លាប់​ ដោយ​សារ​ត្រូវ​រន្ទះ​បាញ់ ការ​ក្ស័យធន ការ​ត្រូវ​គេ​បណ្ដេញ​ពី​មុខ​តំណែង​ ការ​ជាប់​ឃុំ​នៅ​ក្នុង​ពន្ធនាគារ​ ការ​រត់​ចេញ​ពី​ផ្ទះ ហើយ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​មួយ​ចំនួន​ទៀត​មិន​ទទួល​បាន​ផល​ដំណាំ ដែល​គេ​ដាំ​លើ​ដី​រាស្រ្ត​។

Summons still pending in PUMA shooting

Nuth Sakhoan pictured in hospital after being injured by a bullet. Photo Supplied

Tuesday, 24 April 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

A Svay Rieng provincial prosecutor said yesterday that a summons for triple-shooting suspect and former Bavet town governor Chhouk Bandith had been issued, though the case’s investigating judge said he has made no such move.

Hing Bunchea, chief Svay Rieng prosecutor, said a summons had been issued for Chhouk Bandith, who was charged last week with causing unintentional injury after allegedly shooting three women, one through the chest, at a protest on February 20.

“I don’t know for sure when he will be ordered to come to clarify at the court. I think you might ask to the investigating judge.”

Sok Sam Oeun: “Shooting at a crowd cannot be called an unintentional act”

Sok Sam Oeun

21 April 2012
By Seng Dyna
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Soy

Our weekly guest for today is Mr. Sok Sam Oeun, the executive director of the Cambodian Defenders Project (CDP). In response to questions asked by RFI’s Seng Dyna, Sok Sam Oeun explained about “causing unintentional injuries” which the Svay Rieng province prosecutor used to charge Chhouk Bandit, the former mayor of the city of Bavet, for his involvement in the shooting that injured factory workers on 20 February 2012. Sok Sam Oeun said that shooting on a crowd of people cannot be called an unintentional act.

Click on the control below to listen to the audio program:

Click here to download or listen to the audio program in MP3

Union threatens rally over shooting charge

Ath Thorn, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (CCAWDU). Photo by Pha Lina

Monday, 23 April 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

Outrage over the “unintentional injury” charge handed to a former town governor in Svay Rieng province accused of stepping out of his car and shooting three women at a February protest has sparked threats of union action.

The Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (C.CAWDU) has threatened to protest outside Svay Rieng provincial court this week if the charge against former Bavet town governor Chhouk Bandith is not upgraded to attempted murder.

On February 20, three women were hospitalised after Chhouk Bandith allegedly drove to a protest of about 6,000 garment workers outside Bavet’s Kaoway Sports factory and shot them.

More than two months later, Chhouk Bandith was charged with causing involuntary bodily harm on Thursday, which the C.CAWDU and rights groups have said is a completely inappropriate response.

Failing justice, protests, violence: Comment

Chhouk Bandit

Monday, 23 April 2012
Rupert Abbott and John Coughlan
Letter to The Phnom Penh Post

This failure to hold the perpetrators of violence accountable is further weakening ordinary Cambodians’ trust in the law-enforcement and justice system – and so the vicious cycle continues, with more protests and more violence.

It was reported in last Friday’s edition of The Phnom Penh Post that Chhouk Bandith – the former governor of Bavet town suspected of shooting workers protesting at the Kaoway Sports Ltd factory on February 20 this year – had been charged with “causing unintentional injuries” (“Shooting ‘unintentional’ ”, April 20).

Three women were injured in this incident; one of them was shot through the chest, and the bullet narrowly missed her heart.

It has taken more than two months since the shootings for the only suspect in the case to be charged, and no arrest has been made.

Considering the circumstances, the charge seems lenient and the potential prison sentence of six months to two years inadequate.

Clash with sugar firm puts villagers in court

Thursday, 05 April 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

Kampong Speu provincial court issued summonses yesterday to five villagers from Thpong district’s Omlaing commune, who are involved in a long-standing land dispute with Cambodia People’s Party senator Ly Yong Phat’s Phnom Penh Sugar company.

Village representative from Omlaing commune, Phal Vannak, said the five villagers have been ordered to appear before the court on Monday.

“It [the summonses] is a trick the company plays with the court in an attempt to take our land,” he said, adding that with the Khmer New Year quickly approaching, it is burdensome for the villagers to find time to go to the court.

“Even though it is very difficult, they have to go to court, otherwise they [court] will take the opportunity to arrest us,” he said.

Phnom Penh Sugar received an economic land concession in February, granting the company 9,000 hectares to develop sugar cane.

SRP Lawyer Choung Chou-ngy sues 3 Kandal provicincial court officials

មេធាវី​បក្សប្រឆាំង លោក ជូ​ង ជូ​ងី បានដាក់​ពាក្យបណ្ដឹង​ទៅ​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌ ប្ដឹង​មន្ត្រី​តុលាការ​ខេត្តកណ្ដាល ៣​រូប

មេធាវី​បក្សប្រឆាំង ប្ដឹង​មន្ត្រី​តុលាការ​ខេត្តកណ្ដាល ៣​រូប​

ថ្ងៃទី 2 មីនា 2012
ដោយ : រតនា
CEN

Synopsis: SRP Lawyer Choung Chou-ngy filed a lawsuit with the minister of Justice against 3 Kandal provincial court officials: (1) Lim Sokuntha, a jugde at the Kandal provincial court, (2) Vong Bunvisoth, the deputy prosecutor at the Kandal provincial cout, and (3) Sum Bora, a clerk for the Kandal provincial court. The trio is accused of colluding to falsify a document to send Meas Peng – a client of Choung Chou-ngy – to jail temporarily and also for issuing false summons order against Meas Peng.

ភ្នំពេញ: មេធាវី​បក្សប្រឆាំង លោក ជូ​ង ជូ​ងី បានដាក់​ពាក្យបណ្ដឹង​ទៅ​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួងយុត្តិធម៌ ប្ដឹង​មន្ត្រី​តុលាការ​ខេត្តកណ្ដាល ៣​រូប រួមមាន លោក លឹម សុគ​ន្ថា ចៅក្រម​សាលាដំបូង​ខេត្តកណ្ដាល លោក វង្ស ប៊ុន​វិសុទ្ធ ព្រះរាជអាជ្ញារង​អម​សាលាដំបូង​ខេត្តកណ្ដាល និង​លោក ស៊ុម បូរ៉ា ក្រឡាបញ្ជី​សាលាដំបូង​ខេត្តកណ្ដាល ពី​ករណី​ឃុបឃិត​គ្នា ធ្វើ​ដីកា​សម្រេច​ឃុំខ្លួន​ឈ្មោះ មាស ប៉េង បណ្ដោះអាសន្ន និង​ធ្វើ​ដីកា​បង្គាប់​ឲ្យ​ឃុំខ្លួន​ឈ្មោះ មាស ប៉េង ក្លែងបន្លំ បំភ្លៃ បំភាន់​ការពិត​។​

​យោងតាម​ពាក្យបណ្ដឹង​របស់លោក ជូ​ង ជូ​ងី ចុះ​ថ្ងៃទី​១៤ ខែវិច្ឆិកា ឆ្នាំ​២០១១ ដែល CEN ទទួលបាន​នៅ​ថ្ងៃទី​២ ខែមីនា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ បាន​លើកឡើងថា កាលពី​ថ្ងៃទី​២២ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ​២០១១ ជន​ត្រូវ​ចោទ​ឈ្មោះ មាស ប៉េង បាន​ចូលខ្លួន​ទៅ​ឆ្លើយបំភ្លឺ​នៅ​ចំពោះមុខ​លោក លឹម សុគ​ន្ថា ជា​ចៅក្រម​ស៊ើបសួរ​សាលាដំបូង​ខេត្តកណ្ដាល ដោយមាន​លោក (​ជូ​ង ជូ​ងី​) ជា​មេធាវី​ការពារ​សិទ្ធិ អម​ទៅជា​មួយ​ផង​។ ពេល​ចាប់​ផ្លើ​ម​សួរ​យក​ចម្លើយ មាស ប៉េង លោក​បានទាមទារ​ឲ្យ​មាន​តំណាង​អយ្យការ​ចូលរួម​ក្នុង​ការយក​ចម្លើយ តែ​លោក វង្ស ប៊ុន​វិសុទ្ធ បាន​ចូលរួម​ស្ដាប់​ចម្លើយ​បាន​មួយ​រយៈពេល​ខ្លី ក៏​ចាក​ចេញពី​បន្ទប់​ចៅក្រម​ស៊ើបសួរ មិនបាន​ចូលរួម​ស្ដាប់​ចម្លើយ​ឈ្មោះ មាស ប៉េង រហូតដល់​ចប់​ទេ​។ ក្រោយពី​សួរចម្លើយ​រួច លោក​ចៅក្រម លឹម សុគ​ន្ថា បានអនុញ្ញាត​ឲ្យ​ឈ្មោះ មាស ប៉េង ត្រឡប់ទៅផ្ទះ​វិញ​ជាធម្មតា ហើយ​តម្រូវ​ឲ្យ​ឈ្មោះ មាស ប៉េង ចូលទៅ​ឆ្លើយបំភ្លឺ​នៅ​ថ្ងៃទី​២៣ ខែកញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ​២០១១ មួយលើកទៀត​។​

If you are one of Hun Xen's cronies, your court case is guaranteed to be dismissed?

Media personality Soy Sopheap (centre) shakes hands with a police officer in May last year. (Pha Lina/Phnom Penh Post)

Defamation claim dismissed [for Soy Sopheap]

Friday, 17 February 2012
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
The Phnom Penh Post

“It has clearly shown the public that I am a pure and trusted person (sic!),” Soy Sopheap

Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday dropped two complaints against prominent media personality Soy Sopheap, who was accused by Nokorwat newspaper general director Touch Kongkea of defaming him and breaching his privacy by accessing his personal emails.

Kor Vandy, municipal court vice president and judge, said the complaints were dropped because no real evidence was brought before the court.

“There is no proof to express that Soy Sopheap stole secret correspondent letters via the emails of Touch Kongkea as accused,” Kor Vandy said.

Opposition Party Members Claim Persecution by Kandal Court

With local elections to be held later this year, opposition officials say they are being unduly persecuted in cases minor and major. (Photo: AP)

Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

They were released and asked to return with witnesses for another hearing, court officials said.

Kandal provincial court summoned two opposition party supporters for questioning over the destruction of property Tuesday in a dispute with another local man.

The two men, who are Sam Rainsy Party commune officials, were questioned over the destruction of six land markers they say were put in place illegally on public land.

Nai Nep, who is 70 and a commune chief, said he had refused a bribe by villager Sem Khin, who had put fencing up around public land in Pha Av commune, Bantheay district, Kampong Cham province. When Nai Nep took down the fencing, he was accused of destruction of property.

War of words escalates at Khmer Rouge tribunal

Feb 10, 2012
DPA

Phnom Penh - A public war of words between two judges at the Khmer Rouge tribunal intensified Friday as a Cambodian jurist fired back at his international counterpart.

You Bunleng, co-investigating judge at the UN-backed war crimes court, issued a statement accusing Laurent Kasper-Ansermet of having 'ill intentions' and showing 'obstinacy and disrespect' for the court's rules.

Kasper-Ansermet issued a statement of his own Thursday that said You Bunleng had opposed 'proposed investigative acts' in the court's upcoming cases. Senior Cambodian officials have repeatedly said the tribunal's third and fourth cases would not be allowed to reach trial. 'The issuance of such a public statement by Mr Ansermet furthers the doubt of the national co-investigating judge regarding Mr Ansermet's professionalism - is he a judge or a press officer?' You Bunleng asked.

Judge wants to restart Case 003

Prak Kimsan (ECCC)

Friday, 10 February 2012
Bridget Di Certo with additional reporting by Chean Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post

Investigations in the Khmer Rouge tribunal’s Case 003 are being resumed on the orders of UN-nominated International Co-Investigating Judge Laurent Kasper-Ansermet, who has also applied for the disqualification of Pre-Trial Chamber president Prak Kimsan, the judge said in a statement yesterday.

Swiss national Kasper-Ansermet said he is under a “legal obligation to investigate” cases 003 and 004 – both opposed by the government – according to the agreement between the UN and the Royal Government of Cambodia and the laws governing the Khmer Rouge tribunal. “The International Reserve Co-Investigating Judge therefore enjoys full legal authority to undertake his functions regardless of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy’s rejection of his appointment as standing co-investigating judge,” Kasper-Ansermet wrote in his statement.

The UN supports this position, and UN Special Expert David Scheffer has said Kasper-Ansermet has “clear authority to fulfill” his duties as international co-investigating judge.

On this basis, the judge issued an order to resume the judicial investigation in Case 003, which was closed in April 2011 amid much public outcry of political interference and inadequate investigations by the two investigating judges.

CPP-biased court rejects Mu Sochua request twice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCOZMxR96-A