Chea Leang (Photo: DR, Cambodge Soir Hebdo)15 Feb 2009
By A.L.G.
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French
The New York-based NGO brings its support to additional investigations into other former KR officials, and it also casts doubts on the independence of Cambodian judges at the KR Tribunal, and on co-prosecutor Chea Leang, in particular.
Three days ahead of the opening of Duch’s trial, in a communiqué dated Saturday 14 Feb, Human Rights Watch warns the KR Tribunal to resist against all political interference.
“[I]n December 2008 the Cambodian co-prosecutor opposed an effort by the international co-prosecutor to add six more suspects to the tribunal's caseload. The Cambodian co-prosecutor cited Cambodia's "past instability" and the "need for national reconciliation" as reasons for rejecting bringing charges against additional suspects.”
“Any hint of political manipulation at the tribunal will undermine its credibility with the Cambodian people," Sara Colm, HRW representative in Cambodia, indicated.
She also reminded that the KRT consists of a majority of Cambodian judges, and she indicated that the UN was originally opposed to such arrangement, “given that Cambodia's judiciary is widely known for its lack of independence, corruption, and low professional standards.”
"Without further prosecutions, the ECCC will fail to deliver justice to the people of Cambodia and damage efforts to create genuine reconciliation ... We urge all stakeholders in the ECCC process, including the Royal Cambodian Government and the international community, to ensure that the court is able to act independently and free of political interference or consideration," Sara Colm added.
Three days ahead of the opening of Duch’s trial, in a communiqué dated Saturday 14 Feb, Human Rights Watch warns the KR Tribunal to resist against all political interference.
“[I]n December 2008 the Cambodian co-prosecutor opposed an effort by the international co-prosecutor to add six more suspects to the tribunal's caseload. The Cambodian co-prosecutor cited Cambodia's "past instability" and the "need for national reconciliation" as reasons for rejecting bringing charges against additional suspects.”
“Any hint of political manipulation at the tribunal will undermine its credibility with the Cambodian people," Sara Colm, HRW representative in Cambodia, indicated.
She also reminded that the KRT consists of a majority of Cambodian judges, and she indicated that the UN was originally opposed to such arrangement, “given that Cambodia's judiciary is widely known for its lack of independence, corruption, and low professional standards.”
"Without further prosecutions, the ECCC will fail to deliver justice to the people of Cambodia and damage efforts to create genuine reconciliation ... We urge all stakeholders in the ECCC process, including the Royal Cambodian Government and the international community, to ensure that the court is able to act independently and free of political interference or consideration," Sara Colm added.
