German judge threatens prosecutor as Khmer Rouge tribunal woes continue

Herr Doktor Siegfried Blunk

13 May 2011

Phnom Penh (dpa) - A German judge who jointly heads the investigation office at the UN-backed war crimes tribunal in Cambodia has threatened to file contempt-of-court charges against the tribunal's international prosecutor.

The unprecedented development that two senior UN staff might face off within the tribunal's system came days after the prosecutor, Andrew Cayley, said an investigation by Judge Siegfried Blunk's office was deficient.

Blunk did not reply Friday to emailed questions, but the Cambodia Daily quoted him as saying it could 'write any story you like' after he declined to say what lay behind the contempt-of-court charges.

Cayley said Monday that he had reviewed the file prepared by Blunk's team on the third case in the prosecution of leaders of Cambodia's former Khmer Rouge regime and would request the investigating judges do more work on it.

His comments seemed to confirm long-standing rumours that the judges have done little on the case.

Hun Sen’s personal involvement in land dispute resolutions points to (1) an incompetent judiciary system under his rule and (2) the coming election

Hun Sen orders a resolution in the land dispute in Poipet

25 March 2008
By Mao Sotheany
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Regarding the land dispute on 20-hectare of lands located in Poipet commune, O’Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province, Prime minister Hun Sen announced for an immediate resolution in this case, no later than next week.

Hun Sen said: “In Banteay Meanchey, I set next week (as the date) for a resolution (of this case). I am reminding Orn Sum, Sok Sareth, and Sor Chamrong, the three of them must be ready to go measure the lands and they should be accompanied by officials from the cadastral survey department also for this measurement. There are two cases there that have not been resolved yet, one case was already resolved, then another case erupted which is about the same (extent) as the case that has been resolved already, (so) there are two cases that have not been resolved yet. Now, I hear that there is an attempt made to arrest people, and some have been arrested already, pull back, release them immediately. This evening, CTN reported that the message was given already (to the perpetrators). Those who do not comply, I will immediately issue a sub-decree, I tell you, if there is a sign I will remove you from the position of deputy provincial governor of Banteay Meanchey. I told H.E. Im Chhun Lim already, and now they are (holding) a conference on land issues also. So, I am telling the Beanteay Meanchey province, the people from Banteay Meanchey province should not come to meet me at Takhmao or Phnom Penh, wait for H.E. Im Chhun Lim to resolve the dispute there and end it there directly.”

On Wednesday of last week, representatives of 108 families living in Stung Bot village, Poipet commune, O’Chrov district, came to Phnom Penh to protest and to demand for Hun Sen’s intervention so they can get back their lands which were confiscated by Ou Sokha, a provincial military police official.

The protesters indicated that they occupied these 20-hectare lands since 1997. In the past, these lands were covered by landmines. In 2002, a military police official from Banteay Meanchey claimed that the lands belong to him, and he accused the villagers of being a group or anarchists occupying this land.

After hearing Hun Sen’s intervention yesterday, Cambodian people who are facing with similar issues in other provinces of Cambodia, hope that they will receive such fair resolution also.