Police, Not People, Should Collect Evidence: Expert

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
29 September 2009

It is the job of law enforcement to find evidence following a legal complaint, and not that of an average citizen, a leading rights monitor said Monday.

People are often confused, believing they are beholden to find evidence before proceeding through legal channels, said Ny Chakriya, monitor section chief for Adhoc, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”

“Feeling like one needs to find evidence while filing a complaint, that’s a big confusion,” he said, though it is one shared by many Cambodians.

While regular citizens need more information about the law, judicial reform at the top needs some time, he said.

There are positive changes, including amendments to some laws, and some negative aspects of reform, as a few key laws have not been established.

A criminal law, law on judges, anti-corruption legislation and a law on the Supreme Council of Magistracy all need passed, he said.

The new criminal procedure is still a concern, especially with defamation charges, as a defendant can face jail time even if nothing is eventually found wrong against him, Ny Chakriya said.

“We’ve asked for the deletion of some parts regarding defamation, but we do not know whether the National Assembly will agree or not,” he said.

Muslim Leaders to File Complaints With Tribunal

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
24 October 2007

A coalition of Cham Muslims has begun to build a number of legal complaints to be passed to the tribunal courts, for hardships and death their people suffered under the Khmer Rouge.

Violent nationalism and paranoia were hallmarks of the regime, and many minorities, including Chams and Vietnamese, suffered at the hands of the cadre.

The leaders "plan to file complaints to the court over the crimes that happened to [Cham Muslims], and some others may file complaints for collective compensation," said Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, which aided the Muslim leaders with their complaint.

An estimated 300,000 Cham Muslims died under the regime, between 1974 and 1979, about 70 percent of the group's population, Youk Chhang said.

At least 300 mosque leaders joined the program, claiming they want compensation and justice for the treatment of the Chams under the regime.

Top Cham leaders will meet US Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli Thursday, the embassy said.

The groups will discuss tribunal developments and "an outreach program" that will aid the filing of a complaint at the courts, the statement said.