Sam Rainsy, opposition leader (Photo: RFA)14 May 2006
By Poeuv Ponlok
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by KI-Media
The Opposition leader of Cambodia expressed his regret in the nomination of a number of Cambodian co-judges and co-prosecutors for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) which he said was done without consultation with the people and the civil societies.
Mr. Sam Rainsy said: “Since the beginning, this nomination did not receive input from the population or civil societies. I regret that before the selection of the judges, there should at least be some consultations on the opinion of the people from different levels, as well as from civil societies which represent the general population irrespective of any political party. There should be neutrality in the organization of this tribunal in order to provide justice to the victims who have been waiting almost 30 years already.”
Nevertheless, regarding the capabilities and political standings of the co-judges and co-prosecutors, Mr. Sam Rainsy still believe that a number of Cambodian and foreign judges and prosecutors will have the capabilities and the moral standing to provide justice in the trial.
Mr. Sam Rainsy added: “Therefore, we must have hope that all these judges cannot do anything as they please because of the presence of judges and prosecutors selected by the UN who have higher professionalism and are not subservient to any political party. They [foreign judges and prosecutors] want to push for justice for the Cambodian people, the foreign judges and prosecutors will stop those Cambodian judges who do not have the moral standing, the foreign judges and prosecutors will help oversee the proper conduct [of the trial]. Therefore, we must not lose hope, at least it represents the first step to put to an end the bad habit of those in power who, in the past, can kill anybody they want with impunity. If we do not set up this tribunal as soon as possible, those in power will use their absolute power to kill others, even if they don’t kill a lot of people, they will kill some nonetheless, and they will always be free.”
Mr. Sam Rainsy said: “Since the beginning, this nomination did not receive input from the population or civil societies. I regret that before the selection of the judges, there should at least be some consultations on the opinion of the people from different levels, as well as from civil societies which represent the general population irrespective of any political party. There should be neutrality in the organization of this tribunal in order to provide justice to the victims who have been waiting almost 30 years already.”
Nevertheless, regarding the capabilities and political standings of the co-judges and co-prosecutors, Mr. Sam Rainsy still believe that a number of Cambodian and foreign judges and prosecutors will have the capabilities and the moral standing to provide justice in the trial.
Mr. Sam Rainsy added: “Therefore, we must have hope that all these judges cannot do anything as they please because of the presence of judges and prosecutors selected by the UN who have higher professionalism and are not subservient to any political party. They [foreign judges and prosecutors] want to push for justice for the Cambodian people, the foreign judges and prosecutors will stop those Cambodian judges who do not have the moral standing, the foreign judges and prosecutors will help oversee the proper conduct [of the trial]. Therefore, we must not lose hope, at least it represents the first step to put to an end the bad habit of those in power who, in the past, can kill anybody they want with impunity. If we do not set up this tribunal as soon as possible, those in power will use their absolute power to kill others, even if they don’t kill a lot of people, they will kill some nonetheless, and they will always be free.”
1 comment:
1000000000000001% truE!..
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