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| This handout photo released by the Extraordinary Chamber in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) shows Swiss judge Laurent Kasper-Ansermet in Phnom Penh. |
Thursday, February 09, 2012
AFP News
An international judge at the Khmer Rouge war crimes tribunal in Phnom Penh has resumed probing a new case without support from his Cambodian counterpart, fuelling a row at the UN-backed court.
Swiss judge Laurent Kasper-Ansermet said he does not need the approval of investigating judge You Bunleng to re-open a controversial investigation into allegations of mass killings by two ex-Khmer Rouge commanders.
"It is in the public interest that the judicial investigation be resumed without further ado in order to carry out the full investigation warranted by the seriousness of the offences," Kasper-Ansermet said in a statement.
The judge has been backed by the United Nations in the face of a Cambodian decision not to endorse his appointment at the court -- a move that effectively halted work on potential new prosecutions.
The Cambodian government, which includes many former Khmer Rouge members, strongly opposes going after more suspects of the 1975-1979 regime, blamed for the deaths of up to two million people, beyond the court's current second trial.
You Bunleng, who came under fire last year for closing the probe into the court's potential third case without quizzing the suspects or visiting the crime scenes, told AFP Kasper-Ansermet's move was "inappropriate" because the Swiss was not yet legally accredited.
A German investigating judge quit in October citing political interference at the court and Phnom Penh's refusal to recognise Kasper-Ansermet as his replacement has sparked a public standoff with the UN.
The tribunal completed its first trial last week, jailing former Khmer Rouge prison chief Duch for life on appeal for overseeing the deaths of some 15,000 people.
A second trial involving three senior regime leaders is ongoing but the landmark proceedings risk being overshadowed by the current controversy.
Before Kasper-Ansermet's arrival the court's third and fourth cases were widely expected to be dropped but their fate now depends on the outcome of the legal battle between the sparring judges.
Cambodia says it objects to the judge because he used Twitter to draw attention to the controversy surrounding the new cases but observers say those concerns could be an excuse to keep stalling on the investigations.
9 comments:
you bunléng tu ne dois pas peur du tribunal (c e t c)si tu es honnettes.etes vous youn hypocrites?
The United Nations' judge just does what he has to do, if he is not allowed to do his job properly to find true justice for the Khmer victims of the killing fields, why border starting the ECCC?
Or the ECCC was started just for show and whitewashing of those crimes against humanity?
Since UN spending too much money already UN must move the court to independence out side country then the UN must summon all the person who involving the crime one by one until the world and the culprits satisfying with their judgment
Good point poster 66:37AM
We need this International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice to help our Khmer victims to find true justice and to salvage our beloved Cambodia from being annexed.
We are agree with the above, UN back KR tribunal need to be tough in dealing with Phnom Pehn thugs regime, who is nothing but in there just to obstruct justice work of Un back tribunal, if UN need to get job done.
Congratulation for Judge Kasker-Ansermet,very brave and justice.After spending more than ten years and over 200 million of dollars.UN should go forward and regarding any interference from from any local cambodian government.Very legitimate and that how it should be done!!!!
I think if you UN succeeds to save case 003/004, it is good news for the victim and also for the ECCC itself. ECCC is supposed to be a role model for Cambodian court of Justice, but so far the ECCC was contaminated by Cambodian system of corruption and political interference. I was appalled by the Khmer service of influential French radio station (RFI) analyzing the case. The people at RFI seems to be tolerate the action of the government concerning the ECCC. If the government succeed at blocking the tribunal to work impartially, Cambodia will never be a rule of law country in a foreseeable future.
Another important issue is the corruption at Cambodia of the court. The investigation into the allege kick-off has never been disclosed.
http://www.eccc.gov.kh/sites/default/files/media/ECCC%20INT-OCIJ%20PR%209%20Feb%202012%20Eng.pdf
Almost all the personals at the ECCC work for the benefit of Hun Sen otherwise they would not have a job there. Hun Sen is the law in Cambodia.
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