The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 620
“Despite allegations that there is corruption in the structure of court officials, hearing former Khmer Rouge leaders from the Cambodian side, two experts from the United States of America said that this court offers many positive points to establish a model for the judicial system of Cambodia, which is now seen as having no independence and no integrity.
“These experts said that the Khmer Rouge Tribunal in Cambodia will become a model for the creation of other tribunals around the world to seek justice for victims suffering from similar crimes.
“Mr. Gregory H. Stanton, is the founder and director of Genocide Watch, the president of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, the founder (1981) and director of the Cambodian Genocide Project at the Yale University of the USA, and the founder (1999) and chair of the International Campaign to End Genocide, and in 1999 [when he worked at the US Department of State] he drafted many resolutions for the United Nations to create the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
“Mr. Gregory H. Stanton told a foreign radio station in the USA that at present, the Khmer Rouge Tribunal in Cambodia can be taken as a model for other tribunals, as it is a court that uses local law as the basis to charge the accused, and local procedures are the basis of this court, modified by international procedures.
“Mr. Gregory H. Stanton said, ‘This tribunal has influence beyond its limits; that means that participating judges will bring their experiences for future use. Therefore, I think it is a model for other tribunals. A problem of the other international courts is that they do not leave a heritage, but as for this mixed court, it will leave a heritage in the country.’
“Another expert said that the model of arrangements for this tribunal is really as positive as mentioned by Mr. Gregory H. Stanton. He added that this model was implemented after international hearings from around the world, and they have experience in international legal systems.
“That expert went on to say that the person who initiated to form this hybrid tribunal to be started in Cambodia can offer this model also for other places.
“These international experts expressed such praise, while the hearings of the former Tuol Sleng, or S21 Prison chief Duch continue, where victims of that regime recount the savage activities of Duch.
“Also, the director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, Mr. Chhang Youk, expressed an opinion similar to the two experts above. He said that the Cambodian-international hybrid court has four special and important characteristics: first, it involves participation by citizens, because it is established within the country. Second, it consumes less expenses compared to the international courts in The Hague, but it can lead to the same justice just as at that court. Third, it is created within the country, facilitating the arrests of the accused. Fourth, it eases the use of evidence, which can be found almost everywhere around the country, without the need to transport it to other countries.
“He added that, moreover, this court is a model for the judicial system in Cambodia. Mr. Chhang Youk said, ‘This court is special and essential, as it serves as a basis for countries that suffered from genocide, to achieve reconciliation by teaching students and resulting in discussions about the freedom of expression. This court provides functions at a higher standard of justice that the courts at present can achieve. Thus, this court shows that Cambodia can move ahead and has an existing model, materials, and recourses, that can be used.’
“He added that these characteristics overcome the present deficiencies and it helps to build a state of law for Cambodia’s future.
“Also, a judge of the Cambodian Supreme Court, experienced in the judicial system in Cambodia, Mr. Mong Chakriya, hopes that the Khmer Rouge Tribunal will provide many benefits – beyond offering justice for the victims of the worst regime that existed, the regime of ‘Democratic Kampuchea,’ but also creating a model for the judicial system of Cambodia.
“The Khmer Rouge Tribunal, which suffers from corruption allegations and a lack of funds, is praised by two US experts and the keeper of documentation for the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, as having many positives points, useful for the creation of courts to try criminals in other countries.” Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.3, #444, 11.7.2009
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Saturday, 11 July 2009
Deum Ampil, Vol.3, #233, 11.7.2009
- Siam [Thailand] Accuses Cambodia of Adding More Tanks as Its Troops Are Digging Trenches and Preparing to Evacuate People from the Region
- [Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian] Mu Sochua Sets Her Hope on the Lawyer Sok Sam Oeun [after her former defense lawyer, Mr. Kong Sam On, suddenly left the Sam Rainsy Party to join the Cambodian People’s Party]
- The Ninth Case of A/H1N1 in Cambodia Is Confirmed [on an American man]
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.8, #1993, 11.7.2009
- Criminals Had Robbed a Gold Shop in Vietnam and Were Arrested by Cambodian Police
Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.3, #444, 11.7.2009
- American Experts Praise the Khmer Rouge Tribunal while It Is Notorious for Corruption
Koh Santepheap, Vol.42, #6699, 11-12.7.2009
- World Population Day [UN slogan 2009: Fight poverty: Educate girls!]: The Number of Cambodian People Increased from 6.7 Million in 1981 to 13.4 Million in 2008
- Samdech Hun Sen Natural Village of 4,500 Hectares Is a New Living Place for Citizens of the Prasat Preah Vihear Village
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #4943, 11.7.2009
- [More than 100] Sam Rainsy Party Members in Battambang Protest after Being Dismissed as Members
-
Cambodia Prepares to Work with the Thai Authorities to Stop a Publication Saying that Thailand Lost Land to Cambodia [a spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affair of Cambodia, Mr. Kuy Kuong, said that the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok will try to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand over a Thai private commercial website open to everyone who wants to subscribe –
http://www.ilovethailand.org/videos/id_36/title_los-territory
– and Cambodia requests to remove the statement in a video clip uploaded by somebody to that website. – Note: This is an attempt of censorship of a private statement on a commercial website in a foreign country – based on different interpretations of events in past history]
- The Khmer Rouge Tribunal Summons 35 Witnesses and Victims [over the case of the Tuol Sleng Prison chief Kaing Kek Eav, alias Duch]
- Japan Checks the Possibility to Assist Cambodia in Solar Electric Energy [hearing that there is not enough electricity for the demand in Cambodia, especially in rural areas; Japan might provide grant aid for this project after the visit of the former Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Muto Kabun, who came with technicians of the SANYO company to assess the actual conditions in Cambodia, as well as the technical requirements for investments in this field.]
- Cambodia and Switzerland Seeks Cooperation in Economy [to encourage investment and trade]
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