March 18, 2009
By Lao Mong Hay
UPI Asia Online
Column: Rule by Fear
Hong Kong, China — It took the Cambodian government and the United Nations almost 10 years to agree on a U.N.-assisted tribunal under Cambodian jurisdiction to try leaders of the former Khmer Rouge regime for their crimes. This tribunal – officially known as the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, also known as the Khmer Rouge Tribunal – has a trial chamber and a Supreme Court chamber. Cambodian judges are the majority in both.
It also has two co-prosecutors, one Cambodian and the other international, and two co-investigating judges, again one Cambodian and the other international. The United Nations proposed the international judges and prosecutors for appointment by the Cambodian authorities
The tribunal was formed in May 2006 with the appointment of all judges and prosecutors. Not long after, it was hit by allegations that Cambodian court personnel, including judges, had to kick back a significant percentage of their wages to Cambodian government officials in exchange for their positions on the tribunal. The same allegations of kickbacks have been made again over recent months.
It also has two co-prosecutors, one Cambodian and the other international, and two co-investigating judges, again one Cambodian and the other international. The United Nations proposed the international judges and prosecutors for appointment by the Cambodian authorities
The tribunal was formed in May 2006 with the appointment of all judges and prosecutors. Not long after, it was hit by allegations that Cambodian court personnel, including judges, had to kick back a significant percentage of their wages to Cambodian government officials in exchange for their positions on the tribunal. The same allegations of kickbacks have been made again over recent months.
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