The Straits TimesPHNOM PENH (REUTERS)- A UNITED Nations-backed court trying the masterminds of Cambodia's bloody Khmer Rouge 'Killing Fields' revolution is embroiled in a conflict of its own as it prepares to hear its most complex and high-profile case next week.
The multi-million dollar court is mired in infighting and deep suspicion over the apparent reluctance of top judges to indict more suspects beyond the five former Khmer Rouge cadres already brought to trial by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).
At least five foreign staff have resigned following the hybrid UN-Cambodian tribunal's June 7 decision to reject a third case, known as 003, despite what international co-prosecutors say is strong evidence of atrocities by two suspects.
It comes as the court opens its next case involving 'Brother Number Two' Nuon Chea, former President Khieu Samphan, ex-Foreign Minister Ieng Sary and his wife, Ieng Thirith, a former Social Affairs minister, who are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, among other charges.
An estimated 1.7 million people died during the Khmer Rouge's 1975 to 1979 ultra-Maoist revolution that wiped out a quarter of Cambodia's population through execution, disease, starvation or overwork under the leadership of top commander Pol Pot, known as 'Brother Number One', who died in 1998.
The court has so far spent US$100 million (S$123.5 million) and delivered just one ruling since it was inaugurated five years ago, handing down a 35-year jail term, reduced to 19 years, to Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, who was found guilty last year of war crimes and crimes against humanity while chief of Phnom Penh's S-21 torture centre, where more than 14,000 people died.
The multi-million dollar court is mired in infighting and deep suspicion over the apparent reluctance of top judges to indict more suspects beyond the five former Khmer Rouge cadres already brought to trial by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).
At least five foreign staff have resigned following the hybrid UN-Cambodian tribunal's June 7 decision to reject a third case, known as 003, despite what international co-prosecutors say is strong evidence of atrocities by two suspects.
It comes as the court opens its next case involving 'Brother Number Two' Nuon Chea, former President Khieu Samphan, ex-Foreign Minister Ieng Sary and his wife, Ieng Thirith, a former Social Affairs minister, who are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, among other charges.
An estimated 1.7 million people died during the Khmer Rouge's 1975 to 1979 ultra-Maoist revolution that wiped out a quarter of Cambodia's population through execution, disease, starvation or overwork under the leadership of top commander Pol Pot, known as 'Brother Number One', who died in 1998.
The court has so far spent US$100 million (S$123.5 million) and delivered just one ruling since it was inaugurated five years ago, handing down a 35-year jail term, reduced to 19 years, to Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, who was found guilty last year of war crimes and crimes against humanity while chief of Phnom Penh's S-21 torture centre, where more than 14,000 people died.
1 comment:
Here are some burning questions and the thought processes behind the KR trial:
Case 001 went smoothly without incident and it took long time to reach the verdict. The reason it went smooth because it was not much complication to the international community. Why KR has anything to do with international community? well, put it this way, Cambodia is cooking rice without rice. Cambodia only has a pot and the fire not the rice. International bring the rice. So now, the 002 will have implication with international community so they are putting the rice but their name might get mudded.
002 case might not happening because of the possible implication. The disagreement of case 003 or 004 has everything to do in moving case 002 forward. Why 003 or 004 case appear before we can start 002 case? Did someone doesnt want 002 case to be trial?
I am more concern that the 002 case probably will not get trial until those KR leaders dead. 002 case is much more important and complicated than 003 or 004 cases yet people fighting to trial cases 003 or 004 before we can completed 002 case. I felt that it is a setup to destroy 002 case until those leaders are dead because of many implication with others. The government is clear on moving forward to trial 002 but why throw a monkey wrench by bringing 003 or 004 case at this point? People can draw their own conclusion that it is not about 003 or 004 case; it is about 002 case that is too much sensitive information will come out and International community is not ready for it while the government is ready for it. This is my oppinion. I might be wrong and I hope that I am wrong.
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