Mr. Richard Rogers.
A British lawyer has asked the International Criminal Court to launch an investigation into “widespread and systematic” land grabbing in Cambodia for more than a decade by what he calls the Kingdom’s “ruling elite”.
The complaint filed with the Hague court today by lawyer Richard Rogers, who is representing Cambodian land grab victims, alleges that the displacement of an estimated 770,000 people over the past 14 years constitutes a crime against humanity.
“The communication contends that senior members of the Cambodian government, its security forces, and government-connected business leaders carried out an attack on the civilian population with the twin objectives of self-enrichment and preservation of power at all costs,” a statement released by Global Diligence LLP – where Rogers works – and the International Federation for Human Rights, says.
Rogers says that crimes committed by this group “include murder, forcible transfer of populations, illegal imprisonment, persecution and other inhumane acts”.
Government spokesman Phay Siphan, who had previously mocked the lawyer’s efforts, said yesterday that the complaint was “still a joke”, and was not only exaggerated, but politically motivated.
“It’s polarized by politics,” he said, adding that the government was making a significant effort to resolve the 1,263 land dispute cases that Cambodians had lodged at the national level.
“Prime Minister Hun Sen has publicly made a statement that he won’t let land-grabbing issues [continue].”
It is up to the ICC prosecutor to decide whether a full investigation will be launched.
Investigations are currently being conducted at the court based on alleged crimes in eight countries, all of which are in Africa.
In March of this year, American human rights attorney Morton Sklar filed a complaint against Prime Minister Hun Sen and other government officials at the ICC alleging crimes of genocide based on “efforts to interfere” at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.
In 2012, the US-based Khmer People Power Movement also filed a complaint with the ICC that accused the government of crimes against humanity related to forced evictions.
6 comments:
Richard Roger you are my HERO!!! You and Morton Sklar really touch my soul for all the efforts you have done to help our people who have no voices. You have the capacities to challenge the VC puppet prime minister and those monsters elites. Justice will prevail. WE WILL WIN !!! Millions thanks.
The days of impunity for Dictator & Traitor Hun Sen are now numbered.
Hun Sen's days could be numbered. Get rid of this traitor for good!
may GOD help mr richard roger and mr moton klars to take the criminal to international court please.all cambodian around the world and in the country will respect you both forever,you both our hero.GOD bless you both and all cambodian people'
may GOD help mr richard roger and mr moton klar to take the criminal to international court please,cambodian around the world and in the country will respect you forever,you both the hero for us.GOD bless you both and all cambodian people'
I admire your effort Mr. Roger, Please help Cambodia to push the case and bring the thugs down to ICC. Khmers have suffered too much and too long by their own leaders counting from Sihanouk leadership and pass on to Hun Sen. Khmers people have nothing left including their own lives. When the world see that Cambodia is a democracy country, it is totally wrong. Go deeper and deeper, the truth will tells, it is a mafia government , creating the destruction to the country . Behind closed door is a puppet gov. Communist youn Hanoi run the show all every ministries, economy, and control the lives of the native khmer citizens, take away their land, their properties, kill them if they refuse to give or to leave.
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