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UN seeks changes in Cambodian law
United Nations has sought some changes in the Cambodian law that would establish a court to try former Khmer Rouge leaders who are accused of killing up to one million people during their regime in 1970.
United Nations has sought some changes in the Cambodian law that would establish a court to try former Khmer Rouge leaders who are accused of killing up to one million people during their regime in 1970.
United Nations Chief Spokesman Fred Eckhard said on Friday that some discrepancies were found in the law in
relation to what was discussed during UN Legal Counsel Hans Corell visit to Phnom Penh last July.
The law seeks to set up a court comprising both Cambodian and international judges and prosecutors to try surviving Khmer Rouge leaders. The international judges would be in minority but would have veto power.
Eckhard did not reveal the discrepancies but said that an agreement could be reached after some fine-tuning.
Earlier this week, he said that Corell had reviewed the text, found some discrepancies and written to Sok An, who heads Cambodian taskforce for the court, seeking some clarification.
The legislation has been approved by the Cambodian National Assembly and is now before the Senate. After the approval by the senate, the legislation would require ratification by the Cambodia's Constitutional Council and signature by King Norodom Sihanouk.
After the United Nations approves the draft, it would then have to negotiate an agreement with Cambodia before the process of setting up the court could begin. Eckhard said that any cooperation between UN and Cambodia would have to be regulated by an agreement. The draft of such an agreement was elaborated last July but it has to be formalized once the law is adopted.
Bureau Report
The law seeks to set up a court comprising both Cambodian and international judges and prosecutors to try surviving Khmer Rouge leaders. The international judges would be in minority but would have veto power.
Eckhard did not reveal the discrepancies but said that an agreement could be reached after some fine-tuning.
Earlier this week, he said that Corell had reviewed the text, found some discrepancies and written to Sok An, who heads Cambodian taskforce for the court, seeking some clarification.
The legislation has been approved by the Cambodian National Assembly and is now before the Senate. After the approval by the senate, the legislation would require ratification by the Cambodia's Constitutional Council and signature by King Norodom Sihanouk.
After the United Nations approves the draft, it would then have to negotiate an agreement with Cambodia before the process of setting up the court could begin. Eckhard said that any cooperation between UN and Cambodia would have to be regulated by an agreement. The draft of such an agreement was elaborated last July but it has to be formalized once the law is adopted.
Bureau Report