UN and Cambodia Agree on Khmer Rouge Trial Court

by Ma Nguyen Tong

25-3-2003

The United Nations and Cambodia agreed to set up an international genocide court to bring former leaders of the Khmer Rouge to justice. An estimated 1.7 million people died at the hands of the brutal Maoist regime in the 1970s but despite evidence of their atrocities, no Khmer Rouge leader had ever been charged. Negotiations on the proposed genocide court had been taking place for more than five years.

"We have agreed on a draft co-operation agreement in which the United Nations will assist Cambodia in the proceedings of a special tribunal," Cambodian negotiator Om Yentieng told reporters.

The news was warmly welcomed by the international community.

"This is a great step forward. It's real progress, it's what we've hoped for," said British Ambassador Stephen Bridges.

Approval

The draft of the legal agreement now would have to be approved by the UN and the Cambodian parliament. The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly backed a resumption of talks on the tribunal after its legal team pulled out in February 2002 over a row about which side would control the proceedings. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said at the time that Cambodia could not guarantee the tribunal's independence, impartiality and objectivity.

It was thought this time around the international community would give the court its approval. Backing from the Cambodians was also likely as the chief negotiator was one of Prime Minister Hun Sen's senior ministers.

The Khmer Rouge ruled the country from 1975 to 1979. Many victims died of starvation and torture during the regime.

Still free

Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot was murdered in 1998 and his body immediately cremated so there would not be remains for investigation, but many of the regime's other senior figures were still living as free men.

The agreement on the tribunal was been widely welcomed.

"This is what I have been waiting for years and years," a torture camp survivor said.

The Chaktomuk Theatre in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh would probably be used as the venue for the trial.