More than 30 local and international rights and aid organizations will meet with KR tribunal officials to discuss the progress of the beleaguered process



Civil Groups to Meet Tribunal Officials Over Judge
Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
28 August 2007

More than 30 local and international rights and aid organizations will
meet with Khmer Rouge tribunal officials Wednesday to discuss the
progress of the beleaguered process, officials said Tuesday.

Rights officials are concerned the Victim's Unit of the Khmer Rouge
tribunal is not yet functioning, and will likely discuss this and
other matters with tribunal staff.

Victims may not come forward if they are not protected, said Long
Pahnavuth, of the Open Society Justice Initiative.

The tribunal has so far indicted only one man, Kaing Khek Iev, alias
Duch, the head of the Tuol Sleng torture center in Phnom Penh and a
relatively small cadre, but investigators have four more names for
possible indictment.

Those suspects were expected to be indicted this month, but a flap
over the Cambodian investigating judge, You Bunleng, who has now been
appointed to head the national Appeals Court, has outside observers
worried the process is stalled again.

You Bunleng's appointment could threaten the credibility of the
tribunal, UN officials have said.

.



Relevant Pages