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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SirRealist who wrote (18552)	2/11/2002 12:55:38 AM
From: SirRealist	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Cambodia Stunned by UN Withdrawal From Khmer Rouge Trial PHNOM PENH -- The United Nations has stunned Cambodia by pulling out of preparations for a trial of surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge for crimes against humanity and the deaths of 1.7 million people. Diplomats and observers were shocked by the decision, announced late Friday by the UN's legal counsel, Hans Corell. But they stressed that a trial could still go ahead without UN involvement and the government said its position had not changed. The United States said it did not agree with the UN decision, which could deprive any trial of international legitimacy, and urged a rethink. Youk Chhang, director of the independent documentation center of Cambodia (D-CAM) rebuked the UN and the Cambodian government for failing to provide justice for the victims of the 1975-79 regime. "I think they failed twice -- in 1979 and now," He said referring to the 1979 Cambodian trial of Pol Pot and his foreign Minister, Ieng Sary. Historians say that trial -- which sentenced both men to death in absentia -- established moral guilt but was a legal farce. "The victims had hope that the UN would find justice, but now that hope is fading away," Youk Chhang said. "The UN and the government of Cambodia did not negotiate on legal grounds, it was all political." In announcing the UN's withdrawal, Corell said legislation promulgated by Cambodia in August last year did not guarantee the independence, impartiality and objectivity of a special court which would be set up under Cambodian national law. That decision, Corell said, was made by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and did not involve the Security Council. Trial efforts had focused on members of the policy body -- the Khmer Rouge central committee -- which includes Ta Mok, brother number two Nuon Chea, former prime minister Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and his wife, Ieng Tirith.