DATE=5/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249164
TITLE=CAMBODIA / KHMER ROUGE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOE COCHRANE
DATELINE=PHNOM PENH
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS IT IS HOLDING THE NOTORIOUS
EXECUTIONER OF THE KHMER ROUGE 'KILLING FIELDS' REGIME IN
PROTECTIVE CUSTODY. AS JOE COCHRANE REPORTS FROM PHNOM PENH, THE
MOVE COMES AS A SENIOR UNITED NATIONS ENVOY ARRIVES FOR TALKS ON
SECURING INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION IN TRIALS OF TOP KHMER ROUGE
LEADERS.
TEXT: THE KHMER ROUGE'S FEARED SECURITY SERVICES CHIEF, KAING
KHEK IEV, BETTER KNOW AS 'DUCH', IS IN INTERIOR MINISTRY CUSTODY
IN PHNOM PENH.
INTERIOR CO-MINISTER, YOU HOCKRY, SAYS DUCH IS A POTENTIAL STAR
WITNESS IN THE UPCOMING TRIAL OF REBEL MILITARY CHIEF TA MOK AND
POSSIBLY OTHER KHMER ROUGE RING-LEADERS.
THE U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL'S SPECIAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPRESENTATIVE
TO CAMBODIA, THOMAS HAMMARBERG, IS IN PHNOM PENH FOR TALKS WITH
PRIME MINISTER HUN SEN ABOUT POSSIBLE JOINT UNITED
NATIONS/CAMBODIAN TRIALS FOR TA MOK.
MR. HAMMARBERG SAYS THE UNITED NATIONS IS NOW WILLING TO HELP THE
GOVERNMENT PROSECUTE KHMER ROUGE LEADERS UNDER CAMBODIAN LAW, IF
THE PROCESS MEETS INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.
//HAMMARBERG ACT//
THIS WILL BE A MATTER FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE A POSITION ON,
BUT I AM WILLING TO DO THE UTMOST TO BE OF ASSISTANCE, IF THE
GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING A SYSTEM FOR THE TRIAL WHICH WOULD MEET
ALL THE STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE IN MIND FOR JUSTICE, FAIRNESS AND
PROCESS OF LAW.
//END ACT//
PRIME MINISTER HUN SEN HAS REJECTED AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL
ABROAD FOR THE KHMER ROUGE, BUT SAYS HE WILL INTRODUCE
LEGISLATION IN PARLIAMENT ALLOWING FOREIGN JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS
TO HELP TRY TA MOK.
MR. HAMMARBERG SAYS THAT LEGISLATION WILL ULTIMATELY DETERMINE
WHETHER THE U-N PARTICIPATES IN THE PROCESS.
//HAMMARBERG ACT//
IF THAT'S THE ROUTE THE GOVERNMENT TAKES, THAT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION MUST BE WHERE THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ARE MET.
IT IS WITH THE QUESTION OF WHAT INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ARE BEING
BROUGHT IN TO BE USED, IT IS WHO ARE THE JUDGES AND THE
PROSECUTORS, WHO ARE APPOINTING THE JUDGES AND THE PROSECUTORS,
ETC..
//END ACT//
HUN SEN AND MR. HAMMARBERG HAVE BOTH NOTICEABLY TAKEN A SOFTER
LINE ON THE KHMER ROUGE ISSUE SINCE THEIR LAST MEETING IN MARCH,
WHICH ENDED IN FAILURE. THEIR UPCOMING MEETING NEXT WEEK COULD
PROVIDE A BREAKTHROUGH THAT WOULD ENSURE AN INTERNATIONAL
PRESENCE IN THE TRIALS, WHILE RESPECTING CAMBODIAN SOVEREIGNTY.
(SIGNED)
NEB/JC/GC/FC/PLM
10-May-99 6:20 AM EDT (1020 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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