DATE=2/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CAMBODIA / HUN SEN (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259045
BYLINE=JOE COCHRANE
DATELINE=PHNOM PENH
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will meet
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to discuss
salvaging a joint-war crimes tribunal for leaders of
the Khmer Rouge regime. As Joe Cochrane reports from
Phnom Penh, the sides may resume formal talks later
this month.
TEXT: Mr. Hun Sen boarded a private plane for Bangkok
on Friday afternoon to attend the U-N Conference on
Trade and Development. He is scheduled to meet briefly
on Saturday with Mr. Annan, who is also attending the
conference.
Mr. Hun Sen told reporters at Phnom Penh's airport
that Cambodia cannot accept new demands by the U-N for
international control of a tribunal to judge the
"killing fields" regime of the late 1970's.
The Prime Minister says if Cambodia bows to U-N
demands, the country's role will be likened to a dog
guarding a house. He says Cambodia has the sovereign
right to prosecute rebel leaders, and
will only accept U -N assistance.
Nonetheless, Mr. Hun Sen says he will invite Mr. Annan
to send a U-N legal team back to Phnom Penh to resume
face-to-face talks, which had ended in an impasse in
August of last year.
Saturday's meeting follows a flurry of diplomatic
activity this week, with Mr. Hun Sen and Mr. Annan
exchanging letters that exposed very different views
on how the tribunal should be run.
The U-N leader, in a letter sent Tuesday from New
York, insisted on international control of any
tribunal. Mr. Annan demanded a majority of foreign
judges, a foreign investigating judge and prosecutor,
and guarantees that the Phnom Penh government would
arrest all indicted suspects.
Mr. Hun Sen replied that the demands were
unacceptable, and that the U-N was disregarding
Cambodia's efforts to ensure its draft law authorizing
the tribunal would meet international standards.
The Prime Minister is demanding that Cambodia have a
majority of judges on the tribunal, and foreign and
Cambodian co-prosecutors. He has said the U-N can
either accept a minor role or withdraw from the
process.
The Maoist-inspired Khmer Rouge is blamed for the
deaths of as many as two million Cambodians from
forced labor, disease, starvation and summary
executions between 1975 and 1979. (signed)
NEB/JC/GC/PLM
11-Feb-2000 06:27 AM EDT (11-Feb-2000 1127 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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