DATE=3/16/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CAMBODIA / KHMER ROUGE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260239
BYLINE=KAY JOHNSON
DATELINE=PHNOM PENH
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A top-level United Nations team arrived in
Cambodia Thursday for make-or-break talks on U-N
participation in genocide trials for former Khmer
Rouge leaders. An agreement could make
international judicial history, but as Kay
Johnson reports from Phnom Penh, the two sides
have a long way to go.
TEXT: The team is the highest-level U-N
delegation ever to come to Phnom Penh. Its
leader, Undersecretary-General for Legal Affairs
Hans Corell, says he is aware he faces tough
talks, but he remains optimistic.
// CORELL ACT //
This, of course, is an unprecedented exercise. It
is important to bear in mind that we are
discussing here with a sovereign state. This is
very much in our minds, but maybe Cambodia will
write history in the next few weeks.
// END CORELL ACT //
The United Nations hopes to reach agreement with
Cambodia to set up a first-ever mixed tribunal,
with judges and prosecutors chosen by both the
world body and a sovereign state. The court would
seek to finally bring to trial some of those
responsible for atrocities including the deaths
of more than one million Cambodians, during the
Khmer Rouge reign of terror from 1975 to 1979.
But in an early sign that talks will be
difficult, Cambodia's chief negotiator
said Thursday the government will not make
changes to a draft law on the conduct of the
tribunal. The United Nations has already rejected
the measure as inadequate.
A key U-N fear is that Cambodian Prime Minister
Hun Sen wants to control the trials so he can
prevent prominent Khmer Rouge defectors from
facing the court. Mr. Hun Sen has accepted
several top Khmer Rouge leaders back into
Cambodian society in exchange for an end to the
country's long civil war.
The United Nations clearly wants a breakthrough
in negotiations and has sent to Phnom Penh some
of its top people with authority to cut a deal --
including Secretary-General Kofi Annan's chief of
staff. But it is unclear whether the Cambodian
side is ready to compromise. Some observers say
Mr. Hun Sen may be stalling.
If this weekend's talks fail, the United Nations
may pull out of the process altogether. Cambodia
officials say in such an instance, they will
handle the trials themselves. Critics say that
would raise questions of when, if ever, the Khmer
Rouge will be brought to justice. (SIGNED)
NEB/KJ/FC
16-Mar-2000 04:24 AM EDT (16-Mar-2000 0924 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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