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Cambodia amends laws to allow Khmer Rouge tribunal to proceed http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/110120/1/.html PHNOM PENH: Cambodia's parliament has amended a series of laws to bring the kingdom closer to a long-delayed UN-supported trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders. The 29 amendments came a day after lawmakers ratified an agreement between the UN and the government outlining procedures on trying the surviving leaders of the murderous Maoist regime. The regime of 1975-79, headed by Pol Pot, caused the death of up to two million Cambodians from starvation, overwork, execution and disease. Only two of the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders accused by scholars of genocide and crimes against humanity are in detention, with the remainder living freely. Pol Pot died in 1998. The amendments related to technical issues like the structure of the court system, procedures for appointing judges and how foreign judges will work within the Cambodian system. "The National Assembly has ended a long process of preparing basic laws to try top leaders of the Khmer Rouge," Sok An, deputy prime minister in charge of preparations for the tribunal, told reporters. "We can say that we have fulfilled a great job which will lead to justice being provided to the victims... and protect against the return of genocide." The minister said he believed that the trial of around 10 surviving leaders could begin in 2005 -- eight years after Cambodia initially requested that the United Nations explore options for holding a trial. "I don't see any obstacle because everything has been prepared," he said. The main remaining obstacle is to finalise the budget for the expected three-year proceedings, initially estimated at around 55 million dollars. Donors said this was too much and the issue remains under discussion. Sok An said that the next visit of a UN team working on trial preparations, would take place soon to discuss technical issues as well as the budget. He said he also expected a three-way meeting between the United Nations, the government and donors to take place soon. Only Australia has committed any money to the trial, pledging 2.1 million dollars. "On behalf of the Cambodian people I plead with the international community and the United Nations... to provide enough money on time so that this special court can proceed quickly," opposition leader Sam Rainsy told reporters. Of 98 lawmakers attending the 123-seat assembly, 96 voted in favour of the amendments. As with Monday's ratification, the amendments must still be approved by the Senate, the Constitutional Council and King Norodom Sihanouk, formalities which are likely to take a few weeks. The UN and Cambodia approved the historic tribunal agreement in June 2003 after four years of negotiations. Monday's ratification was further delayed by a year-long domestic political crisis in which parliament was suspended. - AFP =========+========= FEEDBACK? http://nativenewsonline.org/Guestbook/guestbook.cgi GIVE FOOD: THE HUNGERSITE http://www.thehungersite.com/ Reprinted under the Fair Use http://nativenewsonline.org/fairuse.htm =========+========= Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Native News Online a Service of Barefoot Connection FREE LEONARD PELTIER!! "YOU ~ARE~ THE MESSAGE" Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Nat-International/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
