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Phnom Penh, December 6,
2005
Documentation Center
of Cambodia Welcomes
the Khmer Rouge
Tribunal Staff
The Documentation
Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam) wishes to express its gratitude to both the Royal
Government of Cambodia and United Nations on making the long-awaited trials of
senior Khmer Rouge leaders a reality. As the final administrative arrangements
for the tribunal will begin in January, DC-Cam would like to take this
opportunity to voice three concerns.
First, we encourage
both the Royal Government and UN to take steps to ensure that the Cambodian
people are kept fully informed on all aspects of the tribunal. The RGC has taken
a good first step with its publication of a brochure about the trials last year.
The survivors of the Democratic Kampuchea regime have waited over 25 years for
the trials to begin and deserve to see justice done. Thus, the RGC and UN should
both publicize the proceedings on the radio, television, and print, and find
ways to help average citizens participate in the tribunals through attending
trials, public meetings, and other means. We also urge the RGC and UN to
support the work of local and international NGOs in educating and involving the
Cambodian people about the tribunal. Without the involvement of the Cambodian
people, the trials will lose value and meaning.
Second, given the
importance of informing and educating the average Cambodian citizen about the
workings of the tribunal, it is extremely important that all of the tribunal’s
Public Affairs Office staff be fluent in Khmer, who are intimately familiar with
Cambodia and its culture, and who ideally are also Cambodian or of Cambodian
heritage.
Third, it is not
possible to emphasize how important it is that all aspects of the trial
proceedings are transparent. Transparency should begin with the selection of
judges and those who will head various offices and departments for the tribunal.
If the Cambodian judicial system is to advance and public confidence in it is to
grow, the UN and Royal Government must demonstrate that these personnel are
selected in a fair and open way, and one that is free from political influence.
Youk Chhang, Director
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