Its all good

Some optimistic news from a visiting US university professor. Its good to hear some positive news about the trial, but his assumptions seem a tad too optimistic. The quote from Eng Chhay Eang seems more realistic when he warns that "the trial could be subjected to political influences'. That could certainly be source of the conflict reportedly taking place at the judicial meetings this week.

Illinois Professor Claims Khmer Rouge Trial is Incorruptible

Chun Sakada
VOA Khmer
Washington
21/11/2006

A U.S. university professor expresses confidence in Cambodia's judges, and believed that they will not be swayed by political influence and corruption in the trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders

Speaking to reporters at the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh, Dr. Steven D. Roper, associate professor at the Department of Political Science of Eastern Illinois University, says that "no one is going to be able to bribe the Cambodian judges".

Cambodian judges and prosecutors in the Extraordinary Chambers of Cambodia have been criticized for being incompetent and bias towards the ruling party.

Opposition party legislator Eng Chhay Eang agrees that this trial will not become corrupted, but admitted that the trial could be subjected to political influences. "The judges and the prosecutors were [only] selected to be within a political framework", said Eng Chhay.

Cambodia Center for Human Rights' (CCHR) director Kem Sokha says that the trial might be more politically inclined than be unfair, due to corruption.

The Khmer Rouge regime was blamed for the death of an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians between 1975-1979.

The U.S. says that it will not contribute to funding the Khmer Rouge Trial, unless the tribunal meets international standards.

The trial is expected to last 3 years and will likely cost more than $56 millions. The Khmer Rouge tribunal is expected to start in 2007.