Roundup: Cambodia, foreign judges sworn in for Extraordinary Chambers to try former DK leaders

Judges and prosecutors from Cambodia and the United Nations for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) were sworn in Monday at the Royal Palace for the trial of former Democratic Kampuchea (DK) leaders.

The United Nations and Cambodia agreed in 2003 to jointly hold trials for former DK leaders after six years of talks. The entire process will take three years and cost 56.3 U.S. million dollars, most of which come from the international community. The trials will take place in a military compound in the town of Kambol 15 km west of Phnom Penh.

The Democratic Kampuchea ruled Cambodia between 1975-1979 and was charged with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Ten of the 12 international and 17 Cambodian judges and prosecutors took their oaths in before the statue of the Late King His Majesty Preah Karuna Preahbat Samdech Preah Norodom (Preah Sovannkodh) at the Royal Palace's Silver Pagoda. Two other foreign judges will arrive Cambodia later.

The swearing-in ceremony was presided over by the Minister of the Royal Palace Kong Sam Ol and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Nicholas Michel.

"It is a historic day in the history of Cambodia," said Sean Visoth, director of the Office of Administration of the ECCC.

"Today marks the beginning of the three year judicial process," Deputy director of the ECCC Michelle Lee said.

The event will "end negative speculation that the trials will not take place," ECCC spokesman Reach Sambath said.

Cambodian judges will have a majority in two chambers, but cannot make a ruling without the consent of at least one foreign judge.

The Cambodian government and the UN decided that the court should limit prosecutions to the senior DK leaders who planned or gave orders, as well as those most responsible for committing serious crimes. It is expected that only a small number of people will fall within this limit and be tried.

At least three former DK leaders are still alive -- Noun Chea, the DK 'Number Two' leader, Ieng Sary, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, and Khieu Samphan, the head of state. They now live freely in Cambodia.

Ieng Sary defected to the government in 1996 along with thousands of troops and was subsequently granted amnesty by King Norodam Sihanouk, while Noun Chea and Khieu Samphan defected to the government on December, 1998.

DK chief Pol Pot died in 1998 and the movement collapsed the following year.

Only two former DK senior officials now are in detention. One is Ta Mok, 82, suffering various illnesses and the other is Kaing Khek Iev, also known as Duch, who headed the DK's S-21 prison in the capital Phnom Penh.

Before entering the trial process, it will have the entire investigation phase which is expected to last three to six months, with formal trials expected to begin in mid-2007.

Source: Xinhua