21 February 2007
Over Corruption Allegations
By The Associated Press
genocide tribunal were divided Wednesday over recent corruption allegations
against the organization.
The Open Society Justice Initiative, a New York-based law group, alleged in
a statement last week that Cambodian judges and other court personnel had
kicked back some of their wages to Cambodian government officials in
exchange for their positions on the court.
The OSJI has helped organize legal training for the tribunal's Cambodian
staff in the past, according to the tribunal's Cambodian spokesman, Reach
Sambath. The tribunal is being jointly run by Cambodian and U.N.-appointed
staff.
Cambodian officials at the tribunal's administration office have strongly
denied the OSJI's accusations.
Reach Sambath said Wednesday that Sean Visoth, the administration's
Cambodian director, has decided to sever all dealings with the OSJI.
The spokesman said Sean Visoth has also sent a letter to OSJI Executive
Director James A. Goldston accusing the group of being irresponsible in
making the allegations.
"They released the statement without responsibility. Cooperation with an
organization that shows such bad faith and bias is impossible," Reach
Sambath said.
The tribunal was created by a 2003 agreement between
after years of difficult negotiations to bring those behind the genocidal
Khmer Rouge regime to justice.
The radical policies of the now-defunct communist group, which held power in
1975-79, led to the deaths of about 1.7 million people from execution,
overwork, disease and malnutrition.
Peter Foster, a U.N.-appointed tribunal spokesman, said Sean Visoth's
decision was unilateral and does not keep the OSJI from having full access
to the tribunal's premises and to other officials involved in the tribunal.
Foster said Michelle Lee, the U.N.-appointed deputy director of
administration, has not issued any ban on OSJI.
"We still consider them a valuable partner in the process," he said.
If the OSJI's allegations turn out to have merit, "we believe they should
be
fully investigated," Foster said.
The corruption accusations could deal another blow to the already troubled
tribunal, which is set to convene later this year after long delays.
However, there are concerns that further postponements could result from
continuing disagreements between Cambodian and foreign judges on draft rules
for the proceedings.
The tribunal has been set up to operate under
which is widely regarded as corrupt and susceptible to political influence.
Copyright 2007
The International Herald Tribune