Row didn't spark resignation

Asked whether his departure had anything to do with the disagreement with Chea Leang, Mr Petit (left) said he was resigning due to private personal family matters 'totally unrelated' to his work at the court. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

The Straits Times
http://www.straitstimes.com

June 24, 2009

PHNOM PENH - THE international prosecutor at Cambodia's Khmer Rouge war crimes court denied on Wednesday that his sudden resignation from the tribunal was due to a dispute with his local counterpart.

Canadian prosecutor Robert Petit insisted he was quitting for family reasons and hit out at 'conspiracies' suggesting the real cause was a row with Cambodian co-prosecutor Chea Leang over whether to pursue more suspects.

The UN-backed court's long-awaited first trial has seen Kaing Guek Eav, better known by the alias Duch, accept responsibility for overseeing the execution of more than 15,000 people at the 1970s regime's main prison.

Asked whether his departure had anything to do with the disagreement with Chea Leang, Mr Petit said he was resigning due to private personal family matters 'totally unrelated' to his work at the court.

'Those conspiracies might indeed seem like an attractive angle for a story, but they wouldn't be the truth,' mr Petit, who initially announced his resignation on Tuesday, told a press briefing at the court.

Four other Khmer Rouge leaders are also in detention awaiting trial by the court, but while Mr Petit has sought to bring more cadres to justice Chea Leang has disagreed.

Lawyers for detained former Khmer Rouge ideologue Nuon Chea have alleged Mr Petit has knowledge that his co-prosecutor was ordered by the Cambodian government not to pursue more former regime members.

Petit said his departure was an 'inconsequential topic' for the court since the prosecution was always a 'team effort'.

Cambodian civil society groups said however in a statement on Wednesday that they were 'disturbed' by his departure at a time when his office needs to 'establish its leadership role in the trial and the court.'

The court has faced controversy over a series of government interference allegations and claims that Cambodian staff were forced to pay kickbacks for their jobs.