Japanese appointed as spokeswoman for Khmer Rouge tribunal

Japan Today
Japan News and Discussion
http://www.japantoday.com/

Wednesday 22nd July

TOKYO — A Japanese national who once served with the U.N. Mission in Liberia has been appointed as spokeswoman for the U.N.-assisted tribunal in Cambodia set up to try former Khmer Rouge leaders for crimes against humanity, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. Yuko Maeda, 45, has been appointed by the United Nations as public affairs officer for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, the ministry said, adding that Tokyo “heartily welcomes” the appointment that will take effect Friday.

Maeda, a former Kobe Shimbun reporter who served as spokeswoman for the world body’s Liberia mission between 2005 and 2006, is expected to provide information about court proceedings to media. She lived in Cambodia between 1998 and 2001, during which time she worked with the Cambodia Daily newspaper and represented ‘‘Women Against Silence,’’ a nongovernmental organization set up to help rape victims.