Thursday, 21 January 2010

Tribunal To Limit Civil Parties in Court

By Kong Sothanarith and Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
20 January 2010
via CAAI News Media

Representatives for civil parties at the Khmer Rouge tribunal are discussing how to approach an upcoming decision that could limit their role in the courtroom.

Civil parties are groups of victims, with lawyers, who are allowed to file complaints and participate in trials at the UN-backed court, as a mechanism to help provide reconciliation for the crimes of the Khmer Rouge.

The tribunal is set to amend a rule of the court that would require all civil party lawyers to themselves be represented by select lawyers in the courtroom. The tribunal will meet for a plenary session Feb. 2 through Feb. 9.

Meanwhile the tribunal has also made a staffing change.

Tan Senarong, a deputy prosecutor for the tribunal and a judge in Kandal province, has resigned, saying his work at two jobs left him with not enough time to work effectively on either.

Chan Darareaksmey, a prosecutor in the national Court of Appeals, will replace him.

The Cambodian side of the hybrid court is filled with judges from the ranks of the court, forcing many judges to wear two hats.

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