UN envoy cites shortcomings of Cambodian judiciary

via Khmer NZ News Media

Associated Press

2010-06-17

A United Nations envoy investigating Cambodia's judicial system said Thursday that there are too many detainees and miscarriages of justice.

U.N. special rapporteur Surya Subedi called on the government to "introduce appropriate measures to enhance the independence and capacity of the judiciary ... to (provide) justice to all in Cambodia."

Subedi statement came at the end of a 10-day fact-finding mission. He is expected to submit a report with recommendations for judicial reform to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva in September.

"The judiciary in Cambodia is facing tremendous challenges in delivering justice for the people of the country, especially the poor and marginalized," he said. "There are an alarmingly high number of people in detention ... and the instances of miscarriage of justice are far too numerous."

Cambodia's judicial system is widely regarded as corrupt and susceptible to political manipulation.

Subedi's predecessor, Yash Ghai, repeatedly clashed with Prime Minister Hun Sen's government over human rights. Ghai had reported that many Cambodians lived in constant fear of having their land stolen by real estate developers and had no recourse because of a corrupt judiciary.

Subedi said he had received several complaints from local politicians and poor Cambodians about constraints on freedom of expression and land disputes and had met with victims of "land grabbing" who said they saw no point in taking their case to the courts.

During his last visit to Cambodia in March, Subedi has said he had made progress on human rights with Hun Sen after years of animosity between the two sides over the thorny issue.

Subedi on Thursday welcomed the adoption of laws in recent years such as a new penal code, an anti-corruption law and a criminal procedure code that are designed to strengthen the judicial system. But he noted a long list of shortcomings that include "external interference" in the judiciary and a lack of awareness among judges about human rights standards.