Global Policy Forum

A United Nations team has arrived in Cambodia to help with practical arrangements for launching the special court that will try former leaders of the Khmer Rouge. The technical mission will try to finalize a choice of premises for the Court; discuss arrangements on services, equipment and facilities provided by Cambodia; and review budget estimates for the Court's work. The two-member team is expected to be in the country until 18 March. Last May, the General Assembly authorized the UN to help Cambodia set up and run two Extraordinary Chambers within the existing Cambodian justice system - one will be a trial court and the other will be a Supreme Court - to "prosecute those most responsible for crimes and serious violations of Cambodian and international law between 17 April 1975 and 6 January 1979." On the courts will be a mix of international and Cambodian judges. According to the agreement - which stresses the impartiality and independence of the prospective jurists - decisions in the two chambers would be taken by a majority of four judges in the trial court and five judges in the Supreme Court.