Global Policy Forum

Ex-Pol Pot Leader Acknowledges Mass Murders (December 30, 2003)
Khieu Samphan, former Khmer Rouge President, recognizes the crimes against humanity committed under the Khmer Rouge's 1975 -79 administration. Samphan, who will almost certainly face the genocide trial, says he recently became aware of the killings after seeing a film about the S- 21 torture centre in the capital Phnom Penh. (Reuters)

UN Team in Cambodia to Prepare Genocide Trial (December 7, 2003)
A team of UN experts lay the groundwork for an international criminal tribunal to try former Khmer Rouge leaders. Karsten Herrel, head of the UN team, assumes that the tribunal's chambers will open in 2004. (Reuters)

People Don't Expect Khmer Rouge Tribunal (November 16 – 22, 2003)
The UN and the Royal Cambodian Government revive negotiations for an independent tribunal to try former Khmer Rouge leaders. However, many Cambodians doubt their governments' willingness to bring the accused to justice. (Sereipheap/Mirror)

Avoiding Arusha-Lessons for Cambodia's Genocide Tribunal (October 24 – November 6, 2003)
One of the biggest challenges to the Cambodia Genocide Tribunal is the government's ability to influence the Tribunal. This Phnom Penh Post article asks, can Cambodia learn from the mistakes of the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia?

Pol Pot's Soldiers Escape Justice for Genocide (August 5, 2003)
A hybrid international-Cambodian court will try only the top Khmer Rouge officials responsible for the genocide of 1.7 million individuals, allowing lower level perpetrators to go free. (Guardian)

UN, Cambodia Sign Deal on Khmer Rouge Trial (June 6, 2003)
After years of negotiations, the UN and Cambodia have finally signed an agreement to try Khmer Rouge war criminals. Human rights groups, however, have criticized the deal for allowing too much discretion on the part of Cambodian judges with links to the Khmer Rouge regime. (Reuters)

UN Panel Approves Long-Delayed Khmer Rouge Trials (May 1, 2003)
The General Assembly's 191 member states approved the draft plan for a special tribunal to try leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime at a meeting of the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee. The tribunal will be funded by voluntary contributions rather than receiving a budgetary allocation, raising fears that low funding may derail the process. (Reuters)

UN Khmer Rouge Tribunal Flawed (April 30, 2003)
A Human Rights Watch paper describes the problems facing the development of an international military tribunal for the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. The Cambodian judiciary's documented corruption and bias will greatly undermine the credibility of the proposed court.

A Court for Cambodia? (April 1, 2003)
This article provides a summary of UN negotiations with the Cambodian government to establish a war crimes tribunal to try former Khmer Rouge leaders. A draft agreement for the tribunal was finally agreed upon on March 17, 2003, twenty-four years after the Khmer Rouge were driven from power. (Lawyers Committee for Human Rights)

Comments on the Draft Agreement between the UN and Cambodian Government (March 17, 2003)
Critics hope major imperfections in the compromise agreement to try Khmer Rouge leaders will not hinder justice from being served. The core problem remains the government's ability to impose its will on the Cambodian judges who make up the majority of the panel. (Documentation Centre of Cambodia)

Cambodian Cabinet Approves Khmer Rouge Trial Draft (March 28, 2003)
The Cambodian cabinet endorsed the blueprint for a Khmer Rouge tribunal proposed by the UN and Cambodian government. The EU praised the draft proposal while Amnesty International criticized the agreement for falling short of basic international justice standards. (Associated Press)

Cambodia, UN Hammer Out Tribunal Plan (March 17, 2003)
The Cambodian Government and the UN agreed on a tribunal to try former Khmer Rouge leaders for crimes against humanity. The two parties finally reached a consensus on a fair, transparent tribunal after six years of debating the issue. (Associated Press)

Last Chance for UN -Cambodia Genocide Trial? (March 12, 2003)
UN and Cambodian government officials will again try to agree on the structure of an International Criminal Tribunal capable of bringing Khmer Rouge leaders to justice. The two parties are still at an impasse after 5 years of negotiations, causing increasing impatience among the relatives of Khmer Rouge victims. (Alertnet)

UN General Assembly Resolution 57/228 (February 27, 2003)
The UN General Assembly adopted this resolution, paving the way for a final agreement with the Cambodian government on a Tribunal to try leaders of the Khmer Rouge. (UN Press)

For Torture Camp Survivor, Time is Scarce (February 18, 2003)
The United Nations and the Cambodian government have so far failed to agree on a criminal tribunal to try Khmer Rouge leaders for crimes against humanity. This article recounts the amazing story of a torture victim's survival. He hopes there will soon be a forum that can hear his testimony and deliver justice to the Cambodian people. (Washington Post)

UN, Cambodia Fail to Resolve Strife (January 14, 2003)
The UN and Cambodia failed to reach an agreement over the creation of special courts to try former Khmer Rouge leaders. Human rights activists accuse the current government of Cambodia, many of whom are former Khmer Rouge personnel, of stalling the process. (Times of India)

UN Resumes Talks on Cambodian Tribunal (January 7, 2003)
The UN and the Cambodian government have recommenced talks on creating a tribunal for former Khmer Rouge leaders accused of genocide and crimes against humanity. The UN suspended the five-year-old tribunal talks with Cambodia nearly a year ago. (Associated Press)

Rights Groups urge UN to hold firm on Cambodia Trial (January 6, 2003)
International Human Rights groups express concern about attempts by the Cambodian government to influence the makeup of the tribunal for former Khmer Rouge leaders. They urge the UN to insist on the Rome Statute's stricter guidelines for the composition of the international tribunal when negotiating with the Cambodian government this week. (OneWorld)

After 9-Month Break, UN Revives Plan for Khmer Rouge Trial (November 21, 2002)
The UN Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Secretary General to resume talks with Cambodia on a war crimes court to prosecute alleged Khmer Rouge war criminals. However, many diplomats criticized the text, watered down to ensure Cambodia's support, "for failing to ensure that the trial would meet adequate international standards for fairness." (New York Times)

No Justice for Victims of the Khmer Rouge (June 19, 2002)
The UN Undersecretary-General for Legal Affairs justifies the logic behind the UN's withdrawal from the negotiations with Cambodia for the set up of a tribunal for the Khmer Rouge. (International Herald Tribune)

UN Abets Khmer Rouge Impunity (June 12, 2002)
The UN claims that poorly trained and corrupt Cambodian judges would manipulate a tribunal designed to try former Khmer Rouge leaders. However, "the underlying reasons for the impasse go far deeper than legal differences and international standards, and boil down to a bitter mutual distrust". (Asia Times Online)

A Blind Eye to Justice in Cambodia (March 27, 2002)
The United Nations has abandoned negotiations with the Cambodian government over establishing a tribunal to prosecute leaders of the Khmer Rouge. The UN said that "it would be too difficult to guarantee observance of international standards of justice". This adds another chapter of shame to UN dealings with Cambodian injustices. (Washington Post)

Still Smiling After All Those Deaths (March 18, 2002)
Despite increasing support for an international criminal justice system, the decision of the UN to withdraw from the establishment of a war-crimes tribunal for Cambodia leaves the family of the victims with a bitter taste. (New Statesman)

Washington's Stake in Cambodia's Khmer Rouge Trials (February 12, 2002)
The fact the US urges the UN not to end talks with Cambodia on the setting up of a special court, seems surprising for a State that does not usually take part in the international justice system. Stratfor gives insights into this logic.

Door Open for UN at Khmer Rouge Trial (February 11, 2002)
The UN decided to withdraw from its involvement in establishing an international court to try members of the Khmer Rouges, however it is the duty of the International Community to give justice to the millions of people who died under the Khmer Rouge's reign of terror.(Reuters)

Seven Candidates for Prosecution: Accountability for the Crimes of the Khmer Rouge (June, 2001)
This report provides an in-depth legal analysis of the evidence against seven senior officials of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) for designing and implementing the murderous policies of the Khmer Rouge, categorized as crimes against humanity. (War Crimes Research Office)

Cambodia Wants to Keep Khmer Rouge (December 10, 2001)
The Cambodian government wants to keep in custody former Khmer Rouges until a genocide tribunal is set up. The authorities fear that detainees will go free after their detention order expires. (Assocciated Press)

Cambodia: Bringing the Khmer Rouge to Justice (October 5, 2001)
Cambodia refuses the creation of an international ad hoc tribunal, leaving only an advisory role for the UN in the trial of the Khmer Rouge (Foreign Wire)

Cambodia Set for Khmer Rouge Trials (August 7, 2001)
The Cambodian Constitutional Council approved legislation to establish with the UN a tribunal to try leaders of the Khmer Rouge. The UN promises to back out of the process if key figures, many who have been granted amnesty by the current government, are not prosecuted. (BBC)

Wrangling Bound to Slow Khmer Rouge Tribunal (August 3, 2001)
Before a tribunal is established the UN and Cambodian government still need to negotiate the selection and quota of international judges, guarantees for the carrying out of possible sentences handed out by the tribunal, and the applicability of amnesty given to some key Khmer Rouge leaders accused of crimes against humanity. (IPS)

Cambodian Senate OKs Tribunal Law (July 23, 2001)
The Cambodian Senate unanimously approved a law which, upon approval by King Norodom Sihanouk, will pave the way for talks with the UN to hammer out the final details of the establishment of a tribunal to try Khmer Rouge leaders blamed for the deaths of 1.7 million Cambodians. (Associated Press)

New Links in Khmer Rouge Chain of Death (July 16, 2001)
New evidence has been uncovered that directly links senior Khmer Rouge leaders to the arrest and execution of thousands of Cambodians who resisted their brutal revolution. (New York Times)

Cambodia Khmer Rouge Trial Law Delayed Further (June 5, 2001)
The Cambodian official responsible for setting up a tribunal to judge the Khmer Rouge leadership has announced, once again, that "the government is too busy" to address the issue of justice for the crimes of the Pol Pot regime. (Reuters)

UN Warns Cambodia on War Crimes Tribunal (February 3, 2001)
The UN accuses the Cambodian National Assembly of modifying the initial agreement creating an independent war crimes tribunal, by removing the provision ensuring that "an amnesty granted to any person falling within the jurisdiction of the [court] shall not be a bar to prosecution." (Washington Post)

Senate Passes Khmer Rouge Tribunal Law (January 15, 2001)
Cambodia's Senate approved the UN-sponsored draft law creating the tribunal that will bring the leaders of the Khmer Rouge to justice. Since some of these leaders are still in power, the effectiveness of the tribunal will depend on the commitment of the government. (Associated Press)

Cambodia Assembly Closer to Approving War Crimes Court (December 29, 2000)
After months of deliberations, Cambodia's National Assembly has passed part of a bill that would establish a war crimes tribunal for Khmer Rouge leaders. Even so, it may be years before the court begins its work. (Japan Economic Newswire)

Khmer Rouge Trials 'On Back Burner' (August 10, 2000)
Discussing technical details has led to a delay of debate on the trials in the Cambodian Assembly. The UN has threatened to pull out of the deal if Cambodia delays too long. There are doubts if Prime Minister Sen wants UN involvement, as top leaders of the Khmer Rouge have defected to the Government in recent years.(South China Morning Post)

Cambodian Ruling Party's Squabbles Said to Delay Genocide Tribunal (April 25, 2000)
Disagreements within the Cambodian People's Party over a US-sponsored proposal to resolve the conflict about how indictments would be issued may delay the UN-backed trials of former Khmer Rouge leaders. (Associated Press)

Cambodia Will Set Up Court to Try Khmer Rouge Leaders (April 18, 2000)
An agreement may be close at hand in establishing a tribunal to prosecute former Khmer Rouge leaders. The US-suggested compromise seems to address the difficult issue of whether the UN or Cambodia would control the proceedings. (Associated Press)

Shadow-Play Justice : UN Eyes Human Rights Probes in Cambodia (February 15, 2000)
An editorial from the Christian Science Monitor discusses the significance of Kofi Annan's visit to Cambodia where the UN is demanding a deciding role for foreigners on a tribunal set to judge the leading remnants of the Khmer Rouge.

UN Rejects Latest Tribunal Proposal (February 8, 2000)
Selected paragraphs on how the United Nations has dismissed a Cambodian proposed genocide tribunal because of the powers it would have assigned to domestic judiciaries, Hun Sen's appeal to look at other matters too, and the launch of an independent magazine. (UN Wire)