The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 495, Saturday, 17.2.2007
“A New York based organization reported on Thursday [15.2.2007] that there have been allegations of corruption about kickbacks paid to the government at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia [ECCC], and called for them to be investigated thoroughly and quickly.
“This serious allegations by international lawyers stated that Cambodian court personnel, including judges, must pay a significant percentage of their wages to Cambodian government officials in exchange for their positions on the court. But an ECCC official dismissed the charges, adding that there is no evidence for the allegation, and it is groundless.
“The spokesperson of the ECCC continued to say that ‘the office of administration of the ECCC has always been transparent from the beginning, as we have foreign auditors through the UN Development Program [UNDP] from Malaysia who came to check two or three times already. All findings were good. Therefore, we don’t understand why those lawyers make such charges. We can’t accept it.’
“This process of having both Cambodian and foreign judges requires $56 million. But so far, the hearings of the ECCC have been repeatedly postponed with this and that pretext. Now, it has been said that full hearings will start in this year of 2007.
“Even though the claim has been made that the trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders will be transparent, the Open Society Justice Initiative released a statement expressing its concerns on Thursday that court officials ‘must pay a significant percentage of their wages as a kickback to Cambodian government officials in exchange for their positions on the court.’
“The statement emphasizes that ‘such activities are undermining the creditability of the ECCC which require a thorough and quick investigation.’
“One senior foreign diplomat said on condition of anonymity that if the allegations were true, it would be of very grave concern, and there should be quick actions taken to solve any problems.
“But officials working at the ECCC as well as the judges dismissed the charges, adding that they were not aware of any percentage of the salary deducted as kickbacks to any government officials.
ECCC public affairs officer Peter Foster suggested that if there are serious charges of corruption, they should be investigated by both the Cambodian and the international judges.
“Sources close to the Open Society Justice Initiative, which has its base in New York, stated that the ECCC has at least 182 staff members, nationals and expatriates together, whose salaries rank from $300 to $5,000. They are cleaners, assistants, judges, prosecutors. and other tribunal officials; a part of their salaries need to be deducted and paid to a group of government officials.
“The same source said in detail, ‘At least 20% of the salary needs to be deducted on a monthly basis. But on paper, the correct information is shown, as it contains the signatures confirming the receipt of the monies in full.’
“Officials of the ECCC claimed that the UNDP, which oversees more than $6 million in funds donated to the court, has commissioned an external audit of the resources handling on the Cambodian side of the ECCC.
“The ECCC spokesperson said that this is the first such review since the court began its work, and the results are expected to come soon.
“The spokesperson continued that the Cambodian side of the court has already undergone two financial spot checks – one conducted in November 2006 and the other in January 2007 – neither of which found serious irregularities.
“This is most surprising information for Cambodian people’s minds, as the tribunal so far has only adorned itself with luxury [buildings and office equipment], but it has not done anything to bring justice to nearly two million victims – due to the [not yet solved] procedural internal problems of the ECCC.
“Therefore, it is not certain whether or not this mixed court could bring justice to the victims, or whether it is just a game as alleged by the New York based Open Society Justice Initiative.”
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Saturday, 17 February 2007
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1272, 17.2.2007
- Bayern M., Hertha, Bremen, and Schalke Hope to Win Tonight [newspaper has big headline, disscussing the chances of the different German and other soccer clubs, and has a full page listing up of differnent clubs, their players, and team matches with past results – it has to be assumed that these data are mainly used for betting on the next results]
- Violence: Husband Violently Pulled out Six Teeth from His Wife’s Mouth and Sewed Her Vagina up [he had tortured her since a month, also hitting her with a cleaver wounding her repeatedly, cutting her finger tips – claiming he was jealous. Finally neighbors called the police, and shared money to send her to a hospital. She had once complained to the police, but the torturer escaped. Later, he returned and continued to torture until his arrest]
- Violence Burst Out as Parents Arrange Marriage for Younger Son First. [parents normally arrange the marriage for their children by seniority]
- Some Environmental Officials and Military Police Are Behind Deforestation in Ream National Park, Sihanoukville
- Fake 10,000 Riel Notes Are Hitting Phnom Penh and Some Rural Areas
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, # 3091, 17.2.2007
- International Lawyers Allege Corruption at Khmer Rouge Tribunal by Salary Deductions Going to the Government
- International Monetary Fund Also Wants the Government to Approve Anti-Corruption Law Soon [Jeremy Carter, visiting Special Envoy of the IMF, expressed concerns]
- Hun Sen Is Trying to Beat a Kettle [making noise, but not taking any other action] Over the Case of Cracking Down on Those Who Grab the State’s and the People’s Land, Instead of Approving Law on Land Taxation [if the government approved this law, situation would come under control]
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4214, 17.2.2007
- The Year of the Pig Brings Conflicts, Unrest, and Natural Disasters [astrologers say the Chinese New Year – starting 18 February 2007 – will brings problems for the world, and the stock market might move down at the beginning of the year]
- Chinese and Korean Beliefs: The Year of the Pig Shows Good Climate for Investment in Cambodia [Muon Vanna, a traditional healer, said this is the Year of the Golden Pig which comes only once in a 60 years cycle]
