Cambodian Khmer Rouge tribunal to convene in 2007

By JPOST.COM STAFF
A group of 24 Cambodian human rights organizations urged the government and UN-appointed judicial officials on Monday to speed up the adoption of rules governing a genocide tribunal for former Khmer Rouge leaders so the trials can begin quickly. "The credibility of both the Cambodian authorities and the United Nations is at stake: an acceptable agreement on the internal rules must be reached as soon as possible," the 24-member Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee said. The Cambodian-based human rights groups said the tribunal's independence and impartiality should not compromised. Many observers fear a failure to agree on the rules will delay the tribunal's first session, expected to convene in June 2007.