Phnom Penh - Cambodia must prosecute former Khmer Rouge
leaders quickly, or risk losing the 'logical reason' as defendants
and witnesses grow older and frailer, German Ambassador to Cambodia
Pius Fischer said Tuesday.
Fischer, who is the acting European Union (EU) president, said the
EU was anxious that proceedings begin soon and warned that the eyes
of the world were on Cambodia's handling of the trials.
He said the EU, which directly donated approximately 1.2 million
dollars to the 56-million dollar joint UN-Cambodian trial budget in
2005, had a 'serious interest in this process living up to our
expectations.
'A lot of time has been lost in delays and some potential
witnesses ... are now elderly,' he said during a seminar in Phnom
Penh on EU-Cambodian relations. 'Very soon maybe the logical reason
will not be around any more. It is very important that this trial
starts as soon as possible.'
Fischer also said that allegations of political interference are
being closely monitored and delays are being carefully noted.
The Cambodian government denied it was interfering in the process,
calling the allegations by rights' groups including New York-based
Human Rights Watch politically motivated.
'It is very important this tribunal will actually satisfy all
international standards and will be able to take off and grow as soon
as possible. We should have a trial as soon as possible,' Fischer
said.
Up to 2 million Cambodians died during the genocidal 1975-1979
Khmer Rouge regime, but most of the aging former leaders still live
freely in their communities. Former leader Pol Pot died at his home
in 1998.
The press officer for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of
Cambodia, Reach Sambath, said Tuesday that an update on the progress
of the debate over procedural rules was expected Friday.
'We can't make any promises or predictions at this stage but we
are optimistic,' Sambath said.
Advocates of a trial have long urged haste, saying a successful
prosecution of former leaders would be a key step in helping victims
of the
regime come to terms with the past and move forward.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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