Ministries Discuss New Appeal Courts, Judicial Reform
The Ministry of Justice is moving ahead with plans to expand the Appeal Court system around the country as part of inter-ministerial talks that began on Monday on the subject of judicial reform.
The talks, which are expected to wrap up today, focus on a long-awaited and constitutionally required draft law on the organization of the judiciary, and also included the possibility of setting up separate commercial and labor-specific courts.
Sam Pracheameanith, the ministry’s Cabinet chief, declined to provide a copy of the law, but said the draft contains nine chapters and 94 articles, the purpose of which is to “guarantee the independence of the court, impartiality rights…ensuring good court procedures and prosecutions, and to promote it as an effective public service.” …
In December 2011, during his sixth mission to Cambodia, U.N. human rights envoy Surya Subedi described the pace with which judicial reforms moved as “frustratingly slow.”
Last week, during his 10th mission, he welcomed assurances that the three draft laws—which also include one on the selection of judges and another on reform of the Supreme Council of Magistracy—would finally come to fruition this year. …
Khuon Narim and Lauren Crothers
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ministries-discuss-new-appeal-courts-judicial-reform-50940/
