Lawyer to Assess Whether Government Crimes Worthy of ICC

8 January 2014
The Cambodia Daily
Crime and law enforcement / Garments and textiles / Government / Industries / International laws and treaties / International relations / Labor / Labor arbitration / Labor policy and administration / Law and judiciary / Ministries and other national bodies / Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training
Brigadier General Kheng Tito / Cambodia National Rescue Party / Cambodian People's Party / CNRP / CPP / ICC / International Criminal Court / Kem Sokha / Ministry of Interior / National Military Police / Sar Kheng

The opposition CNRP announced Tuesday that it had engaged lawyer Richard Rogers, former head of the Khmer Rouge tribunal’s Defense Support Section, to analyze evidence of alleged crimes committed by the CPP government and decide whether they justify filing a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC). The move follows a week in which CPP security forces shot dead at least five civilians, injured dozens more, and imprisoned 23 protesters. “If the Cambodian security forces commit illegal violent acts as part of a widespread or systematic attack against the civilian population, this would amount to a crime against humanity,” a statement by the CNRP reads. “Any person who commits, orders, solicits, induces, or otherwise aids or abets a crime against humanity, would be liable to prosecution before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands,” the CNRP’s statement continues. Mr. Rogers, who said he and a team of international lawyers have already begun their analysis of alleged crimes committed by the CPP government, said Tuesday that the investigation would include, but not be limited to, the killing of seven civilians by state security forces in the months following July’s disputed national election. … Brigadier General Kheng Tito, spokesman for the military police, whose forces shot dead at least five demonstrating garment factory workers on Friday, said he was not concerned by the prospect of an ICC investigation. “Let them do what they want and do an investigation,” Brig. Gen. Tito said. “We don’t need to be concerned about this because the authorities just implemented the law and fulfilled their duty to protect the interest of the general public,” he added. Khieu Sopheak, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, declined to comment on Mr. Rogers’ analysis, but said the government has launched its own investigation into what happened during clashes between police and protesters on Friday. …

 Colin Meyn and Mech Dara
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/lawyer-to-assess-whether-government-crimes-worthy-of-icc-50303/