EU president urges Cambodia to prosecute Khmer Rouge leaders soon

Jan 23, 2007, 9:00 GMT

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.