Cambodian Senate Adopts Draft Law On Khmer Rouge TrialCambodia's Senate on Monday unanimously adopted a draft law on Khmer Rouge Trial to set up a special court to try former Khmer Rouge leaders.All the 51 senators, who were present at a session of the 61-seat chamber, voted for the bill. The Senate will soon hand over the draft bill to Constitutional Council for review before handing over for signing by King Norodom Sihanouk, according to Ouk Bun Chhoeun, chairman of the Senate's legislation committee. The National Assembly on January 2 unanimously approved the draft law. The Senate did not change or amend any words or phrases of the draft law, which was already approved by the National Assembly. The draft law is titled "Law on the Establishment of Extra- Ordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for the Prosecution of Crimes Committed During the Period of Democratic Kampuchea." When the bill is signed into law, the legislation allows the establishment of three special tribunals. The United Nations and Cambodia agreed to set up a special court for former Khmer Rouge leaders in July last year, and also decided to have co-prosecutors and co-investigating judges. According to the bill, the special court will be located in Phnom Penh and the proceedings will use Cambodia's official language Khmer, with English, French and Russian translations. Sok An, cabinet minister and chief of Cambodian negotiating team, told reporters that he would sign a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations on the issue after King Sihanouk signs it into law. |
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