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Trial on Khmer Rouge Leaders May Lead to Split of Cambodia: Sihanouk
King Norodom Sihanouk on Thursday sent a letter to a Cambodian attorney-at law, saying he could not involve himself in the planned trial on former Khmer Rouge leaders since it should be the responsibility of the Royal government, the National Assembly and Senate.
"I would like to express my thanks, but I'd like to ask you to understand that the issue might lead to a split of our nation. I can not involve myself in the affairs of the Royal government and the two legislative branches, which will be responsible for the nation and international community," the king said in the letter.
The letter was referring to a letter sent to the king by the attorney, Thach Reng, on Tuesday, appealing for the king's intervention on a new draft bill.
Thach Reng explained that new draft law, which was worked out by Cambodia and the United Nations and allows foreign judges to deal with the trial, is contradictory to the Constitution's Article 129, which stipulates that only Cambodian judges are obliged to handle all judicial cases in Cambodia.
The National Assembly unanimously approved the draft law on January 2, while the Senate did so on January 15. It was also approved by the country's Constitutional Council on February 12 and will be signed into law by the king.
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