U.N. to examine Khmer Rouge trial law

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, AUG. 11. King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia has given his assent to a law setting up a tribunal to bring to justice leaders of the Khmer Rouge responsible for the estimated deaths of 1.7 million Cambodians from 1975 to 1979.

The law, which has been hanging fire for some time in Parliament, was approved by Cambodia's Constitutional Council on Tuesday and has now been ratified by the King.

As per the law, the tribunal will comprise Cambodian and foreign judges.

Now that the law has been enacted, it will be ``examined'' by the United Nations, an issue that has led to outbursts from the Cambodian Government. A U.N. spokesman, reacting to the ratification, said they will study the legislation and looked forward to receiving the law from the Cambodian Government.

The legislation, he said, would be reviewed to see whether it conformed to the draft memorandum of understanding reached by the U.N. and the Cambodian Government last year.

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Section  : International
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