ECCC Plenary Session Unanimously Adopts Internal Rules

JOINT STATEMENT BY JUDICIAL OFFICERS 13 June 2007 ECCC Plenary Session Unanimously Adopts Internal Rules
On 12 June 2007 the Plenary Session of national and international judicial officers unanimously adopted the Internal Rules for the ECCC, concluding a two-week session in Phnom Penh. These Rules enable us to hold fair, transparent trials before an independent and impartial court. The process of drafting the Internal Rules has been a complex one. The ECCC is a unique exercise in international justice. For the first time a hybrid court, taking as its foundation the national law of the country in which it is operating, has incorporated the work of Co-Investigating Judges into its process. We have had no precedents as we worked to integrate Cambodian law and procedure and the particular characteristics and structure of this court, while ensuring that international standards are upheld.
\u003c/font\>\u003cfont color\u003d\"#333333\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Arial;color:#333333\"\>\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" color\u003d\"#333333\" face\u003d\"Garamond\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Garamond;color:#333333\"\>Over the past\neleven months of discussions, judges from different countries with differing\nlegal systems, including from common law systems, have found mutually\nacceptable solutions whilst ensuring fair trial. \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003cfont color\u003d\"#333333\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Arial;color:#333333\"\>\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" color\u003d\"#333333\" face\u003d\"Garamond\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Garamond;color:#333333\"\>We have resolved\nall of the matters that we indicated needed further discussion last November.\nOne such complex issue has been how to ensure the rights and involvement of\nvictims. While a familiar element of Cambodian law, this was not spelled out in\ndetail in the ECCC Law and Agreement. We interpreted this to mean that victims have\nthe right to join as civil parties. However, due to the specific character of\nthe ECCC, we have decided that only collective, non-financial reparation is\npossible.\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003cfont color\u003d\"#333333\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Arial;color:#333333\"\> \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" color\u003d\"#333333\" face\u003d\"Garamond\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Garamond;color:#333333\"\>Given all these\ncomplexities, and after intensive work and consultation we are pleased to have\nfinalised the Rules\u003cb\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-weight:bold\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/b\>in a\nreasonable time. It has been a worthwhile process, and it has been essential to\ntake time to prepare this draft. In less than a year the ECCC has not only\nadopted its Internal Rules but also has begun the preparations necessary for\nthe court to become fully operational. \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003cfont color\u003d\"#333333\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Arial;color:#333333\"\>\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" color\u003d\"#333333\" face\u003d\"Garamond\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Garamond;color:#333333\"\>",1]
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Over the past eleven months of discussions, judges from different countries with differing legal systems, including from common law systems, have found mutually acceptable solutions whilst ensuring fair trial. We have resolved all of the matters that we indicated needed further discussion last November. One such complex issue has been how to ensure the rights and involvement of victims. While a familiar element of Cambodian law, this was not spelled out in detail in the ECCC Law and Agreement. We interpreted this to mean that victims have the right to join as civil parties. However, due to the specific character of the ECCC, we have decided that only collective, non-financial reparation is possible. Given all these complexities, and after intensive work and consultation we are pleased to have finalised the Rules in a reasonable time. It has been a worthwhile process, and it has been essential to take time to prepare this draft. In less than a year the ECCC has not only adopted its Internal Rules but also has begun the preparations necessary for the court to become fully operational.
\u003c/font\>\u003cfont color\u003d\"#333333\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Arial;color:#333333\"\> \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" color\u003d\"#333333\" face\u003d\"Garamond\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Garamond;color:#333333\"\>The ECCC judges are\nacutely aware that the Cambodian people have waited a long time for this\nprocess to get under way. We are all committed to completing these trials in a\ntimely manner while ensuring the highest standards of justice are upheld. \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003cfont color\u003d\"#333333\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Arial;color:#333333\"\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp align\u003d\"center\" style\u003d\"text-align:center;line-height:14.4pt\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" color\u003d\"#333333\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333\"\>\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" color\u003d\"#333333\" face\u003d\"Garamond\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Garamond;color:#333333\"\>______________________________\u003cWBR\>__________\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003cfont color\u003d\"#333333\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Arial;color:#333333\"\> \u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n\u003cbr\>\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003cb\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" color\u003d\"#333333\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt;color:#333333;font-weight:bold\"\>COMMUNIQUE COMMUN DES MAGISTRATS \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/b\>\u003cfont color\u003d\"#333333\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Arial;color:#333333\"\>\u003cbr\>\n\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003cb\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"3\" color\u003d\"#333333\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:12.0pt;color:#333333;font-weight:bold\"\>13 juin 2007\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/b\>\u003cfont color\u003d\"#333333\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Arial;color:#333333\"\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp style\u003d\"line-height:14.4pt\"\>\u003cfont size\u003d\"2\" color\u003d\"#333333\" face\u003d\"Arial\"\>\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:#333333\"\> \u003c/span\>\u003c/font\>\u003c/p\>\n\n\u003cp align\u003d\"center\" style\u003d\"text-align:center;line-height:14.4pt\"\>",1]
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Now that the Rules have been adopted we can move forward. We understand that the Co-Prosecutors will shortly file their first Introductory Submission. The Co-Investigating Judges can then begin the judicial process. Later today the ECCC will hold its first session when the Pre-Trial Chamber meets to swear in the court’s investigators. The ECCC judges are acutely aware that the Cambodian people have waited a long time for this process to get under way. We are all committed to completing these trials in a timely manner while ensuring the highest standards of justice are upheld