The Sihanouk Controversy, Part II

The Sihanouk Controversy, Part II

Former King Requests Meeting With UN Tribunal Officials

http://www.voanews.com/khmer/2007-08-30-voa2.cfm
Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer

Original report from Phnom Penh
30 August 2007



Former king Norodom Sihanouk has issued a request to UN members of the Khmer Rouge tribunal to meet with him, as proceedings for trials of former leaders of the regime ramps up. The monarch aligned himself with the Khmer Rouge following his ouster by a US-supported coup in 1970.

A small advocacy group last week called for his constitutional immunity to be revoked as the tribunal proceeds.

Tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath said Thursday the UN tribunal office had received the former king's request, but declined to comment further.

The request was to meet with UN spokesman Peter Foster and others.

According to his Web site, the former king requested the officials meet him at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Sept. 8. If the UN tribunal officials do not meet him on Sept. 8 between 8 am and noon, the former king wrote, he would not see, talk to or correspond with them "any more."