Carol Rodley: Cambodian trials should be transparent

US Ambassador Carol Rodley (Photo: Kem Sos, RFA)

29 January 2010
By Den Ayuthyea
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy


The US ambassador to Cambodia said that all trials by the court should be conducted with transparency and fairness.

Mrs. Carol Rodley, the US ambassador to Cambodia, said that she is following closely all court hearings and trials, whether they involve politicians or ordinary citizens.

Mrs. Rodley did not comment on the Svay Rieng court decision handed down to Mr. Sam Rainsy, but she simply said that all court hearings should be conducted with transparency and fairness.

Through a translator, she said: “We are closely following this trial, and it’s not just trials involving politicians and VIPs, but also on various other trials as well. All trials should be conducted with transparency and fairness.”

Mrs. Rodley made this declaration one day after the Svay Rieng provincial court sentenced opposition leader Sam Rainsy to 2-year jail term.

On 27 January 2010, opposition leader Sam Rainsy was sentenced in absentia by the Svay Rieng provincial court to 2-year of jail term, and he was also fined with several million of riels after he was accused of destruction of public properties and incitation of racial discrimination. The sentencing was issued after Sam Rainsy and a number of villagers from Chantrea district, Svay Rieng province, uprooted stakes for border post no. 185 in October 2009.

Mrs. Rodley did not think that Mr. Sam Rainsy’s case was political, but she indicated that, if this case reaches the Appeal court, and the decision by Appeal court could be fair and transparent, then it would be a good sign.

Mrs. Carol Rodley said: “I think that if this case reaches the Appeal court, and if the Appeal court could be transparent and fair [then it would be a good sign].”

Mr. Sam Rainsy considered the 2-year jail sentence on him, and the 1-year jail sentence handed down to 2 other villagers are not what matter, but the problem is centered on the Cambodian authority giving away Cambodian territories to foreigners, and the latter is the main problem.