Recent Developments at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia

The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) continues to face pressing challenges that require immediate and ongoing attention.

In August 2009, the ECCC's donors, the United Nations, and the Cambodian government agreed on a package of anticorruption measures for the court. The package's framework remains skeletal, however, and significant additions are needed to ensure it works, including establishing an effective whistleblower protection program, increasing the transparency of the anticorruption process so its effectiveness can be monitored, and creating a credible way to address past allegations.

Meanwhile, fears about government interference in judicial and prosecution decisions have grown rather than diminished. In addition, delays in the investigation of the four other accused individuals (the “002 case”) remain unaddressed, creating the likelihood of a considerable wait before their trial can take place.