King Norodom Sihanouk will sign off on the Khmer Rouge trial law, despite a written request not to do so from a former National Assembly member who called the legislation “unconstitutional.”
“This draft law is against the Constitution,” said Thach Reng, a former Son Sann party lawmaker. “Because of this I asked the King to consider this, and if he agrees with my proposal please let him find legislation to help the citizens.”
In a written response to the request Thursday, the King said he cannot interfere.
“Please excellency understand me, because this matter causes a split nation,” the King wrote. “I can’t get into matters which have to be responsible to the nation and the international community by the government and the two lawmaking bodies [the National Assembly and the Senate].”
The law is unconstitutional because it allows foreigners to be judges of Khmer citizens, Thach Reng said.
It calls for a tribunal of both foreign and Cambodian judges and investigators.
“So foreigners who are selected to be prosecutors and investigating judges must first get Khmer citizenship,” Thach Reng said. “[But] I can’t write to the National Assembly, the Senate or the Constitutional Council because they all decided the same thing.”
The King is expected to sign off on the draft—the final step before it becomes law—before he leaves for China Wednesday for a medical check-up.
The Senate and the National Assembly passed the law in January. The Constitutional Council approved it Monday.
“I do not object to the Khmer Rouge draft law,” said Thach Reng, a lawyer and now a member of the Funcinpec party. “But I am a lawmaker, as well, and it must be done in accordance with the Constitution.”