Recent Developments at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia: November 2011

Cambodia’s UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal faces an unprecedented crisis of confidence due to allegations of judicial misconduct. The Open Society Justice Initiative believes the crisis can only be addressed through an independent inquiry into the conduct of its co-investigating judges: Judge Siegfried Blunk, who resigned in October, and You Bunleng, his Cambodian colleague.

This report examines the recent events leading to the current crisis at the tribunal, known as the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). It establishes the legal basis for an inquiry, and offers recommendations for action by the UN, the Royal Government of Cambodia, and donors to the court.

This is the latest in a series or reports examining progress, priorities, and challenges at the ECCC by the Justice Initiative, which has been monitoring the court since it began operations.