Annex A/57/769
17 March, 2003
DRAFT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE
ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF CAMBODIA CONCERNING THE PROSECUTION UNDER CAMBODIAN LAW OF
CRIMES COMMITTED DURING THE PERIOD OF DEMOCRATIC KAMPUCHEA
WHEREAS the General Assembly of the United Nations,
in its resolution 57/228 of 18 December 2002, recalled that the serious
violations of Cambodian and international humanitarian law during the period of
Democratic Kampuchea from 1975 to 1979 continued to be matters of vitally
important concern to the international community as a whole;
WHEREAS in the same resolution the General Assembly
recognized the legitimate concern of the Government and the people of Cambodia
in the pursuit of justice and national reconciliation, stability, peace and
security;
WHEREAS the Cambodian authorities have requested
assistance from the United Nations in bringing to trial senior leaders of
Democratic Kampuchea and those who were most responsible for the crimes and
serious violations of Cambodian penal law, international humanitarian law and
custom, and international conventions recognized by Cambodia, that were
committed during the period from 17 April 1975 to 6 January 1979;
WHEREAS prior to the negotiation of the present Agreement
substantial progress had been made by the Secretary-General of the United
Nations (hereinafter, "the Secretary- General") and the Royal
Government of Cambodia towards the establishment, with international
assistance, of Extraordinary Chambers within the existing court structure of
Cambodia for the prosecution of crimes committed during the period of
Democratic Kampuchea;
WHEREAS by its resolution 57/228, the General
Assembly welcomed the promulgation of the Law on the Establishment of the
Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for the Prosecution of Crimes
Committed during the Period of Democratic Kampuchea and requested the
Secretary-General to resume negotiations without delay, to conclude an
agreement with the Government based on previous negotiations on the
establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers consistent with the provisions of
the said resolution, so that the Extraordinary Chambers may begin to function
promptly;
WHEREAS the Secretary-General and the Royal
Government of Cambodia have held negotiations on the establishment of the
Extraordinary Chambers;
NOW THEREFORE the United Nations and the Royal
Government of Cambodia have agreed as follows:
Article 1 Purpose
The purpose of the present Agreement is to regulate
the cooperation between the United Nations and the Royal Government of Cambodia
in bringing to trial senior leaders of Democratic Kampuchea and those who were
most responsible for the crimes and serious violations of Cambodian penal law,
international humanitarian law and custom, and international conventions
recognized by Cambodia, that were committed during the period from 17 April
1975 to 6 January 1979. The Agreement provides, inter alia, the legal basis and
the principles and modalities for such cooperation.
Article 2 The Law on the Establishment of
Extraordinary Chambers
1. The present Agreement recognizes that the
Extraordinary Chambers have subject matter jurisdiction consistent with that
set forth in "the Law on the Establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers in
the Courts of Cambodia for the Prosecution of Crimes Committed During the
Period of Democratic Kampuchea" (hereinafter: "the Law on the
Establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers"), as adopted and amended by
the Cambodian Legislature under the Constitution of Cambodia. The present
Agreement further recognizes that the Extraordinary Chambers have personal
jurisdiction over senior leaders of Democratic Kampuchea and those who were
most responsible for the crimes referred to in Article 1 of the Agreement.
2. The present Agreement shall be implemented in
Cambodia through the Law on the Establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers as
adopted and amended. The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, and in
particular its Articles 26 and 27, applies to the Agreement.
3. In case amendments to the Law on the
Establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers are deemed necessary, such
amendments shall always be preceded by consultations between the parties.
Article 3 Judges
1. Cambodian judges, on the one hand, and judges
appointed by the Supreme Council of the Magistracy upon nomination by the
Secretary-General of the United Nations (hereinafter: "international
judges"), on the other hand, shall serve in each of the two Extraordinary
Chambers.
2. The composition of the Chambers shall be as
follows:
a. The Trial Chamber: three Cambodian judges and two
international judges;
b. The Supreme Court Chamber, which shall serve as
both appellate chamber and final instance: four Cambodian judges and three
international judges.
3. The judges shall be persons of high moral
character, impartiality and integrity who possess the qualifications required
in their respective countries for appointment to judicial offices. They shall
be independent in the performance of their functions and shall not accept or
seek instructions from any Government or any other source.
4. In the overall composition of the Chambers due
account should be taken of the experience of the judges in criminal law,
international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights
law.
5. The Secretary-General of the United Nations
undertakes to forward a list of not less than seven nominees for international
judges from which the Supreme Council of the Magistracy shall appoint five to
serve as judges in the two Chambers. Appointment of international judges by the
Supreme Council of the Magistracy shall be made only from the list submitted by
the Secretary-General.
6. In the event of a vacancy of an international
judges, the Supreme Council of the Magistracy shall appoint another
international judge from the same list.
7. The judges shall be appointed for the duration of
the proceedings.
8. In addition to the international judges sitting
in the Chambers and present at every stage of the proceedings, the President of
a Chamber may, on a case-by-case basis, designate from the list of nominees
submitted by the Secretary-General, one or more alternate judges to be present
at each stage of the proceedings, and to replace an international judge if the
judge is unable to continue sitting.
Article 4 Decision-making
1. The judges shall attempt to achieve unanimity in
their decisions. If this is not possible, the following shall apply:
a. A decision by the Trial Chamber shall require the
affirmative vote of at least four judges:
b. A decision by the Supreme Court Chamber shall
require the affirmative vote of at least five judges.
2. When there is no unanimity, the decision of the
Chamber shall contain the views of the majority and the minority.
Article 5 Investigating judges
1. There shall be one Cambodian and one
international investigating judge serving as co- investigating judges. They
shall be responsible for the conduct of investigations.
2. The co-investigating judges shall be persons of
high moral character, impartiality and integrity who possess the qualifications
required in their respective countries for appointment to such a judicial
office.
3. The co-investigating judges shall be independent
in the performance of their functions and shall not accept or seek instructions
from any Government or any other source. It is understood, however, that the
scope of the investigation is limited to senior leaders of Democratic Kampuchea
and those who were most responsible for the crimes and serious violations of
Cambodian penal law, international humanitarian law and custom, and
international conventions recognized by Cambodia, that were committed during
the period from 17 April 1975 to 6 January 1979.
4. The co-investigating judges shall cooperate with
a view to arriving at a common approach to the investigation. In case the
co-investigating judges are unable to agree whether to proceed with an
investigation, the investigation shall proceed unless the judges or one of them
requests within thirty days that the difference shall be settled in accordance
with Article 7.
5. In addition to the list of nominees provided for
in Article 3, paragraph 5, the Secretary-General shall submit a list of two
nominees from which the Supreme Council of the Magistracy shall appoint one to
serve as an international co-investigating judge, and one as a reserve
international co-investigating judge.
6. In case there is a vacancy or a need to fill the
post of the international co-investigating judge, the person appointed to fill
this post must be the reserve international co-investigating judge.
7. The co-investigating judges shall be appointed
for the duration of the proceedings.
Article 6 Prosecutors
1. There shall be one Cambodian prosecutor and one
international prosecutor competent to appear in both Chambers, serving as
co-prosecutors. They shall be responsible for the conduct of the prosecutions.
2. The co-prosecutors shall be of high moral character
and possess a high level of professional competence and extensive experience in
the conduct of investigations and prosecutions of criminal cases.
3. The co-prosecutors shall be independent in the
performance of their functions and shall not accept or seek instructions from
any Government or any other source. It is understood, however, that the scope
of the prosecution is limited to senior leaders of Democratic Kampuchea and
those who were most responsible for the crimes and serious violations of Cambodian
penal law, international humanitarian law and custom, and international
conventions recognized by Cambodia, that were committed during the period from
17 April 1975 to 6 January 1979.
4. The co-prosecutors shall cooperate with a view to
arriving at a common approach to the prosecution. In case the prosecutors are
unable to agree whether to proceed with a prosecution, the prosecution shall
proceed unless the prosecutors or one of them requests within thirty days that
the difference shall be settled in accordance with Article 7.
5. The Secretary-General undertakes to forward a
list of two nominees from which the Supreme Council of the Magistracy shall
select one international co-prosecutor and one reserve international
co-prosecutor.
6. In case there is a vacancy or a need to fill the
post of the international co-prosecutor, the person appointed to fill this post
must be the reserve international co-prosecutor.
7. The co-prosecutors shall be appointed for the
duration of the proceedings.
8. Each co-prosecutor shall have one or more deputy
prosecutors to assist him or her with prosecutions before the Chambers. Deputy
international prosecutors shall be appointed by the international co-prosecutor
from a list provided by the Secretary-General.
Article 7 Settlement of differences between the
co-investigating judges or the co-prosecutors
1. In case the co-investigating judges or the
co-prosecutors have made a request in accordance with Article 5, paragraph 4,
or Article 6, paragraph 4, as the case may be, they shall submit written
statements of facts and the reasons for their different positions to the
Director of the Office of Administration.
2. The difference shall be settled forthwith by a
Pre-Trial Chamber of five judges, three appointed by the Supreme Council of the
Magistracy, with one as President, and two appointed by the Supreme Council of
the Magistracy upon nomination by the Secretary-General. Article 3, paragraph
3, shall apply to the judges.
3. Upon receipt of the statements referred to in
paragraph 1, the Director of the Office of Administration shall immediately
convene the Pre-Trial Chamber and communicate the statements to its members.
4. A decision of the Pre-Trial Chamber, against
which there is no appeal, requires the affirmative vote of at least four
judges. The decision shall be communicated to the Director of the Office of
Administration, who shall publish it and communicate it to the co-investigating
judges or the co-prosecutors. They shall immediately proceed in accordance with
the decision of the Chamber. If there is no majority, as required for a
decision, the investigation or prosecution shall proceed.
Article 8 Office of Administration
1. There shall be an Office of Administration to
service the Extraordinary Chambers, the Pre-Trial Chamber, the co-investigating
judges and the Prosecutors' Office.
2. There shall be a Cambodian Director of this
Office, who shall be appointed by the Royal Government of Cambodia. The Director
shall be responsible for the overall management of the Office of
Administration, except in matters that are subject to United Nations rules and
procedures.
3. There shall be an international Deputy Director
of the Office of Administration, who shall be appointed by the
Secretary-General. The Deputy Director shall be responsible for the recruitment
of all international staff and all administration of the international
components of the Extraordinary Chambers, the Pre-Trial Chamber, the co-investigation
judges, the Prosecutors' Office and the Office of Administration. The United
Nations and the Royal Government of Cambodia agree that, when an international
Deputy Director has been appointed by the Secretary-General, the assignment of
that person to the position by the Royal Government of Cambodia shall take
place forthwith.
4. The Director and the Deputy Director shall
cooperate in order to ensure an effective and efficient functioning of the
administration.
Article 9 Crimes falling within the jurisdiction of
the Extraordinary Chambers
1. The subject-matter jurisdiction of the
Extraordinary Chambers shall be the crime of genocide as defined in the 1948
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, crimes
against humanity as defined in the 1998 Rome Statute of the International
Criminal Court and grave breaches of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and such other
crimes as defined in Chapter II of the Law on the Establishment of the
Extraordinary Chambers as promulgated on 10 August 2001.
Article 10 Penalties
The maximum penalty for conviction for crimes
falling within the jurisdiction of the Extraordinary Chambers shall be life
imprisonment.
Article 11 Amnesty
1. The Royal Government of Cambodia shall not
request an amnesty or pardon for any persons who may be investigated for or
convicted of crimes referred to in the present Agreement.
2. This provision is based upon a declaration by the
Royal Government of Cambodia that until now, with regard to matters covered in
the law, there has been only one case, dated 14 September 1996, when a pardon
was granted to only one person with regard to a 1979 conviction on the charge
of genocide. The United Nations and the Royal Government of Cambodia agree that
the scope of this pardon is a matter to be decided by the Extraordinary
Chambers.
Article 12 Procedure
1. The procedure shall be in accordance with
Cambodian law. Where Cambodian law does not deal with a particular matter, or
where there is uncertainty regarding the interpretation or application of a
relevant rule of Cambodian law, or where there is a question regarding the
consistency of such a rule with international standards, guidance may also be
sought in procedural rules established at the international level.
2. The Extraordinary Chambers shall exercise their
jurisdiction in accordance with international standards of justice, fairness
and due process of law, as set out in Articles 14 and 15 of the 1966
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Cambodia is a party.
In the interest of securing a fair and public hearing and credibility of the
procedure, it is understood that representatives of Member States of the United
Nations, of the Secretary-General, of the media and of national and
international non-governmental organizations will at all times have access to
the proceedings before the Extraordinary Chambers. Any exclusion from such
proceedings in accordance with the provisions of Article 14 of the Covenant
shall only be to the extent strictly necessary in the opinion of the Chamber
concerned and where publicity would prejudice the interests of justice.
Article 13 Rights of the accused
1. The rights of the accused enshrined in Article 14
and 15 of the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights shall
be respected throughout the trial process. Such rights shall, in particular,
include the right: to a fair and public hearing; to be presumed innocent until
proved guilty; to engage a counsel of his or her choice; to have adequate time
and facilities for the preparation of his or her defence; to have counsel
provided if he or she does not have sufficient means to pay for it; and to
examine or have examined the witnesses against him or her.
2. The United Nations and the Royal Government of
Cambodia agree that the provisions on the right to defence counsel in the Law
on the Establishment of Extraordinary Chambers mean that the accused has the
right to engage counsel of his or her own choosing as guaranteed by the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Article 14 Premises
The Royal Government of Cambodia shall provide at
its expense the premises for the co-investigating judges, the Prosecutors'
Office, the Extraordinary Chambers, the Pre-Trial Chamber and the Office of
Administration. It shall also provide for such utilities, facilities and other
services necessary for their operation that may be mutually agreed upon by
separate agreement between the United Nations and the Government.
Article 15 Cambodian personnel
Salaries and emoluments of Cambodian judges and
other Cambodian personnel shall be defrayed by the Royal Government of
Cambodia.
Article 16 International personnel
Salaries and emoluments of international judges, the
international co-investigating judge, the international co-prosecutor and other
personnel recruited by the United Nations shall be defrayed by the United
Nations.
Article 17 Financial and other assistance of the
United Nations
The United Nations shall be responsible for the
following:
a. remuneration of the international judges, the
international co-investigating judge, the international co-prosecutor, the
Deputy Director of the Office of Administration and other international
personnel; b. costs for utilities and services as agreed separately between the
United Nations and the Royal Government of Cambodia;
c. remuneration of defence counsel;
d. witnesses' travel from within Cambodia and from
abroad;
e. safety and security arrangements as agreed
separately between the United Nations and the Government;
f. such other limited assistance as may be necessary
to ensure the smooth functioning of the investigation, the prosecution and the
Extraordinary Chambers.
Article 18 Inviolability of archives and documents
The archives of the co-investigating judges, the
co-prosecutors, the Extraordinary Chambers, the Pre-Trial Chamber and the
Office of Administration, and in general all documents and materials made
available, belonging to or used by them, wherever located in Cambodia and by
whomsoever held, shall be inviolable for the duration of the proceedings.
Article 19 Privileges and immunities of
international judges, the international co-investigating judges, the international
co-prosecutor and the Deputy Director of the Office of Administration
1. The international judges, the international
co-investigating judges, the international co-prosecutor and the Deputy
Director of the Office of Administration, together with their families forming
part of their household, shall enjoy the privileges and immunities, exemptions
and facilities accorded to diplomatic agents in accordance with the 1961 Vienna
Convention on Diplomatic Relations. They shall, in particular, enjoy:
a. personal inviolability, including immunity from
arrest or detention;
b. immunity from criminal, civil and administrative
jurisdiction in conformity with the Vienna Convention;
c. inviolability for all papers and documents;
d. exemption from immigration restrictions and alien
registration;
e. the same immunities and facilities in respect of
their personal baggage as are accorded to diplomatic agents.
2. The international judges, the international
co-investigating judge, the international co-prosecutor and the Deputy Director
of the Office of Administration shall enjoy exemption from taxation in Cambodia
on their salaries, emoluments and allowances.
Article 20 Privileges and immunities of Cambodian
and international personnel
1. Cambodian judges, the Cambodian co-investigating
judge, the Cambodian co-prosecutor and other Cambodian personnel shall be
accorded immunity from legal process in respect of words spoken or written and
all acts performed by them in their official capacity under the present Agreement.
Such immunity shall continue to be accorded after termination of employment
with the co-investigating judges, the co-prosecutors, the Extraordinary
Chambers, the Pre-Trial Chamber and the Office of Administration.
2. International personnel shall be accorded:
a. immunity from legal process in respect of words
spoken or written and all acts performed by them in their official capacity
under the present Agreement. Such immunity shall continue to be accorded after termination
of employment with the co-investigation judges, the co-prosecutors, the
Extraordinary Chambers, the Pre-Trial Chamber and the Office of Administration;
b. immunity from taxation on salaries, allowances
and emoluments paid to them by the United Nations;
c. immunity from immigration restrictions;
d. the right to import free of duties and taxes,
except for payment for services, their furniture and effects at the time of
first taking up their official duties in Cambodia.
3. The United Nations and the Royal Government of
Cambodia agree that the immunity granted by the Law on the Establishment of the
Extraordinary Chambers in respect of words spoken or written and all acts
performed by them in their official capacity under the present Agreement will
apply also after the persons have left the service of the co-investigating
judges, the co-prosecutors, the Extraordinary Chambers, the Pre-Trial Chamber
and the Office of Administration.
Article 21 Counsel
1. The counsel of a suspect or an accused who has
been admitted as such by the Extraordinary Chambers shall not be subjected by
the Royal Government of Cambodia to any measure which may affect the free and
independent exercise of his or her functions under the present Agreement.
2. In particular, the counsel shall be accorded:
a. immunity from personal arrest or detention and
from seizure of personal baggage;
b. inviolability of all documents relating to the
exercise of his or her functions as a counsel of a suspect or accused:
c. immunity from criminal or civil jurisdiction in
respect of words spoken or written and acts performed by them in their official
capacity as counsel. Such immunity shall continue to be accorded to them after
termination of their functions as a counsel of a suspect or accused.
3. Any counsel, whether of Cambodian or
non-Cambodian nationality, engaged by or assigned to a suspect or an accused
shall, in the defence of his or her client, act in accordance with the present
Agreement, the Cambodian Law on the Statutes of the Bar and recognized
standards and ethics of the legal profession.
Article 22 Witnesses and experts
Witnesses and experts appearing on a summons or a
request of the judges, the co-investigating judges, or the co-prosecutors shall
not be prosecuted, detained or subjected to any other restriction on their
liberty by the Cambodian authorities. They shall not be subjected by the
authorities to any measure which may affect the free and independent exercise
of their functions.
Article 23 Protection of victims and witnesses
The co-investigating judges, the co-prosecutors and
the Extraordinary Chambers shall provide for the protection of victims and
witnesses. Such protection measure shall include, but shall not be limited to,
the conduct of in camera proceedings and the protection of the identity of a
victim or witness.
Article 24 Security, safety and protection of
persons referred to in the present Agreement
The Royal Government of Cambodia shall take all
effective and adequate actions which may be required to ensure the security,
safety and protection of person referred to in the present Agreement. The
United Nations and the Government agree that the Government is responsible for
the security of all accused, irrespective of whether they appear voluntarily
before the Extraordinary Chambers or whether they are under arrest.
Article 25 Obligation to assist the co-investigating
judges, the co-prosecutors and the Extraordinary Chambers
The Royal Government of Cambodia shall comply
without undue delay with any request for assistance by the co-investigating
judges, the co-prosecutors and the Extraordinary Chambers or an order issued by
any of them, including, but not limited to:
a. identification and location of persons;
b. service of documents;
c. arrest of detention of persons;
d. Transfer of an indictee to the Extraordinary
Chambers.
Article 26 Languages
1. The official language of the Extraordinary
Chambers and the Pre-Trial Chamber is Khmer.
2. The official working language of the
Extraordinary Chambers and the Pre-Trial Chamber shall be Khmer, English and
French.
3. Translations of public documents and
interpretation at public hearing into Russian may be provided by the Royal
Government of Cambodia at its discretion and expense on condition that such
services do not hinder the proceedings before the Extraordinary Chambers.
Article 27 Practical arrangements
1. With a view to achieving efficiency and cost-effectiveness
in the operation of the Extraordinary Chambers, a phased-in approach shall be
adopted for their establishment in accordance with the chronological order of
the legal process.
2. In the first phase of the operation of the
Extraordinary Chambers, the judges, the co- investigating judges and the
co-prosecutors will be appointed along with investigative and prosecutorial
staff, and the process of investigations and prosecutions shall be initiated.
3. The trial process of those already in custody
shall proceed simultaneously with the investigation of other person responsible
for crimes falling within the jurisdiction of the Extraordinary Chambers.
4. With the completion of the investigation of
persons suspected of having committed the crimes falling within the
jurisdiction of the Extraordinary Chambers, arrest warrants shall be issued and
submitted to the Royal Government of Cambodia to effectuate the arrest.
5. With the arrest by the Royal Government of
Cambodia of indicted persons situated in its territory, the Extraordinary
Chambers shall be fully operational, provided that the judges of the Supreme
Court Chamber shall serve when seized with a matter. The judges of the Pre-
Trial Chamber shall serve only if and when their services are needed.
Article 28 Withdrawal of cooperation
Should the Royal Government of Cambodia change the
structure or organization of the Extraordinary Chambers or otherwise cause them
to function in a manner that does not conform with the terms of the present
Agreement, the United Nations reserves the right to cease to provide
assistance, financial or otherwise, pursuant to the present Agreement.
Article 29 Settlement of disputes
Any dispute between the Parties concerning the
interpretation or application of the present Agreement shall be settled by
negotiation, or by any other mutually agreed upon mode of settlement.
Article 30 Approval
To be binding on the parties, the present Agreement
must be approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations and ratified by
Cambodia. The Royal Government of Cambodia will make its best endeavours to
obtain this ratification by the earliest possible date.
Article 31 Application within Cambodia
The present Agreement shall apply as law within the
Kingdom of Cambodia following its ratification in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the internal law of the Kingdom of Cambodia regarding competence
to conclude treaties.
Article 32 Entry into force
The present Agreement shall enter into force on the day
after both parties have notified each other in writing that the legal
requirements for entry into force have been complied with.
Done at [place] on [day, month] 2003 in two copies
in the English language.
For the United Nations For the Royal Government of Cambodia