Governor-General appointed to war crimes trial

Dame Silvia Cartwright

Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright has been appointed as a trial judge for the Cambodia War Crimes Tribunal.

Dame Silvia was shortlisted for a tribunal role late last year and it has been known for some time that she had been accepted as one of 13 international officials who will work at the tribunal.

Government House said today in a statement that Dame Silvia would be one of only two international judges conducting trials under the tribunal.

Three Cambodian judges will also be in the trial chamber.

The appointment was made at the weekend at a meeting of Cambodia's Supreme Council of Magistracy, chaired by King Norodom Sihamoni.

Along with the 13 overseas officials, 17 Cambodians were appointed to the tribunal. They will look into war crimes committed between 1975 and 1979 when the Khmer Rouge, under Pol Pot, controlled the country.

An estimated 1.7 million Cambodians died from starvation, overwork and execution during the period.

Pol Pot died in 1998 and so far none of his regime has been tried for crimes against humanity.

The tribunal's work is set to begin in June, with the trial phase expected to begin in 2007.

Dame Silvia's term as Governor-General ends in August this year.

- NZPA