Chhouk Rin was prosecuted only after France, Britain and Australia put pressure on the government. After the verdict, their ambassadors sought an understanding from the foreign office that the judge's ruling would be appealed by the government itself. Many wonder why immunity was not addressed at the time of his arrest, months before he came to trial. Cases like that lead many to wonder what other crimes will go unpunished unless the tribunal is given sufficient independence to do its job properly. But before that, the 122 assembly members must do theirs, carefully juggling the conflicting demands of legislative independence, national sovereignty, the advance of democracy and the overpowering need to bring those responsible for Cambodia's national nightmare to justice.
Cambodian democracy is on trial too.
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