The Norodom Ranariddh Party Tuesday appealed to the Cambodian Bar Association to lower its foreign lawyer fees in the Khmer Rouge tribunal, adding its voice to a chorus of international judges and civic leaders who worry about the tribunal's survival. The bar wants foreign lawyers to pay $4,900 in the first year for operating in a trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders, but international judges say the high fees will prevent fair defense and hurt the credibility of the tribunal. The bar has so far refused to lower the fees.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Tuesday he would change his political tactics away from attacks on the character of Prime Minister Hun Sen and toward highlighting development needs. The Sam Rainsy Party gained a handful of seats in local elections April 1 and has called on smaller parties to join in a unified democratic movement, a move Hun Sen blasted Monday.
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport issued an appeal Tuesday for all drivers to be cautious during the Cambodian New Year. The holiday, when many Cambodians return to their homes, sees high numbers of traffic deaths each year on the country's notoriously dangerous roads.