PLANS are under way to reform Cambodia's

court system, said Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on Wednesday, while

handing out certificates to law students at the Royal Administration

School.

"We will be preparing a national workshop to reform the

law and courts," Sok An said. "We hear bad rumours about courts in

Cambodia, and we are going to work very hard to change that. We need to

enforce discipline and make sure the courts are independent."

Local

and international NGOs have long been demanding improvements in the

judicial system, and are sceptical about the government's sudden

enthusiasm.

"The government often announces plans to reform the

courts, but I never actually see these plans put into practice," Heang

Rithy, director of the Cambodia National Research Organisation, told

the Post Thursday

"There are three points that are very important to us," he added. 

"Number

one: ensure the judge and prosecutor work independently according to

the Paris Peace Accords. Number two: ensure the Council of Judges and

the government are kept separate, and there are clear distinctions made

between the two parties. Number three: ensure judges are selected by an

independent party," he said.