O fficials from the Ministries of Justice and the Interior attended a seminar on

coordinating the administration of justice organized by the Cambodian Field

Office of U.N. Center for Human Rights.

Held from Jan. 11-15, the meeting

involved ten senior Interior Ministry officials and 11 judges and prosecutors

from the Justice Ministry including Supreme Court Chief Justice Chan Sok. Also

participating was Kem Sokha, chair of the National Assembly's human rights

commission.

A press release from the UN field office said improving

coordination would strengthen all institutions responsible for the

administration of justice in Cambodia.

"In addition to identifying

critical issues and offering recommendations," said the release, " the seminar

provided a unique opportunity for relevant ministries and branches of government

to engage in dialogue on common concerns".

Major issues included the need

for training police and judicial personnel in new laws and principles, the lack

of sufficient laws and information about them, and the need for rapidly

implementing judiciary independence.

Other recommendations were to create

an inter-ministerial group on judicial coordination, increase the justice

budget, improve the operation of the courts, and establish forensic and other

scientific facilities.

Members of the seminar also advised improving the

criminal law system and asked the government to consider transferring the

department of prisons from the Interior to the Justice ministry.