Dear Editor,

I do not believe that the nomination of Helen Jarvis to head the Victims' Unit is a part of a political agenda of the Cambodian People's Party or the government. Instead, the government might prefer to keep its distance from her political views and performance at the  Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.

On the other hand, if it is true that the United Nations is supporting Dr Jarvis's appointment, it is an invasion of Cambodia's sovereignty and is disrespectful to the victims it claims to serve.

With regard to the questions that have been raised about Dr Jarvis's Cambodian nationality, is there a difference between nationality [citizenship] and ethnicity in Cambodia? Culturally and generally, the Cambodian people are not familiar with this distinction, and they are still in search of identity. For this reason Dr Jarvis's Cambodian citizenship will have no bearing on how victims perceive her.

Youk Chhang

Documentation Centre of Cambodia

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