Cambodian group calls for evidence against Khmer Rouge regime News
Cambodian group calls for evidence against Khmer Rouge regime

[JURIST] A Cambodian group gathering evidence of atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge government [Wikipedia article] has appealed to governments worldwide for more evidence that can be used in the trials of former leaders. Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia [official website], said requests for information had been sent to 42 embassies of countries that either maintained embassies in Cambodia during the regime or monitored events from neighboring countries. Chhang said the embassies had been requested to search their archives and declassify materials that can be used by the Extraordinary Chambers, the UN-backed tribunal that is expected to try six former Khmer Rouge leaders for genocide and crimes against humanity. Legal proceedings have been threatened by lack of funding [JURIST report], lack of information and the age of the former leaders, who are now mostly in their 70s. Some of the former leaders continue to live freely in Cambodia. Yale University's Cambodia Genocide Program [official website] has more information on the Khmer Rouge government. AFP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism

November 9 is the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism [UNITED factsheet]. On November 9, 1924, American gay activist Henry Gerber and several associates formed the Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights organization in the United States. The Society received a charter from the State of Illinois in December but was disbanded in July 1925 after a police raid which led to Gerber's arrest and trial (albeit not conviction). Pay a virtual visit to Henry Gerber House, now a registered Chicago landmark.

Supreme Court strikes down Massachusetts anti-draft law

On November 9, 1970, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 in Massachusetts v. Laird not to hear the case of the state's anti-draft law. Massachusetts had passed a law, which allowed its citizens to decline to fight in any undeclared war, even if the person was drafted. The law was passed in opposition to the draft and the war in Vietnam. The First Circuit found the war constitutional and thus struck down the law.