Thursday, June 4, 2009

Bullets, electricity, lightning, tiger bites, and snake strikes, Oh My!

Here is the procedure for swearing in witnesses, according to the Cambodian Code of Criminal Procedure---the equivalent of "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God." This version is somewhat more compelling, I'd say.

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Legal procedure of swearing the oath

The swearing of the oath shall be led by a Greffier, and shall be done in the presence of a sacred object at the court.

Before beginning the oath, the person taking the oath shall light a candle and incense sticks in worship of the sacred object upon which that oath is to be taken. Next, the Greffier shall clearly read aloud the Introductory Statement for the person taking the oath, and then read The Oath for the person taking the oath to repeat.

After administering the oath, the Greffier shall establish a written record, confirming that it was properly administered and that the oath in verbatim was recorded.

Introductory Statement

May all the guardian angels, forest guardians, and powerful sacred spirits of Preah Àng Dâng Kae, Preah Àng Krâpum Chouk, Preah Àng Svēt Chhăt, Preah Àng Chēk, Preah Àng Châm, Năkta Khlăng Moeung, Năkta Khrâhâmkâ, Lôkta Dâmbâng Dèk, Lôkta Dâmbâng Krâ Nhoung, Lôk Yeay Tēp, Preah Àng Vihea Suor, Preah Àng Preah Chiviwăt Baray and Preah Àng Wăt Phnom Khlèng come forward to preside over this swearing ceremony, since the parties to this matter are in dispute and have alleged that witnesses personally know, have seen, have heard, and have recalled, and the law requires bringing these people to serve as witnesses and to give truthful and accurate testimony.

Should anyone answer untruthfully about what they know, have seen, have heard, and remember, may all the guardian angels, forest guardians, Yeay Tēp and powerful sacred spirits utterly and without mercy destroy them, and bestow upon them a miserable and violent death by means of bullets, electricity, lightning, tiger bites, and snake strikes, and in their future reincarnation separate them from their parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren, impoverish them, and subject them to miseries for 500 reincarnations.

Anyone testifying truthfully without evasion, without lying, without bias because of bloodline, without collusion arising from fear, hatred, material greed, or having taken bribes, may all the guardian angels, forest guardians, Yeay Tēp and powerful sacred spirits in the world assist them in long life, good health, an abundance of material possessions and having respectful and loving families until future reincarnation, encountering only good deeds, progress, prosperity and flourish, in accordance with their aspirations.

The Oath

I will answer only the truth, in accordance with what I have personally seen, heard, know, and remember.

If I answer falsely on any issue, may all the guardian angels, forest guardians and powerful sacred spirits destroy me, may my material possessions be destroyed, and may I die a miserable and violent death. But, if I answer truthfully, may the sacred spirits assist me in having abundant material possessions and living in peace and happiness along with my family and relatives forever, in all my reincarnations.

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