NGOs and Media Urge ECCC not to be Strict with Members of the Press

By Soy Sophea

Local and international NGO officers and media representatives have requested the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC)’s Public Affairs Office to be more transparent and allow the public access to more information about ECCC processes
in relation to the five accused former Khmer Rouge leaders.

A talk was conducted by OSJI (Open Society Justice Initiative) in Phnom Penh on March 10 about the media’s role in the ECCC. This followed an argument between an ECCC Public Affairs Officer, Peter W. Foster and CTN (Cambodian Television Network)’s news anchor, Soy Sopheap.

According to Soy Sopheap, the argument came about after he pointed a video camera at
Duch, the former Toul Sleng S-21 prison chief during the Pol Pot regime.

The incident occurred when the accused was taken for re-enactments at Cheung Ek killing field. The participants urged the ECCC Public Affairs Office to explain and clarify the rules governing media involvement in the Court. This will help to avoid future disputes and ensure the media and NGOs do not violate the court’s internal rules. These internal rules have been the source of some controversy in the past and have lead to
tense moments at times in relationship between the press, NGOs and the ECCC.

CTN’s Soy Sopheap said that he had done nothing more than attempt to provide real information to the people about the progress of the Extraordinary Chambers. He was
acting on behalf of the victims and all Cambodians in general. He went on to say “What Cambodian people care about now is their land, not the Khmer Rouge trials. So why are you [the ECCC] so strict with us [the media]”

Ek Madra, a Cambodian journalist with 15 years experience, told the half-day discussion that journalists wanted to bring real facts about the Khmer Rouge Tribunal to light in order to inform Cambodians about the process of the court.

“Please don’t be so strict to journalists who work not only to inform the people of Cambodia but people across the world,” Madra said. “The ECCC officers say they would like local and international NGO officers and media representatives have requested the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC)’s Public Affairs Office to be more transparent and allow the public access to more information about ECCC processes
in relation to the five accused former Khmer Rouge leaders.

Long Panhavuth, a Programme Officer for the Open Society Justice Initiative, said that the ECCC should behave in a positive way when dealing with the public, as it is considered to be symbolic of judicial reform in Cambodia and elsewhere.

An element of the ideal of impartial justice is transparency. Helen Jarvis, the ECCC’s Chief of Public Affairs, told the Cambodia Weekly a day after the conference that she welcomed the suggestion from the media regarding access to information from the court.
She added, “The ECCC is unlike most courts in Cambodia as it is a great deal more transparent than they are.”