PM Hun Sen Proud of KR Tribunal

By Soy Sophea

The Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his optimism that the Khmer Rouge Tribunal (KRT) would be deemed a successful process by national and international experts.

“The Cambodian prosecutors, judges, and lawyers have preformed to the same high level standards as the international UN staff,” the Prime Minister made this statement during a graduation ceremony at the National Institute of Education on August 5.

Since the start of the trial against Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, on March 30 of this year the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) has welcomed over 12,000 visitors. In a press statement the ECCC talks about the measurements taken to reach out to people with an interest in the trail.

“Due to targeted effective outreach through the use of radio broadcasts, the court has been able to provide to larger audience information about how to attend the court hearings,” the statement

added. “The ECCC is providing free bus transportation to the court from the provinces for groups of 30 or more that have expressed interested in attending the Duch-trial.”

Thus far, two experts (Nayan Chanda and Craig Etcheson), 11 fact witnesses and seven Civil Parties have given testimonies before the Trial Chamber. An additional seven fact witnesses,

one expert (David Chandler) and 20 Civil Parties are scheduled to give testimonies until 26 August which is the period currently scheduled by the Trial Chamber. An end-date for the trial proceedings has not been set yet, said ECCC’s press statement.

There is continued public interest in the ongoing trial. 404 for representatives from national and international media have been accredited, and averages of 45 media representatives have covered the proceedings on a daily basis.

The trial is being broadcasted live every day on CTN on antenna, cable and satellite and by Radio Free Asia webcast. TV Apsara is also broadcasting the daily proceedings with a delay.

12,996 visitors have attended the first 50 days of the trial, making an average of 259 visitors per day. Four months into the Duch-trial, ECCC noted there was still a large interest in visiting the

court. Busses have already been organized to bring another 1,000 people to witness the trail in person.

The Prime Minister has further stated that, “The whole of Cambodia should be proud of the staff at ECCC. As I am Khmer I am personally proud of the officials working at the court.”