Original report from Phnom Penh
05 May 2008
Jailed Khmer Rouge prison director Kaing Khek Iev, known to many by his nom de guerre, Duch, will be the first regime cadre to be tried, some time early next year, a tribunal judge said Monday.
You Bunleng, an investigating judge for the tribunal, said the investigation of Duch’s case will be finished this month, after which responses from lawyers will be considered before the case is submitted for trial.
If all goes smoothly, the first case against Duch can be submitted by July or August, meaning a trial could start by the end of 2008 or beginning of 2009, he said.
Duch was arrested in 1999 and held by the military courts until his transfer to tribunal detention last year.
He faces charges of crimes against humanity for his role as director of S-21, or Tuol Sleng, a prison where as many as 16,000 Cambodians were tortured and later executed in “killing fields” on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. Less than 10 survived.
“The case related to Tuol Sleng’s history is easier than others, and there is clear evidence,” said Sok Samoeun, director of the Cambodian Defenders Project. You Bunleng said Monday elements of Duch’s trial will be used in subsequent trials.
You Bunleng, an investigating judge for the tribunal, said the investigation of Duch’s case will be finished this month, after which responses from lawyers will be considered before the case is submitted for trial.
If all goes smoothly, the first case against Duch can be submitted by July or August, meaning a trial could start by the end of 2008 or beginning of 2009, he said.
Duch was arrested in 1999 and held by the military courts until his transfer to tribunal detention last year.
He faces charges of crimes against humanity for his role as director of S-21, or Tuol Sleng, a prison where as many as 16,000 Cambodians were tortured and later executed in “killing fields” on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. Less than 10 survived.
“The case related to Tuol Sleng’s history is easier than others, and there is clear evidence,” said Sok Samoeun, director of the Cambodian Defenders Project. You Bunleng said Monday elements of Duch’s trial will be used in subsequent trials.
4 comments:
ECCC, thank you for your commitment of seeking justice for cambodian victims of killing field.
Another prison officer of KR ought to be summoned for investigarion as well. He is highly helpful to ECCC, on the ground of :
1- Mr HOR was chief of Boeung Trabek prison in Phnom Penh,in same S21 region.
2- He has been in government o cambodia for many regimes, becomes valuable for ECCC.
3-Angkar was uniformed group of same tasks,therefore Mr Hor was Angkar.
4-While Duch is on trial, at least Mr Hor can be a strong witness of how killing took place.
As cambodians, we believe that ECCC's investigation is NOT selective. Direct killing was carried by KR army and prison officers.
Neang SA
“The case related to Tuol Sleng’s history is easier than others, and there is clear evidence,” said Sok Samoeun, director of the Cambodian Defenders Project. You Bunleng said Monday elements of Duch’s trial will be used in subsequent trials.
One evidence? where is it?
Let us all take a good stab at it.
why trial in 2009? because the cpp is afraid that some of the bad elements may be revealed, and they are related to cpp. So people may know the truth and not vote for cpp.
Actually, because the SRP is worry about Sam Rainsy link to the Khmer Rouge killing of Sihanouk family members as a revenge for his father.
Post a Comment