Friday, August 28, 2009

No Civil Parties in Duch Sentencing, Judges Say

By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
27 August 2009


Representatives of civil party complainants will not be allowed to weigh in on the punishment for Khmer Rouge prison chief Duch, judges for the UN-backed tribunal announced Thursday.

Two of four groups of civil parties had requested they be allowed to share their opinions on the proper punishment for Duch, who is facing atrocity crimes charges for the deaths of 12,380 people at his Tuol Sleng prison.

Hong Kim Suon, a lawyer for the one of the civil parties, called the decision “unfair to victims,” though defense lawyers said it helped maintain balance and fairness in the proceedings.

The trial for Duch is expected to last through October, with a verdict expected early in 2010, tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath said.

Judge Nil Nonn, head of the tribunal’s Trial Chamber, said civil parties would be allowed to request reparation but would not be able to question expert witnesses.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

why? simply, because nobody likes the KR and its affiliation, really! god may forgive, however it is up to god to reconcile as well.

Anonymous said...

True, that is civil parties are witnesses to the case in order to varify his case, and then decision will be based on the degree of Duch's criminal acts.
Put it simply, it is enough for him for the life sentence. And please accept his apology as to heal his mind, but serve time for what he committed.And that as we are buddhists, lets go the past and move on.

Neang Sa

Anonymous said...

Believe me it is wasting of your time filing a complaint against Duch and go to listening on Duch’s trail. Stay home or do other things with your families, you won’t get anything return. Finally Duch will be in jail for the rest of his life.

NOTE: those who write long sentence like a book I won’t have time to read it. Thanks

Angkorian Krama Man