Judges Release Crime Sites in Controversial Case

The judges, Siegfried Blunk (L) and You Bunleng (R), said in a statement that they had not wanted to release information early in an effort to manage the expectations of potential civil parties.

Monday, 08 August 2011
Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

“Now the victims at least are in the position to know what is under the investigation and to decide if they want [to join] as a civil party.”

Investigating judges at the Khmer Rouge tribunal issued a list of suspected crime sites in a controversial case at the UN-backed court, saying they had not yet determined whether the suspects could be determined “most responsible” for Khmer Rouge atrocity crimes.

The judges, Siegfried Blunk and You Bunleng, said in a statement that they had not wanted to release information early in an effort to manage the expectations of potential civil parties (sic!). However, they said they would now release the site locations to counter misinformation in the media.

Victims of the regime had complained they cannot properly file as civil parties without knowing which sites are under investigation.

On Friday, international prosecutor Andrew Cayley urged the judges to release the information to help move the process along for those victims who wish to file under the rules of the UN-backed court.

Cayley said in an e-mail Monday he was pleased with the judges’ decision. “The people who we serve have the right to know,” he said.

“Now the victims at least are in the position to know what is under the investigation and to decide if they want [to join] as a civil party,” said Silke Stuzensky, an attorney for victims, who are allowed representation at the hybrid court.

The information would add to the already public information on Case 003, she said.

The investigating judges said in their statement Monday there are still “serious doubts whether the suspects are ‘most responsible” according to the jurisdictional requirement” of the tribunal.

“If the court had no jurisdiction, it would be inappropriate to encourage civil party applications further to the 200 already received in this case, as this could raise expectations which might not be met later on,” they said.

The judges then released the following matters under investigation in Case 004:

The purges of the Central and Northwest zones.

In Kampong Cham province, Central Zone: security centers at Wat O Trau Kuon; Wat Batheay; Met Sop; Wat Phnom Pros; and Chamkar Svay Chanty; the execution site at Kok Pring; the Anglong Chrey dam forced labor site; and genocide against the Chams.

In Kampong Thom province, Central Zone: security centers at Wat Srange; Wat Kandal; Chror Neang; Wat Baray; Balaing and Chan Dek; the Tuol Ta Phlong prison; and the execution site at Kampong Chen Cheung.

In Pursat province, Northwest Zone: Prison No. 8 in Kandieng district; the execution site at Sre Sdok.

In Battambang province, Northwest Zone: security centers at Wat Kirirom; Banteay Treng; Wat Thoamayutt; Wat Kandal; Wat Samdech; and Wat Po Laingka; and the execution site of Banteay O Ta Krey.

In Banteay Meanchey province, Northwest Zone: security centers at Wat Banteay Neang; Phnom Trayoung; Phum Chakre; Wat Preah Net Preah and Chamkar Ta Ling; execution sites at La-Ang Phnom Kuoy Yum and Wat Chamkar Khnol; and the Trapeang Thma dam.

In Takeo province, Northwest Zone: the Wat Pratheat security center.