Defense Teams Quiz Civil Party on Prior Testimony

CPP Senator Sim Ka was in charge of the KR messenger section at Sector 20

August 28, 2012
By Mary Kozlovski
Source: http://www.cambodiatribunal.org/blog/2012/08/defense-teams-quiz-civil-party-prior-testimony

Mr. Karnavas moved his questioning to Mr. Oeun’s father Ouk Samem, quoting the civil party as saying in a document that Eastern Zone chief So Phim arrested his father – a member of the Sector 20 committee – in 1974 under the pretext of calling him for study, and he was taken to be killed. Mr. Karnavas said Mr. Oeun mentioned others who were taken but survived, including Mao Cheang, Sim Kar, and Khieu Sarun. Mr. Karnavas then referred to the supplemental information in Mr. Oeun’s civil party application, in which he stated that his father was summoned by the Angkar[11] to study at the center in early 1977 and henceforth disappeared. Mr. Karnavas queried the difference in years. Mr. Oeun said he provided the information to people from DC-Cam who assisted him and brought him the document to be thumb-printed, but he did not have time to review it thoroughly. Mr. Oeun testified that he believed 1977 was not the correct date. Mr. Karnavas asked Mr. Oeun to clarify if his father was taken away in 1974. Mr. Oeun said he believed he stated at the time that his mother died after she saw his father taken away without referring to a particular year, though he affirmed the veracity of the events. Mr. Oeun said he made a mistake in not paying enough attention to verifying the date when he wrote the information and struggled to remember the exact date.

Mr. Karnavas read an excerpt attached to Mr. Oeun’s civil party application on January 25, 2010, which stated that his parents – who were on the “Sector 20 Prey Veng province committee” – were taken to be “allegedly killed” for being opposed to communism in Prey Veng’s Sector 20 in late 1975. Mr. Karnavas pressed Mr. Oeun on when his father was taken away and allegedly killed, to which Mr. Oeun responded that he was sure it was 1974. When asked why his prior statements on the date of his father’s disappearance were inconsistent, Mr. Oeun said that he did not say his father was executed, only that he disappeared in 1974, and his mother died in the same year because she saw him being taken away. Mr. Oeun apologized for his inconsistency and commented that he believed others would experience similar problems with their memories.

When Mr. Karnavas asked how the civil party knew that Mao Cheang, Sim Kar, and Khieu Sarun, among others, were taken away but spared, Mr. Oeun said he did not say the three were being taken for execution, though they knew his father was removed. Mr. Oeun stated:

Mr. Khieu Sarun was my father’s nephew when Mr. Mao Cheang was his workmate, and Mr. Sim Kar was in charge of the messenger section at Sector 20. And that’s why I said that these three individuals were those who could support the idea that my father was actually taken away, and I just wish to be proven – that my statement be proven by these individuals – that the statement I make is true. Mr. Sim Kar is in Phnom Penh now, and Mao Cheang in Kampong Cham and another person Khieu Sarun is with me in the same village now.

On Tuesday, August 28, 2012, trial proceedings in Case 002 involving the accused Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary and Khieu Samphan resumed at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). Reserve Trial Chamber Judge Claudia Fenz replaced Trial Chamber Judge Silvia Cartwright, who was absent from the hearing.

Witness pushes the KRT to question CPP Senator on crimes committed under the KR regime

Sim Kar was a former KR cadre

សាក្សី​ជំរុញ​ឲ្យ​សាលាក្តី​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម​សួរ​សមាជិក​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​ពី​បទ​ឧក្រិដ្ឋ

29 សីហា 2012
គង់ សុឋានរិទ្ធ
Voice of America

On Tuesday 28 August 2012, Em Oeun, a civil party, pushed the KRT to question Sim Kar, a Senator belonging to the ruling CPP party, about the criminal murder of his father. “Mr. Khieu Sarun was my father’s nephew when Mr. Mao Cheang was his workmate, and Mr. Sim Kar was in charge of the messenger section at Sector 20. And that’s why I said that these three individuals were those who could support the idea that my father was actually taken away, and I just wish to be proven – that my statement be proven by these individuals – that the statement I make is true. Mr. Sim Kar is in Phnom Penh now, and Mao Cheang in Kampong Cham and another person Khieu Sarun is with me in the same village now,” Em Oeun told the court.

ភ្នំពេញ៖ ដើម​បណ្តឹង​រដ្ឋប្បវេណី​លោក ឯម អឿន នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​អង្គារ​នេះ ជំរុញ​ឲ្យ​សាលាក្តី​ខ្មែរក្រហម​ចោទ​សួរ​លោក​ស៊ឹម កា សមាជិក​ព្រឹទ្ធ​សភា​របស់​គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា​កំពុង​កាន់​អំណាច​ទាក់ទង​នឹង​ឃាតកម្ម​លើ​ឪពុក​របស់​ខ្លួន។

កាល​ពី​ប៉ុន្មាន​ឆ្នាំ​កន្លង​ទៅ​នេះ​សហចៅក្រម​ស៊ើបអង្កេត​បារាំង លោក ម៉ាកសែល ឡឺម៉ុង (Marcel Lemonde ) បាន​កោះហៅ​មន្ដ្រី​នយោបាយ​ជាន់​ខ្ពស់​គណបក្ស​កាន់អំណាច​ចំនួន​ប្រាំមួយ​នាក់​ឲ្យ​ចូល​ផ្តល់​សក្ខីកម្ម​ក្នុង​សំណុំរឿង​០០២ ដែល​មាន​ជន​ជាប់ចោទ​ជា​អតីត​មេ​ដឹកនាំ​ជាន់ខ្ពស់​ខ្មែរក្រហម នួន ជា ខៀវ សំផន អៀង សារី និង​អៀង ធីរិទ្ធ។

ឥស្សរជន​ទាំងប្រាំ​មួយ​នាក់​នោះ​ដែល​ជា​បន្តបន្ទាប់​ត្រូវ​បានអះអាង​ថា បានស្ថិត​ក្នុង​ជួរ​ខ្មែរក្រហម​ដែរ​រួមមាន​លោក ជា ស៊ីម ប្រធាន​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា លោក ហេង សំរិន ប្រធាន​រដ្ឋសភា លោក ហោ ណាំហុង ឧបនាយក​រដ្ឋមន្ដ្រី​និង​ជា​រដ្ឋមន្ដ្រី​ការបរទេស លោក គាត ឈន់ ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ដ្រី និង​ជា​រដ្ឋមន្ដ្រី​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច​និង​ហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ រួមទាំង​លោក ស៊ឹម កា និង​លោក គង់ ប៊ុន ឈឿន បច្ចុប្បន្ន​ជាសមាជិក​ព្រឹទ្ធសភា។

Tribunal Defense Continue To Push on Current Ministers’ Roles in Khmer Rouge

The comrades: Keat Chhon (L), Hor 5 Hong (C) and Hun Xen (R)

The testimony is the latest in a line of witnesses who have named the two ministers as former Khmer Rouge cadre.

15.08.2012

By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer

PHNOM PENH - Khmer Rouge tribunal witness Suong Sikoeun told the UN-backed court on Wednesday that current government ministers Hor Namhong and Keat Chhon were both cadre of the regime, though they were “less powerful” than he was and less than the three former leaders currently on trial.

His testimony is the latest in a line of witnesses who have named the ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Finance, respectively, as Khmer Rouge cadre.

That testimony has been pushed by defense teams, who say the former Khmer Rouge leaders on trial—Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan and Ieng Sary—are not getting fair trials because of governmental interference at the court.

Hor Namhong has strongly denied he was a member of the Khmer Rouge, claiming he was a prisoner of the Beoung Trabek detention center, not in charge of it. Most recently, he accused the tribunal defense attorneys of stirring up trouble by questioning court witnesses on his role in the regime. Hor Namhong, Keat Chhon and four other senior officials have meanwhile ignored summonses by the court to appear as witnesses.

Questions on Keat Chhon's and Hor 5 Hong's role during the KR regime muzzled by Nil Nonn

មេធាវី​ដេញ​ដោល​ពី​តួនាទី​លោក ​គាត​ ឈន់ ​និង​លោក​ ហោ ​ណាំហុង​ តែ​ត្រូវ​បាន​កាត់

ថ្ងៃពុធ ទី15 សីហា ឆ្នាំ2012
​ដោយ ពៅ មេត្តា និងស៊ុន ណារិន
Voice of Democracy

ប្រធាន​​​​​អង្គ​​​​ជំនុំ​​ជ​ម្រះ​សាលា​​​ដំបូង​​នៃ​សាលា​​ក្តី​ខ្មែរ​​ក្រហ​ម​ ​និ​​ង​សហ​ព្រះ​​រាជ​អាជ្ញា​ ​បាន​​កាត់​​ផ្តាច់​​​ការ​​ចោទ​​សួរ​​​របស់​​មេធាវី​​​ការ​ពារ​​​ក្តី​អន្តរ​​ជាតិ​​ឲ្យ​លោក​​ នួន ជា​ យ៉ាង​ហោច​​​ណាស់​​​២០​​​​ដង​​ ​ខណៈ​​​មេធាវី​​​ព្យា​យាម​​​ឲ្យ​​​សាក្សី ​បញ្ជាក់​​ពី​​តួនាទី​​ និង​ការ​​ទទួល​ខុស​ត្រូវ​​របស់​​លោក ​គាត ​ឈន់ ​និ​ង លោក​ ហោ​ ណាំ​ហុង​​។

ក្នុង​​​​សវនា​​ការ​​នៅ​ព្រឹក​​ថ្ងៃ​ពុធ​​ទី​​១៥​​ខែ​សីហា​​នេះ​​ មេធាវី​​អន្តរ​​ជាតិ​​ការពារ​​ក្តី​​ឲ្យ​លោក​ នួន​ ជា​ គឺ​​លោក ​ជេស​ ប៉ឺ​ផៅ​ សួរ​សំណួរ​​ជា​ច្រើន​ឲ្យ​​សាក្សី​ សួង​ ស៊ី​កឿន​ ​អតី​ត​​​អ្ន​ក​​កាន់​កិ​ច្ច​​​ការ​​ព័ត៌​​មាន​ ​និង​​ធ្វើ​​ការ​ងារ​​​ស្និទ្ធ​​ជាមួយ​​មេ​ដឹកនាំ​កំពូល​ក្នុង​សម័យ​កម្ពុជា​ប្រជា​ធិប​តេយ្យ​​ ​បង្ហាញ​​ពី​​តួ​នាទី​​​របស់​មន្ត្រី​ជាន់​ខ្ពស់​​រដ្ឋា​ភិបាល​​បច្ចុប្បន្ន​​ពីរ​​រូប​ ដែល​ធ្លាប់​​បម្រើ​​ការ​​ក្នុង​សម័យ​ខ្មែ​រ​ក្រហម​ ​គឺ​លោក​ គាត​ ​ឈន់​ ដែល​បច្ចុប្បន្ន​ ជា​រដ្ឋ​មន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​​សេដ្ឋ​កិច្ច​ ​និង​​ហិរញ្ញ​វត្ថុ​ និង​ លោក ​ហោ ​ណាំ​ហុង​ ជា​​រដ្ឋ​មន្ត្រី​ក្រសួង​​ការ​បរទេស​​ និង ​សហ​ប្រតិ​បត្តិ​​ការ​អន្តរ​​ជាតិ​​។​

សាក្សី​ ​សួង ​​ស៊ីកឿ​ន ថ្លែង​​ថា​លោក ​គាត​ ​ឈ​ន់ ជា​មនុស្ស​សំខាន់​​នៅ​​​ក្រសួង​​ការ​​បរ​ទេ​ស​​ក្នុង​​របប​​​កម្ពុជា​​ប្រជា​ធិប​​តេយ្យ​​​ ៖” ​

មេធាវី ​ជេស ​ប៉ឺផៅ​​ បាន​​សួរ​​បញ្ជាក់​​ពី​ការ​ទទួល​​ខុស​ត្រូវ​​របស់​លោក ​គាត​ ឈន់​ និង ​លោក ​​ហោ​ ណាំ​ហុ​ង​ ហើយ​​ចង់​​ឲ្យ​មន្ត្រី​​ទាំង​​ពីរ​​រូប​​ចូល​ធ្វើ​សក្ខី​កម្ម​នៅ​តុលា​ការ​​តែ ​ត្រូវ​លោក ​និល ​ណុន ជា​ប្រធាន​​អង្គ​ជំនុំ​ជម្រះ​​កាត់​​ផ្តាច់​ ៖”

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: The Dustbin of History

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

សមមិត្តយ៉ែម ប្រកែកញ័រ មាត់តតាត់ ដល់គេចុចចំ

សមមិត្តយ៉ែម

លោក​ហោ​ណាំហុង ក៏​ជា​អ្នកទោស​ម្នាក់ ក្នុង​ជំរំអប់រំ​បឹងត្របែក​

ថ្ងៃទី 3 សីហា 2012
ដោយ: លីនណា
Cambodia Express News

ភ្នំពេញ: ​លោក​ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហោ ណាំហុង រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីការបរទេស និង​សហប្រតិបត្តិការ​អន្តរជាតិ កាលពី​ថ្ងៃទី​២ ខែសីហា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ បានចេញ​លិខិត​យ៉ាងខ្លី​មួយ​ថា “​វា​ជា​រឿង​អកុសល​ណាស់​ថា អ្នក​ដែល​បន្ត​ការពារ​កេរដំណែល​របប​ខ្មែរក្រហម ខិតខំ​បង្វែរ​ការយកចិត្តទុកដាក់ ចេញពី​កេរ​មរតក​របស់​ខ្មែរក្រហម ក្នុង​ផលប្រយោជន៍​នៃ​ការការពារ​របស់គេ ដោយ​បង្វែរ​ទិស​ពី​ការយកចិត្តទុកដាក់​លើ​រឿង​របស់គេ ដោយ​បង្កហេតុ​ឲ្យ​មានការ​យល់ច្រឡំ​មកលើ​ឥស្សរជន​សាធារណៈ ដូចជា​រូបខ្ញុំ​”​។​

​លោក ហោ ណាំហុង បាន​បន្តថា “​ខ្ញុំ​ចង់​និយាយ​យ៉ាងខ្លី​ពី​ប្រវត្តិ​របស់ខ្ញុំ ដើម្បី​ជម្រះ​ឲ្យ​អស់​នូវ​ការខ្វែងគំនិត​ទាំងនេះ​។ របប​ខ្មែរក្រហម គឺជា​រឿង​សោកនាដកម្ម​មួយ ដែល​នៅតែ​ដក់​ជាប់​ក្នុង​អារម្មណ៍​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា​រហូតដល់​សព្វថ្ងៃ​”​។​

​លោក​ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​បាន​បញ្ជាក់ថា “​ក្នុងនាម​ជា​អ្នកទោស​នៅ​ជំរុំ​អប់រំ​បឹងត្របែក ដែល​នៅ​ទីនោះ ខ្ញុំ​បាន​បាត់បង់​ប្អូនស្រី​ពីរ​នាក់ ព្រមទាំង​ស្វាមី និង​កូន​របស់គេ និង​ក្មួយ​ស្រី​ម្នាក់ ក៏ដូចជា​សហសេវិក​ជាច្រើន ខ្ញុំ​គ្មានអ្វី​ក្រៅពី​ការ​សោកសៅ និង​ការរំលែក​ទុក្ខលំបាក​របស់​ជនរងគ្រោះ និង​ក្រុមគ្រួសារ​គេ​។ សូម្បីតែ​មកដល់​សព្វថ្ងៃ​នេះ​ក្ដី ក៏​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា​នៅតែ​បន្ត​រង​ទុក្ខ ដោយសារ​ឧក្រិដ្ឋកម្ម​របស់​របប​ខ្មែរក្រហម​”​។​

សវនាការ​ឡើង​កម្តៅ ពេល​មេធាវី​សួរ​សាក្សី​ពាក់ព័ន្ធ​មន្ត្រី​រដ្ឋាភិបាល

ក្រុម​សហ​មេ​ធាវី​ការ​ពារ​ក្តី​ លោក​ នួន ជា នៅ​ក្នុង​សន្និ​សីទ​កា​សែត​មួយ កាល​ពី​ពេល​កន្លង​មក​។ រូបថត​​ ហុង មិនា

Wednesday, 01 August 2012
Stuart White
The Phnom Penh Post

ភ្នំពេញៈ ប្រសិន​បើ​ការ​បិទ​ក្បាល​មីក្រូ​របស់​មេធាវី ជា​សញ្ញា​បង្ហាញ​ថា ជា​យុទ្ធសាស្រ្ត​មាន​ប្រសិទ្ធភាព​នោះ លោក Andrew Ianuzzi ​មេធាវី​ការពារ​លោក នួន ជា ​កំពុង​ទទួល​បាន​ជោគ​ជ័យ ដោយ​ក្បាល​មីក្រូ​របស់​លោក ត្រូវ​បាន​ផ្តាច់​យ៉ាង​ហោច​ណាស់ ៣ ដង ក្នុង​អំឡុង​ពេល​លោក​ចោទ​សួរ​លោក រចឹម ទន់ អតីត​មន្រ្តី​រដ្ឋបាល​សម័យ​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម ​នៅ​សាលាក្តី​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម កាល​ពី​ម្សិលមិញ។

យុទ្ធសាស្រ្ត​របស់​មេធាវី​ការពារ​បង់​ធំទី ២ នៃ​របប​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម ​ផ្អែក​លើ​ការ​អះអាង​ថា ​តុលាការ​ ត្រូវ​បាន​ជ្រៀត​ជ្រែក​ដោយ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល ជា​ការ​អះអាង ដែល​លោក Ianuzzi ​ខិត​ខំ​បញ្ជាក់​នៅ​ពេល​ចាប់​ផ្តើមសួរ​សំណួរ​ជា​ច្រើន​ដែល​គូស​បញ្ជាក់​ ពី​ទំនាក់​ទំនង​រវាង​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម​ទៅ​នឹង​លោក​គាត ឈន់ រដ្ឋ​មន្រ្តី​ក្រសួង​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច និង​លោក ហោ ណាំហុង រដ្ឋ​មន្រ្តី​ការ​បរទេស ប៉ុន្តែ​បន្ទាប់​មក​ លោក​ត្រូវ​បាន​បង្ខំ​ឲ្យ​លះបង់​សំណួរ​ទាំង​នោះ។

លោក Ianuzzi ថែម​ទាំង​លើក​ឡើង​ ​ថា លោក​នាយក​រដ្ឋ​មន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ផ្ទាល់​ ទទួល​ខុស​ត្រូវ​ ចំពោះ​ការ​ស្លាប់​របស់​មនុស្ស​រាប់​ពាន់​នាក់ ​ភ្លាមៗ​បន្ទាប់​ពី​លោក ​ត្រូវ​បាន​ដំឡើង​តំណែង ​ជា​នាយក​រដ្ឋមន្រ្តី ដោយ​សារ​ការ​ជាប់​ពាក់ព័ន្ធ​របស់​លោក ក្នុង​ផែនការ ក‑៥ ដែល​ទទួល​បរាជ័យ​នោះ ​ដែល​ជា​ផែនការ​បង្កើត​ខ្សែ​បន្ទាត់​ការពារ សម្បូរ​ទៅ​ដោយ​គ្រាប់​មីន​តាម​បណ្តោយ​ព្រំ​ដែន​ថៃ ដើម្បី​រាំង​ស្ទះ​ការ​តស៊ូ​របស់​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម​កុំ​ឆ្លង​កាត់​រវាង​ប្រទេស ទាំង​ពីរ​។

លោក Ianuzzi បាន​សួរ​ថា៖ «​តើ ក‑៥​ ជា​អ្វី?​» មុន​ពេល​លោក និល ណុន ប្រធាន​ចៅ​ក្រម​ជំនុំ​ជម្រះ នៃ​សាលាក្តី បាន​បង្អាក់​សម្តី​របស់​លោក ដោយ​បាន​ប្រាប់​លោក រចឹម ទន់ មិន​ឲ្យ​ឆ្លើយ​ឡើយ។

លោក Ianuzzi បាន​បន្ត​ថា៖ «​មនុស្ស​រហូត​ដល់​ទៅ ៥ ម៉ឺន​ នាក់ អា​ចស្លាប់​ក្នុង​ការ​អនុវត្ត​ផែន​ការ​ក‑៥ ... លោក ហ៊ុន សែន អាច​ទទួល​ខុស​ត្រូវ​ចំពោះ​ផែន​ការ​ក‑៥ ​និង​ការ​ស្លាប់​ដោយ​សារ​ផែន​ការ​នេះ​»។ លោក​បាន​បន្ថែម​ថា ​ផែន​ការ​ក-៥ ស្ថិត​នៅ​ក្រៅ​​អាណតិ្ត​របស់​តុលាការ ប៉ុន្តែ​ក្បាល​មីក្រូ​របស់​លោក​ ត្រូវ​បាន​បិទ​ភ្លាមៗ​នោះ។

មេធាវី​ការពារ​ក្តី​ម្នាក់​នេះ ត្រូវ​បាន​កាត់​ផ្តាច់​ក្បាល​មីក្រូ​ម្តង​ទៀត ភ្លាមៗ​ បន្ទាប់​ពី​សួរ​សំណួរ​លោក ទន់ ថា​តើ លោក​ ទន់​ គិត​ថា លោក ហោ ណាំហុង រដ្ឋ​មន្រ្តី​ការ​បរទេស​បច្ចុប្បន្ន ដែល​លោក ទន់ ថា ទទួល​បន្ទុក​មន្ទីរ​ឃុំ​ឃាំង​បឹង​ត្របែក នៅ​ខណៈ​មួយ ក្នុង​អំឡុង​របប​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម ហើយ​ជា​អតីត​ឯក​អគ្គ​រដ្ឋទូត​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម​ ប្រចាំ​ប្រទេស​គុយបា បាន​ខក​ខាន ចូល​ខ្លួន​នៅ​ចំពោះ​មុខ​ចៅក្រម​ស៊ើប​អង្កេត ដោយ​សារ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ខ្លាច​ចម្លើយ​កសិណ​របស់​គាត់​ឬ?​

លោក Ianuzzi ក៏​បាន​លើក​ឡើង​ពី​លោក គាត ឈន់ រដ្ឋ​មន្រ្តី​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច​បច្ចុប្បន្ន​ នៅ​ពេល​លោក​ជា​កម្មាភិបាល​ជាន់​ខ្ពស់ ក្នុង​ក្រសួង​ការ​បរទេស នៃ​របប​កម្ពុជា​ប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ ​ដែល​ជា​កន្លែង​លោក ទន់ ធ្វើ​ការ​។

Cambodia's leaders called out at Khmer Rouge court

Nuon Chea and defence counsel Andrew Ianuzzi in the courtroom on the first day of opening statements in Case 002. Photograph: ECCC/Mark Peters

Wednesday, 01 August 2012
Stuart White
The Phnom Penh Post

If shutting off an attorney’s microphone is a sign that the lawyer’s strategy is working, then Nuon Chea defence counsel Andrew Ianuzzi was on a roll yesterday, finding himself cut off at least three times during cross examination of former Khmer Rouge administrator Rochoem Tun at the Khmer Rouge tribunal.

The former Khmer Rouge number two’s defence team’s strategy is built upon the assertion that the court has been hobbled by government interference, an assertion Ianuzzi sought to prove by beginning – then being forced to abandon – lines of questioning highlighting the Khmer Rouge ties to current Minister of Finance Keat Chhon and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong.

Ianuzzi even seemed to imply that Hun Sen himself was accountable for thousands of deaths shortly after his installation as prime minister thanks to his involvement in the bungled K5 Plan – an attempt to create a heavily mined and defended strip along the Thai border to prevent Khmer Rouge re­sistance from crossing between the two countries.

Regarding Comrade Hor 5 Hong and Keat Chhon's activities under the Democratic Kampuchea (Khmer Rouge) regime

Excerpt from "Witness Rochoem Ton Faces Questions from the Bench and Defense Teams on Third Day of Testimony"

July 31, 2012

By Erica Embree, JD/LLM (International Human Rights) candidate, Class of 2015, Northwestern University School of Law

Originally posted at: http://www.cambodiatribunal.org/blog/2012/07/witness-rochoem-ton-faces-questions-bench-and-defense-teams-third-day-testimony

Mr. Ianuzzi Examines the Witness on Ministry Personnel

Returning from the lunch break, President Nonn reminded the witness to listen carefully to the questions posed to him and to avoid any irrelevant comments. He then gave the floor to Mr. Ianuzzi to examine the witness.

First, Mr. Ianuzzi asked questions relating to B-1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the witness’s position there. The witness confirmed that he was in charge of B-1’s administration section and that he was in charge overall of psychologically and politically “controlling or administering the people” there. Further, he confirmed that he was personally involved with selecting people to work at B-1.

For his next set of questions, Mr. Ianuzzi focused on specific individuals at the Ministry, first asking whether someone by the alias Mut worked at the Ministry while the witness was in charge. Mr. Rochoem confirmed that Mut worked in the Ministry and further testified that the individual, known as Mut in the Ministry, was named Keat Chhun. Regarding this man’s position and responsibilities at B-1, Mr. Rochoem testified that Keat Chhun was responsible for writing speeches and “when there was a delegation he had the duty to engage in the negotiation and keeping the records.” Mr. Ianuzzi asked for an example regarding such negotiations, such as whether he participated in border talks with Vietnam. The witness replied that border negotiations were not occurring then. He indicated that Keat Chhun dealt with Chinese delegations, and had diplomatic calls. When asked whether he knew of Keat Chhun’s involvement in formulating any policies, Mr. Rochoem reiterated that Keat Chhun handled diplomatic calls. He also stated that Keat Chhun handled speeches to be given at the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Countries. When asked whether Mr. Rochoem went with King Sihanouk on a trip to New York to meet with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the witness replied that he “did not know who he went to see.”

Mr. Ianuzzi referred to testimony given to the Chamber by another witness, describing that the witness stated, “If Keat Chhun had to be removed from the Ministry, it would grind to a halt.” Mr. Ianuzzi asked the witness whether he agreed with this assessment. After Assistant Prosecutor Dale Lysak objected that this mischaracterized the prior witness’s testimony, Mr. Ianuzzi rephrased, asking if there would have been notable repercussions if Keat Chhun was taken from the Ministry. National Civil Party Lead Co-Lawyer Pich Ang objected that the question was hypothetical. President Nonn instructed the witness that he did not have to answer. Mr. Ianuzzi tried to respond to the objection, but President Nonn said that the court had already ruled on the matter.

After Mr. Ianuzzi commented on his prior question’s relevancy, President Nonn instructed Mr. Ianuzzi to stick to facts alleged within the Closing Order. In response to this instruction, Mr. Ianuzzi referred to the section of the Closing Order that said Keat Chhun was a “senior B-1 cadre” and inquired whether Mr. Rochoem would agree with this assessment. The witness confirmed that Keat Chhun was a senior cadre at the B-1, particularly, according the witness, “in dealing with the outside politics as he had a lot of knowledge in this area.” Mr. Ianuzzi then questioned whether Mr. Rochoem was aware of the reason Keat Chhun would not provide testimony to the OCIJ, also asking whether the government was concerned about him giving testimony. Before the witness responded, Mr. Ianuzzi noted that there were two objections being made. President Nonn instructed the witness that he did not need to reply the question.

In response to the ruling, Mr. Ianuzzi attempted to quote from two individuals, reading, “We are of the view that no reasonable trier of fact could have failed to consider that one or more members of the RGC – that’s the Royal Government of Cambodia – may have knowingly or will... .” Before the counsel could complete his statement, President Nonn cut off Mr. Ianuzzi’s microphone, ruling that the question was irrelevant to the facts contained in the Closing Order. President Nonn further noted, “The procedure of summoning this individual or that individual is beyond your capacity.” He instructed counsel to follow Internal Rule 92 regarding written submissions relating to the Chamber’s procedure. Mr. Ianuzzi indicated that his team would make “voluminous closing submissions.” Mr. Ianuzzi asked the bench if their position was that he cannot respond on the record to objections. President Nonn explained that the Chamber “exercised its discretion to avoid any unnecessary questions or comments which are not trying to ascertain the truth.” He reminded counsel that he was given the floor to question the witness, not to assert “political statements or comments.”

Mr. Ianuzzi returned to questioning the witness by referring to the witness’s prior testimony wherein Mr. Rochoem referred to an individual named Hor Namhong in connection to Boeng Trabek and indicated that this individual fled to France and returned to Cambodia to take up a “very senior position here.” The witness confirmed that this was correct. Regarding whether Hor Namhong held a position in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the witness stated that Hor Namhhong was at the Ministry for a short time and that he thought it was in 1978. He added that Hor Namhong was also a part of Thiounn Prasith’s group and Keat Chhun’s group.

Regarding what B-32 is, the witness replied that it is a “mobile office for the leadership.” Referring to the same witness he brought up earlier, Mr. Ianuzzi said that that witness had testified, “So far as I recollect … he [Hor Namhong] spent a longer time at Boeng Trabek.” The witness confirmed that this assertion was correct and described Hor Namhong as being “within the circle of the leadership” before he came to the Ministry. Regarding whether Hor Namhong was ever the Chairman or Vice Chairman of Boeng Trabek, Mr. Rochoem stated that he was in charge of Boeng Trabek “when the Ministry representative went to receive him.”

Mr. Ianuzzi asked the witness whether he was aware of the reason why Hor Namhong refused to appear before the tribunal, again adding the question of whether the government was concerned about him giving testimony. President Nonn directed the witness not to respond. Mr. Ianuzzi pressed on, however, reading the following: “Further investigations are warranted for two reasons. First, the Chamber is under an obligation to ensure the integrity of the proceedings is preserved. Two, preventing testimony from witnesses that have been deemed conducive to ascertaining the truth may infringe upon….” His microphone was again cut off, and President Nonn recognized Mr. Lysak. Mr. Lysak first identified that Mr. Ianuzzi was reading from a Pre-Trial Chamber decision and then argued that it was inappropriate to ask the witness to speculate. He added, “When counsel asks questions that are annoyingly improper, I think it is entirely appropriate for the Court to rule on objections without hearing sustained argument.” Mr. Ianuzzi said he disagreed and argued that he has a right to make a record. He also noted that he had been reading from the dissenting opinion of two Pre-Trial Chamber judges, adding that his team adopted these judges’ position. President sustained the prosecution’s objection.

Khmer Rouge court judge’s request dead [-Exonerating the CPP leaders who were former KR killers?]

Wednesday, 06 June 2012
Bridget Di Certo
The Phnom Penh Post

Extended investigations requested by former UN investigating judge Laurent Kasper-Ansermet would not proceed at the Khmer Rouge tribunal, co-prosecutors said yesterday.

The investigations, relating to alleged Democratic Kampuchea incursions into Vietnam, “were already investigated as part of Case 002” and “bear no relation to the crime sites in Case 003”, Chea Leang and Andrew Cayley said.

“Accordingly, the Co-Prosecutors have respectfully declined to seise the Co-Investigating Judges of these alleged new facts,” they said, adding that they had considered the gravity of the crimes, the scope of the current investigation and “the importance of prioritising the efficient completion of ongoing investigations and trial proceedings before the ECCC”.

On his final day in office, Kasper-Ansermet issued a “forwarding order” saying he had discovered “new facts” in Case 003 that, in his view, required investigation.

Top officials eyed in KRT probe: report

Monday, 04 June 2012
Bridget Di Certo
The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodian People’s Party heavyweights Chea Sim and Heng Samrin are named along with Cambodian Army chief Pol Sareoun and another senator as “persons of interest” in an investigation into government opposed Case 003 at the Khmer Rouge tribunal, Australian newspaper The Age reported yesterday.

International reserve co-investigating judge Laurent Kasper-Ansermet named the four as potentially having information about “atrocities committed against ethnic Vietnamese civilians living on the border with Cambodia”, the paper reported.

Additionally, documents obtained by the Post over the weekend show that Brother No 2 Nuon Chea’s defence team has filed a motion for public disclosure of the “forwarding order” by the now-resigned Swiss judge.

“In a forwarding order issued shortly before his departure (the ‘Forwarding Order’), Judge Kasper-Ansermet made it known to the [Office of the Co-Prosecutors] that – in his considered judicial opinion – Heng Samrin, Chea Sim, Ouk Bunchhoeun and Pol Sareoun may fall within the ECCC’s personal jurisdiction,” the request, filed on Friday, reads.

Cambodian officials named over Khmer Rouge genocide

June 3, 2012The Sydney Morning Herald
Phnom Penh

FOUR senior officials in the Cambodian government have been named as persons of interest by an investigating judge involved in the Khmer Rouge genocide tribunal, confidential documents obtained by The Age reveal.

A United Nations investigating judge who quit the court in early May, citing dysfunctional investigations into the case, has named current Cambodian senate president Chea Sim, National Assembly president Heng Samrin, the chief of the army and another senator as persons of interest.

All were officials in the brutal Khmer Rouge regime that ruled the country from 1975 until 1979 and were named by investigators into Case 003, which includes the imprisonment and murder of thousands of people at the Tuol Sleng prison.

The Cambodian government has blocked prosecutions in the case against former Khmer Rouge air force commander Sou Met and navy chief Meas Muth. Mr Meas Muth allegedly sent two Australian yachtsmen to their death at Tuol Sleng.

In the documents, the UN investigator said the four senior members of the ruling Cambodia People's Party held positions of authority in the Khmer Rouge regime and are key witnesses to atrocities committed against ethnic Vietnamese civilians living on the border with Cambodia.

Pol Pot’s nephew questioned about leaders in government [-Nil Nonn is under Keat Chhon and Hor 5 Hong's boots?]

Saloth Ban

Tuesday, 01 May 2012
Bridget Di Certo
The Phnom Penh Post

Nuon Chea’s defence counsel yesterday attempted to implicate Finance Minister Keat Chhon and Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong for their alleged roles during the reign of the Khmer Rouge, but the line of questioning they took with Pol Pot’s nephew was repeatedly blocked by the presiding judge.

Michiel Pestman quizzed Saloth Ban, who has been on the stand for six days, about Keat Chhon accompanying then-King Norodom Sihanouk on an official visit as figurehead of Democratic Kampuchea to the UN secretary-general in October, 1975.

But Saloth Ban, who worked under Case 002 co-accused Ieng Sary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was blocked by trial chamber president Nil Nonn from answering almost any question concerning Keat Chhon or Hor Namhong.

“The witness is instructed not to answer this question, it is irrelevant,” was Nil Nonn’s oft-repeated order.

Witness Describes Current Minister’s Role in Khmer Rouge [-Comrade Keat Chhon's KR past is coming back to haunt him]

Cambodian Finance Minister Keat Chhon claps during the ceremony to start trading at the Cambodia Securities Exchange in Phnom Penh. Photo: AP

Monday, 23 April 2012
Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

The current finance minister, Keat Chhon, was a member of the Khmer Rouge’s foreign affairs department, a witness told the UN-backed tribunal Monday.

Salot Ban, the nephew of Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot, said Keat Chhon was a subordinate of Ieng Sary, the former foreign affairs minister of the regime, who is currently on trial for atrocity crimes.

Keat Chhon is among six senior government officials who have refused to appear before the tribunal.

Critics say this is evidence of governmental interference in the court’s affairs, but government officials say the appearance of top officials at trial would bias the court.

Salot Ban told court prosecutors Monday that Keat Chhon was a member of foreign delegations alongside other subordinates of Ieng Sary, though he could not recall exact dates.

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: The Top Killers

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

Tribunal Should Summon Top Leaders: Sam Rainsy

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy

From left to right: Keat Chhon, Hor 5 Hong and Hun Xen

Tuesday, 17 April 2012
Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

Sam Rainsy said Tuesday that senior leaders within the government must be brought to the court to testify.

More than 500 opposition supporters gathered at the “killing fields” of Choeung Ek outside Phnom Penh on Tuesday, to mark the anniversary of the Khmer Rouge takeover in 1970.

In a speech broadcast from exile, opposition leader Sam Rainsy urged the UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal to summon some of the nation’s highest-ranking leaders to testify at the court.

No senior leader of the current government has answered summonses from the court, including Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Finance Minister Keat Chhon.

KRT spotlight returns to current leadership

Comrade Heng Xamrin and his KR-clad family

Friday, 10 February 2012
Kristin Lynch
The Phnom Penh Post

The defence team of Brother No 2 Nuon Chea continued in its attempts to link National Assembly president Heng Samrin to its client, and, by extension, the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime, during yesterday’s Khmer Rouge tribunal.

Despite a brief showdown between Trial Chamber president Nil Nonn and defence counsel Michiel Pestman, when Pestman refused to be seated as ordered, Nil Nonn granted the lawyer 30 minutes to interview his client. That right was taken away from Pestman on Wednesday after the chamber president ruled that Pestman had disrespected the bench.

The defence lawyer used his re-allotted time to ask questions about Nuon Chea’s relationship with the future CPP chairman.

The defendant said he had first met Heng Samrin some time in 1959 when he was tasked with serving as Nuon Chea’s escort to Vietnam. “He was close to me and he was rather courageous. He provided me with protection,” Nuon Chea said, adding that such trips, “sometimes once every two months”, up until the country was “liberated” in 1975.

Sam Rainsy appeals defamation sentence

Friday, 23 September 2011
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

Sam Rainsy’s lawyer yesterday asked the Appeal Court to overturn a defamation and disinformation conviction against the opposition leader for his allegation that Foreign Minister Hor Namhong had run a Khmer Rouge prison.

No decision was reached by Presiding Judge Seng Neang, but Hor Namhong’s lawyer, Kar Savuth, told the court he hoped “100 per cent” the two-year jail term imposed on Rainsy in April this year for alleging his client ran the Boeung Trabek prison would be upheld.

“The penal procedure code states clearly that whoever files the complaint must be present at the hearing, and Sam Rainsy was not present,” Kar Savuth said.

“If the culprit [Rainsy] was not present, the opposition’s complaint must perish uselessly and the court must keep the old verdict.

“Therefore, I believe the court dares not to change the old verdict.”

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Banana Stock Exchange

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

Chhang Youk defending Comrade Hor 5 Hong? An eyewitness is not good enough proof?

Accusation of Hor 5 Hong as jail chief is not backed by any document (sic!)

26 July 2011
By Taing Sarada
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Soy
Click here to read the original article in Khmer

Recently, DC-Cam confirmed that it did not see any S-21 document indicating that Hor 5 Hong, the Cambodian minister of Foreign Affairs, was the Boeung Trabek jail chief during the Democratic Kampuchea regime. However, other documents indicated that Hor 5 Hong was the chief of the prisoners (i.e. a “kapo”) who wielded strong influence in the Boeung Trabek detention center during the KR regime.

Recently, Chhang Youk, the president of DC-Cam, showed that, through his research within various documents to find the responsible parties under the KR regime, he did not find any documents showing that Hor 5 Hong was an administrator of the Boeung Trabek jail during the KR regime.

Chhang Youk said that, through his research on a number of confession documents left at S-21 (Tuol Sleng jail), he only found the name of Van Piny [KI-Media note: RFA reported the name as Van Tiny, however, various published documents showed that the name was Van Piny, not Van Tiny as reported by RFA] who confessed that he was the Boeung Trabek jail chief during that period.

Chhang Youk: “The jail chief was Van Piny, it was not him [Hor 5 Hong]. In general the KR structure is very clear, such as group chiefs, there were 3 of them, a unit has 10 chiefs, a large unit has 30 chiefs. Therefore, they have groups and classes. Furthermore in this case, there is no set list with alphabetical order, there is no such thing.”