Witness Interviews are Contested and a Western Prisoner’s Fate is Revealed

by Karlia Lykourgou, LLB Law Student 2010, University of Leeds, Santa Clara Summer Programme, Legal Associate for the Documentation Centre of Cambodia
— 5 Aug, 2009

The Trial Chamber for the prosecution of Kaing Guek Eav (alias Duch)!was extremely busy today as a new witness, Chheam Soeur, delivered significant testimony alleging that a western prisoner was burned alive at S-21. The Trial Chamber also deliberated further on the appropriateness of introducing witness interviews conducted by the Office of Co- Investigating Judges (OCIJ) instead of having witnesses physically present for their testimony in the courtroom.

The Fate of Western Detainees at S-21

The morning session began with questioning from the judges, largely led by Judge Ya Sokhan. Although he has not been the most loquacious of judges on the bench to date, his questions were concise and relevant when determining the witness’ background and duties at S-21.

Chheam Soeur was originally forced to join the Khmer Rouge and fight Lon Nol’s government as a child soldier. After 1975 he was taught military techniques in order to fight the Vietnamese. He was later assigned to guard the perimeter of S-21 and was unable to say how long he worked there. He said that by the time the Vietnamese invaded in 1979, he was planting rice at Pre Sar.

In the course of his time guarding S-21, the witness described having seen a Westerner burned alive. According to Chheam Soeur, he once saw a white man with brown hair brought into the grounds of S-21 by the guards, made to sit down, and then car tires were placed on top of him and set alight. The Chamber later clarified that Chheam Soeur believed the prisoner to have been burned alive…

Read more: ctm_blog_8-5-2009

Cambodia Tribunal Monitor’s Trial Observer posts are written according to the personal observations and opinions of the writer and do not constitute a transcript of ECCC proceedings or the views of Cambodia Tribunal Monitor and/or its partners. Official court transcripts for the ECCC’s hearings may be accessed at the ECCC website.