Duch Portrayed as Selfless Student and Dedicated Teacher

by Michael Saliba, J.D. (Northwestern Law '09), Consultant to the Center for International Human Rights, Northwestern University School of Law
— 1 Sep, 2009

The tribunal heard the testimony of four witnesses who knew the Accused Person, Kaing Guek Eav (alias Duch) when he was a student and a teacher. However, before these character witnesses testified, the defense finished its questioning of the expert witnesses Francoise Sironi-Guildbaud and Ka Sunbaunat. Through his questioning, international defense counsel Francois Roux attempted to demonstrate the sincerity of Duch’s remorse which has been a hotly contested issue throughout the proceedings. He recounted to the experts Duch’s acts and statements, such as Duch’s emotional apology and voluntary participation in the re-enactment at Tuol Sleng prison (S-21) and Choeung Ek.

Roux also revisited the issue of Duch’s ability to be rehabilitated which was contested by the prosecution yesterday. He recalled the experts’ statements that a person is not born an executioner, but that one becomes an executioner. Using this same logic, the experts agreed that a person such as Duch could be made “human” again. In other words, he could be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society…

Read more: ctm_blog_9-1-2009_0

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.