“They Shall Be Heard”

by Christine Evans, Clinical Fellow, Center for International Human Rights, Northwestern University School of Law (JD and LLM)
— 30 Jun, 2011

Called “one of the most successful and ordered procedural hearings that I have done” by Co- Prosecutor Andrew Cayley, the initial hearings in Trial 002 at the ECCC came to a close today in the same way that they started – with spirited, and at times tense, debate.

At issue today was the Trial Chamber’s provisional list of witnesses, civil parties, and experts who will be called to testify during the upcoming trial of the senior Khmer Rouge leaders Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith, and Khieu Samphan. All four accused were present in the courtroom as the hearings began, with only Ieng Sary exiting the courtroom toward the end of the public session. For the first time in the initial hearings, Nuon Chea remained in the courtroom for the duration of the Thursday’s proceedings, holding true to his promise to return and participate when matters involving his case were before the court.

The public also continued to attend the hearings to the end. Although the court session started with a fair number of empty seats in the public gallery, more students soon arrived, nearly filling it to capacity…

Read more: ctm_blog_06-30-2011

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.