“A Prison Without Walls”

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

The second day of the trial of Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan and Ieng Sary in Case 002 at the ECCC began in a more subdued manner, with the yard around the courthouse noticeably empty of much of the international media and their cameras and gear that had filled the space on the first day of the proceedings. The public gallery also filled slowly, with many seats unoccupied by the time the court came to order. While some of the regular observers were absent, many in the audience appeared to approve of the presence of a large number of students from the local police academy, with at least one person noting aloud the importance of this lesson in history for those who will one day hold power themselves.

The proceedings in the courtroom did not reflect the restrained atmosphere in the public gallery, though, as the day began with an accusation by Ieng Sary’s defense counsel of a violation of his client’s rights and continued throughout the day with a passionate conclusion to the Co- Prosecutors’ opening statement and heated exchanges between Nuon Chea’s defense counsel and the court and culminating in a speech by one of the Accused himself…

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.