Preview of the Defense: Khieu Samphan and Ieng Sary Respond

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

Opening statements in Trial 002 ended today with more of the spirited debate and verbal fireworks that have punctuated these proceedings from the beginning. With Nuon Chea‟s team denied an opportunity to continue its response to the Co-Prosecutors‟ opening statement, the court gave the floor to Ieng Sary and Khieu Samphan to make their remarks and preview their defense as they wished.

In the packed public gallery, the audience of mostly secondary school students and villagers was restless and talkative for most of the morning, even during the proceedings, though the reason was unclear. Yet, despite this restlessness, the audience listened attentively to both Ieng Sary and Khieu Samphan, seemingly eager to hear more from these men and perhaps receive some explanation for the events and atrocities that occurred under the Khmer Rouge regime…

Read more: ctm_blog_11-23-11_CTM Blog Entry_Trial 002

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