Witnesses’ Hindered Memories Make for a Difficult Monday

by Kelley Dupre Andrews, JD/LLM (International Human Rights) candidate, Class of 2015, Northwestern University School of Law
— 11 Jun, 2012

The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) was humming with activity on Monday, June 11, 2012, as the Court resumed evidentiary hearings for Case 002 against accused Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, and Khieu Samphan. The public gallery was at full occupancy, with more villagers and students present than any other session in the last four weeks. Nearly 400 villagers and students poured out of six busses from Dambae district in Kampong Cham province. A group of high-school kids from Kampon Speu as well as 28 uniform-clad students from Phnom Penh’s Royal University were also in attendance, making a motley crew of viewers in the public gallery.

Witness Sao Sarun returned to Court, having postponed his testimony the week before due to illness. However, like the Thursday before, Mr. Sarun took the afternoon off, and the second half of the day’s proceedings fell to last week’s reserve witness, Khoeum Ngorn.

Although Mr. Ngorn appeared enthusiastic to continue his testimony until the prosecution concluded its examination, the remainder of Mr. Ngorn’s testimony consisted of hesitant responses and remarks about his poor memory. By the time the defense teams had their turn, the witness’s answers became nearly non-existent…

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.