Testimony of Witness Sao Sarun Concludes with Defense’s Impeachment Efforts
Visitors from across Cambodia packed the public gallery at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) Tuesday, June 12, 2012, as proceedings resumed in Case 002 against accused Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, and Ieng Sary.
Seven commercial busses filled the parking lots, bringing almost 500 villagers and students from across the country to witness the historic trial. The students, hailing from Hun Sen Klar Kon High School in Bantheay Meanchey province over 400 kilometers away, left home at 10:00 p.m. the previous night in order to arrive at the ECCC for morning session. Though a few students mentioned being tired, they all appeared excited to have arrived.
The crowd was so large that security guards had to turn away late arrivals; with no seats left in the public gallery, these visitors had to settle for watching the morning proceedings remotely from the common courtyard.
Only four rows of the public gallery were filled during the afternoon session, however. A group of monks had replaced the students, occupying the front row. Dressed in traditional, vibrant
orange sbangs, the monks created a stark contrast to the neutral colored walls and deep blue seating of the public gallery.
The Court provided a full day of proceedings for the viewers, convening shortly after 9:00 a.m. and continuing until a few minutes after 4:00 p.m., finally concluding the testimony of witness Sao Sarun…