Former CPK District Secretary Begins Testimony Before the Chamber

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

Evidentiary hearings in Case 002 against accused Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, and Ieng Sary resumed Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) after a long holiday weekend in celebration of the Queen’s birthday. Morning proceedings began with the calling of a new witness, Yun Kim, a former party district secretary under Democratic Kampuchea (DK). Mr. Kim’s sharp memory and articulate answers contributed to a smooth day of proceedings; only two objections were made during the entire day of proceedings.

Six buses of villagers from Rakakiri district in Battambang province arrived shortly before 9:00 a.m. Having departed Rakakiri at 3:00 a.m. that morning, the villagers successfully completed their six hour journey just in time to hear President Nonn convene the morning session. Despite a very early morning, the villagers remained alert and engaged, leaning forward in their seats and appearing fascinated with the activity before them.

After informing the Court that the accused Ieng Sary would participate in the day’s proceedings remotely from his holding cell, President Nonn gave the floor to Nuon Chea’s International Co- Lawyer Andrew Ianuzzi, who had stood to address the Court.

Mr. Ianuzzi informed the Court that Nuon Chea’s defense team sent a “courtesy copy” of a Rule 87 request to submit new evidence to the Court for impeachment purposes to all parties yesterday afternoon. Given the nature of the request and the need for a “quick decision,” Mr. Ianuzzi asked if the Court could make time to hear any party responses and render a decision on the request by the end of the day. Although he acknowledged the Court’s reluctance to hand down oral rulings, he said the defense for Nuon Chea would rather not proceed with the cross- examination of Witness 797 until the Court had rendered a ruling on the matter.

After briefly convening with his fellow judges, President Nonn announced that the Trial Chamber had not yet received the written request. Once the Chamber received that request, he continued, the Chamber would rule upon the issue “in due course.”

Mr. Ianuzzi started to reply to President Nonn’s announcement, but President Nonn moved on and directed the Court Officer to escort witness 321…

Read more: CTM_Blog_6-19-12

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.