The 11th ECCC Plenary Session Convenes
The 11th ECCC Plenary Session was held today, promising to streamline and expedite the coming proceedings in Case 002/02 before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.
In his opening remarks, Justice H.E. Kong Srim, President of the Plenary and of the Supreme Court Chamber, had words of welcome for two new representatives of the court. Judge Martin Karopkin (USA) will sit as a Reserve International Judge of the Trial Chamber, and Judge Olivier Beauvallet (France) as a Reserve International Co-Investigating Judge.
Justice Kong briefly reviewed the progress of the trials thus far, referring to the judgments of guilt against the Accused for crimes against humanity, their punishment of life in prison, the endorsement of eleven reparation projects acknowledging the harm perpetrated against civilian parties, and the outstanding Notices of Appeal made by the Accused requesting declaratory relief from the Supreme Court Chamber findings.
The justice thanked all for their contributions to the work on the trials with a special thanks to the work of the funders who have made it possible. Justice Kong emphasized the unprecedented civil participation in the tribunal. He cited the 104,444 members of the public that have come to the ECCC to watch the proceedings.
Justice Chang-ho Chung, Vice-President of the Plenary, spoke next. He highlighted how the court had proved that it “could handle international crimes in accordance with international standards of due process and rule of law.” The judge praised how the court had enhanced the involvement of the Cambodian people by use of Cambodian judges, and the positive effect the ECCC’s work on capacity needs had had on strengthening the national justice system as per the Principle of Complementarity of the ICC. Again on a precedential level, Justice Chung pointed out that the ECCC is “the first international court that has allowed victims to participate as full parties in the proceedings.” He closed with an argument that it is time to open up discussions into the establishment of an Asian Court of Human Rights to continue the legacy of the ECCC in developing the rule of law and human rights throughout Asia.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Justices Karopkin and Beauvallet were sworn in as members of the court.
The court then went into closed session in order to discuss proposed amendments to four Internal Rules of procedure.
The substantive evidentiary hearings commence tomorrow, October 17, 2014.