Weekly e-newsletter on Khmer Rouge Tribunal

This is weekly e-newsletter on Khmer Rouge Trial. The KRT web portal team had created "Blog" that allow all members can comment it. 1- Tribunal moves on additional inquiries The Khmer Rouge tribunal opened the door to investigations of additional suspects Wednesday, ending a nine-month disagreement between the national and international co-prosecutors and reigniting a debate about whether further indictments would jeopardise national stability. The disagreement emerged in November, when former international co-prosecutor Robert Petit told his Cambodian colleague, Chea Leang, that he wished to file supplementary submissions for the court's second case - currently set to try four top Khmer Rouge leaders - as well as introductory submissions for two additional cases… 2- Int’l Co-Prosecutor Authorized To Further Investigation Phnom Penh: Who will be targeted for additional investigation into former those most responsible during Khmer Rouge regime? This is no real answer for this question. But, the international co-prosecutor can execute his intention of further investigation as the pre-trial chamber is unable to find solution of disagreement between the national and international co-prosecutors. In late 2008, former international co-prosecutor Robert Petit who quitted effective 1 September had intended to investigate additional those most responsible, but was rejected by national co- prosecutor Chea Leang. Based on procedure, the pair wrote submission respectively to the pre-trial chamber in December 2008 to urge the institution to decide on whose stance must be executed… 3- William Smith begins work as international co-prosecutor Departing international co-prosecutor Robert Petit's resignation went into effect yesterday, one day after the court publicised its decision to appoint one of his deputies, William Smith, to fill the role on an interim basis. The Supreme Council of the Magistracy approved Smith's appointment as acting international co-prosecutor on August 29, according to a court statement… 4- Duch's former students testify Two former students of Tuol Sleng prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, on Tuesday described the former maths teacher as gentle and approachable, and one of his former classmates told the Khmer Rouge tribunal she had been "stunned and terrorised" when she learned of his role at the secret detention facility. The classmate, Sou Sath, 66, said she had been in a study group with Duch when they were students in Kampong Thom province. She described him as a "humble and docile" person who never hesitated to share his knowledge with peers… 5- Duch A Good, Gentle Person, Claim Witnesses Phnom Penh: Witnesses, Duch’s former classmate and student, told Cambodia’s war crimes court on Tuesday, 1 September that Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, ws a good, gentle and respected person. The testifying witnesses are witnesses organized by Duch’s defence lawyer. They knew Duch and will speak good things about the former Tuol Sleng prison chief Duch… 6- Shadow of Kok Sang Kandal Province-Sitting under the mango tree near the well in his wooden house campus, Choun Thon 45 years old was describing his life while he was a child soldier during the Khmer Rouge time (1975-1979). “I was told to carry an AK-47 to fire the Lon Nol’s troop since I was eleven years old”, he said by looking to the tiny square bamboo bed he was on. “The gun was taller than I was, but I felt safe to have it.”… 7- News Summary for August 2009 August 2009 local newspapers covered the stories of witnesses who worked at order of Duch and victims who testified at tribunal about torture at S-21 or Tuol Sleng prison. Duch, former Tuol Sleng prison chief, insisted on S-21 staffer lists again. The co-investigating judges rejected a request by Ieng Thirith’s defence lawyers who requested to exclude admission of any obtained evidence. The August newspapers also printed a request to expand information dissemination of Khmer Rouge trial, especially challenge against Duch whose trial is set to close in late September or early October and news about appointment of a new co-prosecutor to replace Robert Petit… 8- Duch craved acceptance The man who ran Tuol Sleng is a largely unfeeling perfectionist who has often displayed "an absence of guilt" for the deaths of some 16,000 prisoners at the torture facility, two expert witnesses told the Khmer Rouge tribunal Monday. Nevertheless, Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, has recently adopted a "more personal view" of the Khmer Rouge years, speaking of them as less of an observer and more as a participant who regrets his actions, said Francoise Sironi-Guilbaud, a psychologist and lecturer who has written about torturers and their motives… 9- Civil Party Counsels Boycott after Trial Chamber Rejects to Question Defendant Phnom Penh: In nearing of trial closure of former Tuol Sleng chief Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, civil party counsel team boycotted to attend hearing as trial chamber president rejected to question into the defendant’s character. On 31 August 2009 morning, 28 civil party counsels boycotted to attend the hearing, claiming to boycott forever if the trial chamber fail to question into the charged person Duch’s character… 10- Case 001 Ends With Being Hotter, More interesting Case 001 of the executioner chief, best known as Duch, comes to an end and interests more Khmer Rouge victims. At first the hearing seemed to be normal, like pre-organized thing, but at the end, it is observed that it is stricter with an argument showing that the former Tuol Sleng prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, was an executioner chief though a decision has not been made yet. The trial gained hotter and more impression from tribunal observers… 11- Three Motives Caused Duch To Join Revolution Phnom Penh: In 35th week’s hearing of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), the trial chamber allowed Duch to speak of some motives which caused him to join revolution. Duch raised three causes of his decision. On 27 August 2009 afternoon, trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders reached a questioning into characteristics of the former Tuol Sleng prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, blamed for mass killing people at secret prison S-21. During questioning, Duch cited three reasons which caused him to join revolution and played a key role in politics of the era especially when he became S-21 chief…