Khmer Rouge survivors waiting for verdict of former prison head Duch with Anxiety

Cambodians who survived from the Khmer Rouge regime as known officially as Democratic Kampuchea are waiting for the verdict of former head of S-21 prison Duch with anxiety after the ECCC (the Extraordinary Chamber in the Courts of Cambodia) said on May 24 that it would announce for the verdict for Duch (case 001) in July 26 this year.
Bou Meng, a survivor from the notorious central S-21 prison of the Khmer Rouge regime said on May 17 that the verdict for Duch, head of the central prison in Khmer Rouge regime will provide the justice for me and other survivors, victims and souls of the death from this cruel regime. “I have asked the court to sentence him with a life imprisonment,” he told the Southeast Asia weekly by phone from his home in Koh Thom district of Kandal province. Bou Meng survived from the regime through his professional skill as painter.
“I hope the judges from the ECCC will conduct with justice for me and other survivors, other victims and souls of the death from the Khmer Rouge regime,” he said. “I want the court to sentence the leaders of Khmer Rouge regime especially Duch with life imprisonment from their cruel acts in the regime. I was tortured in Toul Sleng prison nearly dead at that time and Duch is the head of that prison. I am anxious to know about the verdict for Duch,” he stresses. “I want the judges to convict Duch for a life imprisonment according to law and if not so it is injustice for me and others,” he said. Duch recognized his responsibility and begged for forgiveness for his acts in the Khmer Rouge regime “I could not forgive for Duch because he and other his guards committed cruel acts, execution, torture on us and other people around 20,000 death in prison, Bou Meng said, adding that I have been waiting for the justice for me for more than 30 years, he added. Another survivor Vo Sok Kheng, 67, from the democratic Kampuchea said that we are waiting to know the verdict of the court for Duch from one day to another day. How many years will Duch face with prison term,” he asked.
According to the statement from the ECCC, The verdict in Case File No. 001 concerning the Accused, KAING Guek Eav alias Duch, will be pronounced on Monday 26 July 2010 in the main courtroom of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).
KAING Guek Eav chaired what is alleged to have been the headquarters of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) Special Branch of the secret police (Santebal) “Office S21” (S21) during most of its existence between 1975-1979. He is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes, as well as premeditated murder and torture pursuant to the 1956 Cambodian Penal Code.
KAING Guek Eav was detained and transferred to the ECCC Detention Centre on 30 July 2007. After an Initial Hearing on 17 and 18 February 2009, the trial on the substance commenced on 30 March and concluded on 27 November 2009. During the 77 days of trial, 9 expert witnesses, 17 fact witnesses, 7 character witnesses and 22 Civil Parties were heard before the Trial Chamber. More than 31,000 people followed the proceedings at the court building. Duch, 67 years old, was head of S-21 prison from 1975-1979 and he used to be mathematics teacher.
The statement from the independent research center for truth in Khmer Rouge , Document Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam) obtained on May 27 said that that DC-Cam center will broadcast directly about the announcement of verdict to allow people to see and hear with their won eyes and ears. “The verdict will be provided the first opportunity for Cambodians to hear public discussion and debate on policies of the Democratic Kampuchea (DK) period that resulted in the deaths of nearly two million people in only three years, eight months, and twenty days.

“Due to limited resources the Center has selected only seven provincial locations, chosen because they are the home districts of commune and village chiefs and victims and former perpetrators who have been actively engaging their communities in the ECCC proceedings, It said, adding that the sites are also historically significant. The seven screening locations are: Svay Khleang, Kampong Cham Rumlich, Pursat Koh Thom, Kandal Prey Lvea, Takeo Trapeang Veng, Banteay Meanchey Veal Sbauv, Kampong Thom Rumduol, Svay Rieng province.

It highlighted that the second trial, or Case 002, although more significant because it will judge the four living senior leaders (Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary, and Ieng Thirith) and the responsibility of the DK leadership, is not expected to begin until 2011 and no verdict will be issued before 2012, by which time the four accused will all be in their early to mid 80s. Due to the long delay before the Case 002 trial and verdict, and the uncertainty if all accused will live to see judgment, the verdict in the Duch case will not only be the first legal reckoning for DK crimes, but also may be the only formal accounting of the abuses of that period.

In a separating case, ECCC is seeking money for the operational work in 2010-2011. On May 27, Cambodian delegation led by H.E. Chan Tani, Secretary of State of the council of ministers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, representing Dr. Sok An, deputy prime minister and minister of the council of ministers, and H.E. Tony Kranh, Acting Director of Administration of Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, Mr. Knut Rosandhaug, Coordinator of UN Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials met with UN Secretary-General Ban Kim-moon, and donor countries for ECCC. UN Secretary-General Ban Kim Moon said at a pledging conference at UN headquarters in New York, attended by Cambodian government officials that the total budget of 46.8 million dollars for the tribunals in 2011 remains unfunded except for 1.1 million dollars pledged by the royal government in Phnom Penh. So far on May 28, it does not have official report for budget that pledged from the donor countries for ECCC.
“The trials involved both international and Cambodian lawyers and prosecutors since 2006 and depended on international financial support. Funds for 2010's trials face shortfall of 14.6 million dollars for the international component and 6.5 million dollars for the national component. 'Both components urgently need further funds,' Ban said, urging governments to support justice in Cambodia. 'Without such support, the chambers cannot function; it is as simple and stark as that,” he said. ##