Because of the Water Festival holidays in Phnom Penh – 23 to 25 November 2007 – our next posting will be the weekly editorial on Sunday, 25 November 2007.The daily translations will start again on Tuesday, 27 November 2007.
Norbert Klein
Editor of the Mirror
The Mirror, Vol. 11, No. 535
“Phnom Penh: Pre-trail procedures at the Khmer Rouge tribunal continued with the hearing of Duch’s complaint on 21 November 2007, the second day of the hearing, in order to deal with the complaint in which the suspect asked to be released on bail. On the second day of the hearing, the number of observer participants decreased, compared to the number of participants on 20 November, because is known that the discussion of the pre-trial is ‘just to deal with Duch’s request to be released on bail, but not to sentence him to prison.’
“Observers of the hearing said that on 21 November 2007, the second day of the pre-trail, they noticed that the majority of the participants is from different provinces and towns, with their participation arranged by [non government] organizations. Mr. Sam Sun Doeun, an official from a civil society organization, who had participated in the People’s Court hearings of Pol Pot regime leaders in August 1979, told journalists that the discussion of the present hearing is better, and it is open. He continued, ‘I want the current Cambodian courts to follow this court.’
“On the second day of the pre-trail hearings, the discussion started at 9 a.m.; the suspect was put in a small place behind the curved wooden dock next to his lawyers, under protection by security guards. From time to time, the judges asked the suspect Duch to stand up and answer their questions. However, Duch answered only a little bit and then transferred the questions to his lawyers to answer more in detail.
“Mr. Moeung Sonn, a former prisoner during the Khmer Rouge regime, said that Duch must dare to answer, in front of the court, everything regarding the activities with which innocent people were treated by militants of that dark regime. He continued, ‘He must confess who was behind him and ordered him, while the other four leaders are detained’.
“Mr. Chan Ke, 52, from Prey Veng, stated that he wants Duch to be detained, not to be bailed out. He said, ‘I want him to be detained, because people want to take revenge, even by killing him.’ He got the impression from listening to discussions for nearly two days that the lawyer’s want to bail him out, but the co-prosecutors said he should be detained.
“Lawyers Mr. Kar Savuth and Mr. Francois Roux stated that the detention of Duch had already lasted almost 9 years; this violates the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, which states that any detention has to be conducted based on an appropriate respect of law. Mr. Kar Savuth continued to say that he has also documents to show the involvement of co-judges with the Military Court.
“Ms. Chea Leang, a co-prosecutor, said that the co-prosecutors implement the law, claiming to have accused Duch with evidence to charge the suspect; and the co-judges are concerned about the suspect, so they decided to detain him temporarily. As for Mr. Robert Petit, he affirmed that the lawyers did note the previous agreements. But he said, ‘There is no relationship between the Khmer Rouge Tribunal and the Military Court, and what we raised is different from what the lawyers raised.’
“Mr. Reach Sambath, the Khmer Rouge Tribunal spokesperson, said that they are not concerned about the decline in the number of citizens who participated, because it is the second day of the hearing. He continued, ‘The trial ended in two days, and the verdict will be announced later’.
“Mr. Robert Petit, the co-prosecutor, added, ‘It is a trial just to decide whether to detain Duch or to release him on bail.’ He continued that the real trial may be held in mid 2008. But Duch said, ‘Please release me temporarily,’ however the co-prosecutors stressed that releasing him to stay outside cannot guarantee his safety.” Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #6199, 22.11.2007
Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Thursday, 22 November 2007
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.6, #1499, 22.11.2007
- After the Water Festival, Prince Thomico Will Go to Meet Samdech Krom Preah [Norodom Ranariddh – trying to reconcile monarchists]
- COMPED of Germany [Cambodian Education and Waste Management Organization] Wants Children on Garbage Dump [in Battambang] to Receive Schooling Like Other Children
Khmer Machas Srok, Vol.1, #57, 22.11.2007
- Mr. Sam Rainsy Calls for Khmer Youth to Participate in Solving National and Social Issues
- Co-Defense Lawyers for Khiev Samphan Will Ask for Their Client to Stay Outside Detention with Bail
- Forest Crimes Still Strongly Persist in Kratie and Kompong Cham because Officials Are Corrupt
Koh Santepheap, Vol.40, #6199, 22.11.2007
- The Second Day of Pre-Trail: Public Opinion Says for Safety Before Trial, “Duch” Must Stay in Detention
- Woman Arrested on Accusation of Trafficking Khmer Women to Sell Their Virginity in Thailand [Sihanoukville]
- President Mr. George W. Bush: Ms. Hilary Clinton Is a Strong Female Candidate
Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.14, #3318, 22.11.2007
- [Ieng Sary’s wife] Ieng Thirith Once Said that Killing of People during Khmer Rouge Regime Was Ordered by Hanoi
- President of Constitutional Council Closes Eyes to Decide to Maintain 2,033 Yuon [Vietnamese] Nationals’ Names on 2008 Voters’ List
Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.15, #4443, 22.11.2007
- Cambodia and China Will Celebrate 50th Year of Friendship Anniversary Next Year
- Investors of Shandong, China, Invest in Rubber Plantation in Cambodia
- H.E. Bun Rany Hun Sen: AIDS Never Forgets Us
- Canadia Bank Marks Its 16th Anniversary
- Three Gang Members Tie Two Women Up and Then Rape Them [one gang member is arrested – Moung, Battambang]
Sralanh Khmer, Vol.3, #558, 22.11.2007
- Ranariddh Attracts Son Soubert [to leave Human Rights Party]; He Reveals Secret about Keo Remy [vice-president of Human Rights Party]… It Is Sensitive [Keo Remy allegedly obeyed Hun Sen’s order to join the Human Rights Party]
- Lao Mong Hay [researcher of Asian Human Rights Commission] Says Re-Trial of Ieng Sary Will Not Affect Samdech Euv’s [the Father King’s] Name
- Ministry of Interior Attempts to Change Chief of Pate Commune, a Sam Rainsy Party Member [the commune chief is jailed, allegedly for political reasons]
- Hun Sen Should Watch so that the [Korean] CAMKO City Company Will Not Deceive Khmer People Like the Long Chhin Company Did
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