VZCZCXRO5850
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHPF #0645/01 2440831
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 010831Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1131
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PHNOM PENH 000645 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, P, D, DRL, S/WCI 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KJUS PREL EAID CB
SUBJECT:  Khmer Rouge Tribunal:  The Trial of S-21 
Interrogation Center Head Kaing Guek Eav, Week 18 
 
REF: PHNOM PENH 626 AND PREVIOUS 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Embassy staff routinely observes the proceedings 
of the trial against the notorious Khmer Rouge (KR) torture center 
head, widely known as Duch, at the Extraordinary Chambers in the 
Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) (Reftel).  This report summarizes the 18th 
week of activities inside the court at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. 
More technical accounts of the proceedings can be found at: 
www.csdcambodia.org; www.kidcambodia.org and at 
http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~warcrime/. END SUMMARY. 
 
KR's Psychological Legacy, Civil Party Lawyers' 
Role Cut Short 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Court wrapped up civil party testimony in Week 18 and 
prepared to move to the next phase of the trial, in which witnesses 
will testify on the defendant's character.  Cambodian psychologist 
Dr. Chhim Sotheara gave detailed testimony on the mental traumas 
experienced by KR victims.  Lamenting the lack of psychiatric and 
counseling services in Cambodia, the expert witness noted that the 
atrocities committed by the KR regime have had ripple effects on 
younger generations.  He noted that 40% of Cambodians over the age 
of 18 have experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. 
The Court also heard procedural arguments from the Defense against 
civil party applications and appeals from the civil party attorneys 
to be able to question witnesses in the next phase of the trial. 
The judges ruled that civil parties would not be allowed to make 
submissions on the issue of sentencing, nor would they be allowed to 
question remaining witnesses regarding the character of the accused. 
 The rulings have effectively restricted the substantive roles of 
the civil parties until closing arguments. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Herewith are observation notes for the week beginning 
August 24, 2009: 
 
Monday, August 24: 
 
The ECCC Public Outreach office continued to pack the audience, as 
witnesses testified in front of another full house, this time 
comprised mostly of attendees from Kampong Speu Province. 
 
Final Civil Party Witnesses Testify 
----------------------------------- 
 
Civil party Chhum Noeu testified regarding the deaths of her husband 
and son and detailed her own suffering under the Khmer Rouge regime; 
she was a former Khmer Rouge cadre who had been imprisoned for two 
years at the rural S-24 prison camp.  Duch acknowledged that Chhum 
Noeu's husband died at S-21 prison.  The day's second witness, Ms. 
Chhim Navy, described how her husband was arrested in early 1976 and 
killed later that year in S-21.  Chhim Navy asked the defendant why 
her husband was killed and demanded compensation for her lost time 
under the regime.  Duch recognized Chhim Navy's husband as an S-21 
detainee but did not answer her question regarding the reasons for 
his execution.  The defendant also noted that civil party 
compensation was not his decision. 
 
The day's proceedings ran smoothly.  There were no interruptions, 
and the translation was well done. 
 
Tuesday, August 25: 
 
A large group of observers attended today's trial from Kampong Thom 
Province, although most of them had to leave before the trial ended. 
 There was a small group of staffers from the Trans-cultural 
Psychosocial Organization in attendance to observe their colleague 
Dr. Chhim Sotheara's testimony. 
 
The Khmer Rouge Legacy on Cambodian Psyches 
------------------------------------------- 
 
Chhim Sotheara, a specialist in trauma, stress, and 
depression-related disorders, testified that approximately 80%-90% 
of survivors of the Khmer Rouge Regime have never consulted with 
mental health professionals about their experiences, and as a result 
continue to suffer today.  Dr. Chhim described how the Khmer Rouge's 
destruction of infrastructure, culture, religion, families, and 
individuals, as well as the climate of fear and suffering had taken 
a large toll on the Cambodian population.  He noted that 40% of 
Cambodians over the age of 18 have experienced symptoms of 
post-traumatic stress disorder.  Dr. Chhim said that the Tribunal 
helped Cambodians confront their past and called for the creation of 
local reconciliation commissions to aid in the healing of Cambodian 
society.  The translators struggled at times with some of the 
technical medical vocabulary, and Court President Nil Nonn had to 
intervene to ensure the translation was accurate. 
 
Wednesday, August 26: 
 
PHNOM PENH 00000645  002.3 OF 002 
 
 
 
Approximately 400 observers attended the trial.  Over 100 were from 
Kampong Speu and Kampong Cham provinces. 
 
Lawyers Clash over Quality of Evidence 
-------------------------------------- 
 
No witnesses presented during the day's proceedings.  Court 
President Nil Nonn announced at the start that the trial would only 
last a half-day because an emergency meeting had to take place in 
the afternoon.  The defense lawyers and the civil party lawyers 
spent the morning arguing over use of documents and evidence in 
civil party claims.  The defense attempted to challenge the civil 
party applications of 26 people, claiming that the case files 
contained insufficient proof of the parties' kinship to S-21 
victims. 
 
The proceedings generally ran well, although the electricity was cut 
off during the first half of the session.  Nil Nonn also had to ask 
the civil party attorneys to slow their speech to allow the 
interpreters time for proper translation. 
 
The audience remained quiet but interested in the proceedings.  One 
observer from Kampong Chhnang said that he felt the judgment of each 
case had to be based on indirect proof provided by the civil 
parties, because little direct evidence remained from the Khmer 
Rouge time. 
 
Thursday, August 27: 
 
A mix of observers from Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Cham provinces 
attended the trial today.  Most of the observers seemed to be below 
30 years of age.  Several said that their local authorities had 
informed them about the trial and that they were eager to attend. 
 
There were no witnesses in the Court today.  Instead, the judges 
addressed complaints filed by the defense and civil party lawyers 
the previous day.  As the Court moves to its next phase, in which 
witnesses will comment on Duch's character, the civil party lawyers 
argued that they should be allowed to question the witnesses.  After 
adjourning to consult, the judges ruled against the motion, barring 
the civil party lawyers from questioning the next round of 
witnesses. 
 
 
RODLEY