After months of delays, judges at the tribunal have set a schedule for the first substantive hearing at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. While last week's Initial Hearing marked the official start of Comrade Duch's trial, it was a purely procedural event. As I've mentioned before, the real meat of the trial is yet to come.

According to the Trial Chamber's order, we can expect it in late March. The substantive hearing will begin Monday, March 30 at 10 a.m. and continue March 31 and April 1 at 9 a.m. From that point, proceedings will run every week, Monday through Thursday, beginning at 9 a.m.

Proceedings will not be held on national holidays and the court will observe two periods of rest, from April 13 to 17, and May 1 through 15. The current schedule only runs through July 2, and additional trial days will be determined at a later date.

The next several months will no doubt be an incredibly exciting, and historic, period in Cambodia.

* Pictured: "Comrade Duch" at the Initial Hearing. Photo courtesy of the ECCC.