Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Chea defence calls for PM, other leaders to testify at KRT

Chea defence calls for PM, other leaders to testify at KRT

Victor Koppe, international lawyer for Nuon Chea, appears at the Khmer Rouge tribunal in 2014. ECCC
Victor Koppe, international lawyer for Nuon Chea, appears at the Khmer Rouge tribunal in 2014. ECCC

Chea defence calls for PM, other leaders to testify at KRT

The defence team for Nuon Chea has called for senior government and military figures – including Prime Minister Hun Sen – to appear before the Khmer Rouge tribunal.

In a submission made public on Monday, the defence argued that delving into the extent of a “treasonous rebellion” backed by Vietnam was crucial to ensure their client, the Khmer Rouge’s brother number two, was given a fair trial.

The defence requested the court summons 35 witnesses – four of them top-ranking government leaders, and three from the armed forces, as well as filmmaker Robert Lemkin.

“Deciding not to summons the requested witnesses will effectively and finally prevent Nuon Chea from presenting his defence altogether,” the filing read. “This will constitute a straightforward violation of . . . Nuon Chea’s right to a fair trial.”

Chea’s international lawyer, Victor Koppe, said the matter was not just about calling high-profile witnesses, but was also the defence’s “final chance” to present its case to the public.

“We haven’t been able to do anything in the last nine years . . . we were never allowed to do our own investigation – that was strictly forbidden,” he said.

The submission stated: “Following its 1978 invasion, Vietnam occupied Cambodia for a decade [and] installed a loyal puppet government that is still effectively in power today.”

Koppe said that he was “pessimistic” the witnesses would be called, and doubted high-profile ones would appear if summonsed.

“They are afraid that we will expose their role,” Koppe said, alluding to the crushing of a Cham rebellion and the forced evacuation of Phnom Penh, in which the defence says current National Assembly President Heng Samrin played a part.

When asked if the submission politicised the trial, Koppe responded: “This trial is 100 per cent political to start with . . . it’s impossible not to get political.”

Government spokesperson Phay Siphan said parliamentarians had immunity to not appear before the court.

He added that the court should focus its attention on why the regime executed almost 2 million of its own people. “It’s a strategy by the defence to raise the issue of the Vietnamese as a scapegoat to deviate the focus of the [tribunal],” Siphan said.

Trial observer Heather Ryan described the filing as “an extended critique of the trial”.

“The court has the difficult task of evaluating the relevance of the requested witnesses without being influenced by any of political pressure that has influenced past decisions not to summon witnesses with political influence or connections,” she said via email.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • PM to open new Siem Reap int’l airport December 1

    Prime Minister Hun Manet and Chinese leaders would jointly participate in the official opening of the new Chinese-invested Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport on December 1. The airport symbolises a new page in the history of Cambodian aviation, which will be able to welcome long-distance flights to

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former

  • Minimum wage set at $204, after Sep 28 vote

    The minimum wage for factory workers in the garment, footwear and travel goods industries for 2024 has been decided at $204 per month, with the government contributing $2. Following several negotiation sessions, the tripartite talks reached an agreement during a September 28 vote, with 46 of 51 votes supporting the $202 figure.