News Articles

In three decisions rendered on 30 April 2010, the Pre-Trial Chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) dismissed appeals lodged by the charged persons Ieng Sary, Khieu Samphan and Ieng Thirith against three orders extending the periods of their respective provisional detention. 

The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, Ms. Patricia O'Brien has visited the ECCC his week and held meetings with both national and international officials of the Court. On a town hall meeting with all ECCC staff on 21 April 2010, Ms. O'Brien commended the the Court for its progress. - The fact that the trial in Case 1 has been successfully completed, and judgment expected in the coming months, is already a success story for the ECCC. It is a great tribute to all of you working here in the Court, to the determination of the Government and people of Cambodia, and to the strength of the partnership with the United Nations, Ms. O Brien said. Under-Secretary-General O'Brien flanked by Acting Director Tony Kranh (left) and Deputy Director Knut Rosandhaug (right).

The approved budget for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) for 2010 and 2011 has been released and is now available on the ECCC website.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, the Public Affairs Section of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) brings a group of 300 villagers from the Cambodian countryside to visit the ECCC and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.

More than 7,000 students and teachers at Bak Touk high school in Phnom Penh were briefed by officials from the ECCC on 1 March 2010. The visit was part of a nationwide outreach program where court officials visit villages and schools all over Cambodia. The main goal with the outreach program is to increase awareness and understanding of the ECCC among regular Cambodians.   

In respect of Civil party applicants in Case 002 who have filed applications with the Victims Support Section up to the deadline of 29 January 2009, the Co-Investigating Judges of the ECCC have decided to accept supplementary information from those applicants if they wish to supply it.

Following the nomination by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and the approval by the Supreme Council of the Magistracy, His Majesty the King Norodom Sihamoni has appointed Ms. Catherine Marchi-Uhel (France) as new international judge to serve in the Pre-Trial Chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). 

The Internal Rules of the ECCC as amended by the 7th ECCC Plenary Session was published on Friday 19 February 2010. You can read the updated version of the Internal Rules here: http://www.eccc.gov.kh/english/internal_rules.aspx 

Today the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) signed an agreement with the Hoover Institution, Stanford University and the War Crimes Studies Center of the University of California, Berkeley for the establishment of a ECCC Virtual Tribunal Legacy Project.

The 7th Plenary Session of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) today concluded, having enacted a number of rule amendments designed to ensure effective and streamlined Civil Party participation in ECCC proceedings.

"Although trial of Case File 001 completed with significant success, many challenges remain including maintaining the agreed timelines. The timelines were projected in consultation with all judicial offices. Now is the time to deliver", said H.E. Kong Srim, the President of the  Plenary during the opening of the 7th Plenary Session of the ECCC.  President of the Plenary, H.E. Kong Srim and International Vice-President Judge Silvia Cartwright during the opening of  the 7th ECCC Plenary Session.   Opening speech by H.E. President Kong Srim at ECCC Plenary Session 2 February 2010  Opening Speech by International Vice President, Judge Silvia Cartwright ECCC 7th Plenary Session, 2 February 2010. 

The Public Affairs Section of ECCC has just released a new video explaining the basics of the ECCC, with focus on the first trial against Kaing Guek Eav alias Duch. The video was originally produced for a meeting with the Group of Interested States to the ECCC in New York in December 2009. You can watch the video below.   A Khmer version of the video available here

Between 2 and 9 February 2010, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) will hold its 7th Plenary Session in the Main Courtroom on the premises of the ECCC.

On 14 January 2010, the Co-Investigating Judges notified all parties to the proceedings that they consider the judicial investigation in Case File 002 to be concluded.

The Victims Unit is extending its opening hours for all persons wishing to file an application to become a Civil party in Case 002, in which charges have been laid against Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith, Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan and Kaing Guek Eav. 

Today, in accordance with Rule 66(1) of the Internal Rules of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), the Co-Investigating Judges have notified all the parties and their lawyers that they consider that the judicial investigation in Case 002, in which charges have been laid against Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith, Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan and Kaing Guek Eav, has been concluded.

The Supreme Court Chamber has issued a decision on the appeals filed by lawyers for Civil Parties against the Trial Chamber's oral decision in August that barred civil parties from making submissions relevant to sentencing and from posing questions to character witnesses. This is the first ever decision by the Supreme Court Chamber.In its decision, the Supreme Court Chamber finds the appeals inadmissible, citing the sentencing and character decisions fall outside the scope of the ECCC's Internal Rule 104 (4) which specifies immediate appeals. In its reasoning, the chamber also cites such decisions can be appealed only at the same time as an appeal against the judgement on the merits.

The budget request for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) for 2010 and 2011 was presented to the Steering Committee of UNAKRT and the Group of Interested States to the ECCC (GIS) during meetings in New York this week.  Both Acting Director of the Office of Administration, HE Tony Kranh and Deputy Director Knut Rosandhaug were present during the meetings.

An Order from the Co-Investigating Judges, dated 8 December 2009, finds that the form of liability known as Joint Criminal Enterprise (JCE) applies for international crimes prosecuted before the ECCC. 

In a Decision issued on 9 December 2009, the Pre-Trial Chamber dismisses an application from Ieng Sary to disqualify Co-Investigating Judge Marcel Lemonde for alleged bias. Related documents: Decision on Ieng Sary`s application to disqualify Co-Investigating Judge Marcel Lemonde 

Following the nomination by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and the approval by the Supreme Council of the Magistracy, His Majesty the King Norodom Sihamoni has appointed Mr. Andrew T. Cayley (United Kingdom) as new international Co-Prosecutor in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. Mr. Nicholas Koumjian (USA) has been appointed as reserve Co-Prosecutor. 

See video from the third day of the closing statements in the trial against Kaing Guek Eav alias Duch, where visitors came from as far away as Siem Reap to watch the proceedings.

In two separate orders issued on 10 November, the Co-Investigating Judges have extended the provisional detention of Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith for a maximum term of one year.

Having received an introductory submission filed by the Co-Prosecutors of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) on 18 July 2007, the Co-Investigating Judges are currently conducting a judicial investigation into allegations of crimes committed by Khieu Samphan, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith and Kaing Guek Eav (Duch) between 17 April 1975 and 6 January 1979 (Case File 002).

"We want to see justice done," was the overwhelming response of participants at a regional forum in Kampong Cham, 24-25 October, when they were asked why the wanted to participate in the trials before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).