PHNOM PENH: The control of the former Khmer Rouge tribunal was officially transferred to the Army Command on Wednesday, 28 December 2022, signalling a complete closure of the hybrid tribunal’s work in Cambodia.
At the handover ceremony on Wednesday, Army Commander-in-Chief, Lt. Gen. Hun Manet, said that this event was not just about transferring the use of the former tribunal’s buildings, but also signalled a closure of the whole exercise. The location of the former Khmer Rouge tribunal has been transformed from a place of justice to a place where the work of national defense will resume. The Royal Government originally handed over part of the military base to serve the Khmer Rouge trial since 2006.
"The light of justice gained from the trial process over the past 16 years is also the closing of this dark chapter in the history of the Cambodian people, the victims of the brutal regime, as well as for humanity,” said Lt. Gen. Hun Manet. “In addition, the court has given Cambodians, especially the younger generation, the opportunity to know and experience the trials of senior leaders and those most responsible for crimes committed during the Democratic Kampuchea regime. Education and remembrance of tragedies that must never happen again, both in Cambodia and in the world."
He applauded the success of the Khmer Rouge tribunal, a joint effort between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the United Nations, ensuring both respect for national sovereignty and international standards of justice.
"These are the contributions made in the interest of justice, ensuring the maintenance of peace, national unity, and providing an important psychological compensation for victims and their families, as well as preventing the recurrence of the tragedy that Cambodia suffered between 1975-1979."
The Khmer Rouge Tribunal began its work in early February 2006 and completed four cases. This includes case 001, the trial of former Tuol Sleng prison chief Kaing Guek Eav (known as Duch), case 002/01, the trial of Khieu Samphan and Mr. Nuon Chea, case 004/01 dropping the charges against Him Cham, and case 004/02 dropping the charges against Oa An.
The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) is scheduled to close by the end of 2022 after more than 16 years of operation, which required a total budget of US $330 million.
