This week the Trial Chamber heard from the final two witnesses in the segment on the treatment of the Cham and continued with a new segment on security centers and internal purges that began last week. On Monday Witness Ms. Moeung Chandy, who testified last week, answered questions from the Defense on her detention at Au Kanseng Security Center. After a one-day adjournment for International Women’s Day, on Wednesday the Chamber heard the testimony of Van Mat on the treatment of the Cham. Van Mat is an ethnic Cham man who currently works as a bodyguard for Prime Minister Hun Sen and provided testimony about the armed resistance that took place in 1978. Witnesses who appeared on Thursday and Friday, namely Chan Tauy and Net Savath, testified on the Phnom Kraol Security Center in Koh Nhek District, Mondulkiri Province. Chan Tauy said he was detained there for one month in 1977 and described the poor conditions he experienced. He also testified about his knowledge of purges in the East Zone. Net Savath testified that he was detained at Phnom Kraol at the same time as Chan Tauy and corroborated much of the testimony Mr. Chan had given the previous day. He also spoke about purges of Northeast Zone cadres, particularly Ney Saran who was married to the Witness’s sister. The issue of torture tainted evidence was again raised this week, as well as submissions to admit new documents ahead of the appearance of a new Expert on the treatment of the ethnic Cham, 2-TCE-88, who will appear on 14 March 2016 and whose name was inadvertently revealed during proceedings this week.
KRT Trial Monitor No. 46 – Hearings on Evidence Week 43 (7-11 March 2016)
