The Victims Support Section of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) today convened a two-day forum in Battambang for 250 Civil Parties in the ECCC’s Case 002. These Civil Parties come from across the northwest of the country, including Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Pursat provinces.
The Forum provides an opportunity for Civil Parties to learn about recent developments at the Court and about progress in their individual cases. It also allows them the opportunity to meet their own lawyers individually, and to discuss their participation in Case 002 and expectations.
Opening the Forum, the ECCC’s Acting Director of Administration H.E. Tony Kranh stressed the novelty of Civil Party participation. “This is the first time in a Court supported by the international community that victims have full rights of participation as parties to the case”, he said. He pointed out that the main aim of the Administration is to support the full and effective exercise of the parties’ rights before the Court.
Mr. Kranh took the opportunity to hand to the President of the Battambang Provincial Court, Mr. Neou Yarath, copies of the Court’s recent judgement in Case 001 against Kaing Guek Eav for the reference of his Court’s judges. President Neou declared himself “very satisfied” with the judgement.
Deputy Governor of Battambang, H.E. Mr. Sieng Suthang, also noted the importance of the judicial process in allowing victims to move forward with their lives and rebuilding their communities, and thanked the Court for convening this first Civil Party forum in this part of the country.
The Forum, also attended by civil society organisations assisting victims, runs from 30-31 August.