On Wednesday, August 2, 2023, the Public Affairs Officer of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) delivered a presentation on the ECCC's achievements and legacy to around 230 students from Preah Sdach district, Prey Veng province. The presentation took place on the Win Win Memorial site during the study tour organized by the Khmer Rouge tribunal.
The Public Affairs Officer explained that ECCC has brought to trial four former senior Khmer Rouge officials and one individual responsible for the most serious crimes. He named Nuon Chea, former president of the National Assembly at the Democratic Kampuchea, and deputy secretary of the Communist Party, Khieu Samphan, former head of state, Ieng Sary, former deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister, Ieng Thirith, former Minister of Social Affairs, and Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, former chairman of Tuol Sleng Prison or S-21.
The officer added that with the completion of the judicial docket, the ECCC will work for an initial period of three years (2023-2025) in the implementation of the addendum to the agreement between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the United Nation on the residual functions. These functions include among others, residual legal activities, monitor and enforcement of reparations awarded to civil parties, maintenance, preservation and management of the ECCC archives, declassification of documents and dissemination of information about the ECCC as widely as possible. The leader of the group from the Preah Sdach district who is in charge of the study tour praised and thanked the Khmer Rouge tribunal for setting up the program.
According to him, the youth would benefit from the visit by learning the truth about the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge and the importance of peace. He also expressed his gratitude to the Royal Government of Cambodia for bringing forth peace and develop in all sectors.
The ECCC outreach study visit brings students to major historical places connected to the Democratic Kampuchea regime as are the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the Choeung Ek Genocide Center, and the Win Win Memorial.
The weekly ECCC outreach study tour, coordinated and lead by the Public Affairs Section is conducted for students, young people, and the general public seeks to raise awareness about the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge regime. AS more than 500,000 members of the national and international public have taken part in outreach study tours since 2009 until the present day, 2023, with the Public Affairs Section of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal coordinating them.
