More than 12,000 visitors have attended the Duch trial

On Wednesday, 22 July 2009, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) reached the benchmark of 12,000 visitors in attendance of Case 001 against Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch since the trial began on 30 March 2009.

 Villagers lining up before attending the Duch-trial on 22 July 2009. 
Villagers lining up before attending the Duch-trial on 22 July 2009. 

During recent months, the Public Affairs Section has strengthened efforts to increase both outreach activities and visitor attendance at the court.  Due to targeted effective outreach through the use of radio broadcasts, the court has been able to provide to larger audience information about how to attend the court hearings. The ECCC is providing free bus transportation to the court from the provinces for groups of 30 or more that have expressed interested in attending the Duch-trial. 

Four months into the Duch-trial there is still a large interest in visiting the court. Already, buses have been organized to bring over another 1,000 visitors to view the hearings in the upcoming two weeks.   Representatives of villages and communities that wishes to visit the court hearing can contact Press Officer Mr. Dim Sovannarom (phone number 012 488 094) or Outreach Assistant Mr. Chin Hemvichet (phone number 012 696 220). Individual visitors can find more information about how to visit the court at http://www.eccc.gov.kh/english/cabinet/fileUpload/141/ECCC_Visitor_Info.pdf


A packed ECCC court room on 22 July 2009 

As of Tuesday, 21 July 2009, 11,990 visitors had attended the Duch-trial since it commenced on 30 March. This makes a daily average of 249 visitors.
 
Hearing Dates (Weekly) Total Visitors (Weekly)
30/03/09 - 01/04/09 1176
06/04/09 - 09/04/09 623
20/04/09 - 23/04/09 642
27/04/09 - 30/04/09 742
18/05/09 - 21/05/09  575
25/05/09 - 28/05/09 560
08/06/09 - 10/06/09 415
15/06/09 - 170/6/09 621
22/06/09 - 25/06/09  860
29/06/09 - 02/07/09  1899
06/07/09 - 09/07/09 1553
13/07/09 - 16/07/09 1504
20/07/09 - 21/07/09 820
  
Grand Total as of Tuesday, 21 July 2009 11,990

  
Monks eating lunch outside the court room during a break in the proceedings

 

Photos from court proceedings are available at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/krtribunal/sets/72157621772525656/

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