On 7 May 1975, Francois Ponchaud was one of the last foreigners to leave Cambodia following the Khmer Rouge takeover on 17 April 1975. After having spent weeks in French Embassy compound in Phnom Penh, Mr. Ponchaud was deported by the new regime. His book “Cambodia:Year Zero” was published in 1977.
Mr. Ponchaud took the witness stand to testify in Case 002 on Tuesday 9 April 2013. Although being of French origin, Mr. Ponchaud, who first arrived in Cambodia in 1965, told the president of the Trial Chamber that he would prefer to give his testimony in Khmer. Mr. Ponchaud was to provide and account of the situation in Cambodia between 1970-1975, and then to explain what he saw and experienced on 17 April 1975.
The testimony of Mr. Ponchaud is scheduled for 9, 10 and 11 April 2013, and you can follow the testimony through a live vide feed as follows:
English: http://www.eccc.gov.kh/en/live-stream
Khmer: http://www.eccc.gov.kh/live-stream
French: : http://www.eccc.gov.kh/fr/live-stream
