How can you apply to become Civil Party in Cases 003 and 004?

What does it mean to be a Civil Party?
A Civil Party is a victim who participates as a party to the proceedings before the
Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). Civil Parties enjoy broadly similar rights as the Co-Prosecutors and the Defence, and they can seek moral and collective reparations.  

Civil Parties have the right to be represented by either a Cambodian or an international lawyer. During the investigative phase, Civil Parties may ask the Co-Investigating Judges to interview them, question witnesses, go to a crime site, or collect other evidence on their behalf.

Applying as a civil party is free of charge and being represented by a lawyer is also free of charge.

If a case goes to trial, all Civil Parties will form one consolidated group.

Who can apply to become a Civil Party?
Victims of the alleged crimes in Cases 003 and 004 may apply to become Civil Parties. If you, or a close family member suffered physical, material or psychological injury as a direct consequence of at least one of the crimes currently under investigation (see list of crimes being investigated below), you may be eligible to become a Civil Party.

How can you apply to become a Civil Party, free of charge?
Anyone who believes they may qualify as a victim can apply to become a Civil Party, free of charge. The way to do this is to fill out a Victim Information Form, which can be requested from and returned to

Victims Support Section
Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia
National Road 4
Chaom Chau, Porsenchey
PO Box 71, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Phone: 023 861 895; or 097 742 4218 (helpline).

The office is open Monday to Friday (9 AM until 4:30 PM), except on public holidays.

Email: vss@eccc.gov.kh

Download Victims Information Form:

It is very important that you fill out all the information in the Victim Information Form, and include the following information:

  • Your name;
  • If you are applying to become a Civil Party because of crimes committed against a close family member, include the name of the family member and your relationship to him/her;
  • Your contact address in Cambodia;
  • Your signature or thumbprint;
  • All available information related to the crime or crimes which make you a victim;
  • Whether you apply to become a Civil Party to Case 003, Case 004 or both;
  • (Important) A copy of your identity card (if available) or any other form of identification; and
  • Any documents that support the information you have provided in the form, such as a photo of the Victim (if available).

You can also get assistance with completing the Victim Information Form by contacting:

Documentation Center of
Cambodia (DC-Cam)
P.O. Box 1110; 66 Sihanouk Blvd.,
Phnom Penh
Phone: +855 (0) 23 211 875
Fax: +855 (0) 23 210 358

How can you find a lawyer to represent you?

The ECCC Victim Support Section can help you find a lawyer who will represent you free of charge. The contact details for the Victim Support Section are set forth on the previous page.

You may also contact any of the following
organizations if you need help to find a
lawyer, also free of charge:

Avocats sans frontieres France (ASF France)
Phone: +855 92 807 718
Email: 
officecambo@avocatssansfrontieres-france.org
projetcetc@avocatssansfrontieres-france.org

Cambodian Defenders Project
Address: #1, St. 450, Toul Tumpoung 2, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh,
Website: www.cdpcambodia.org
Email: cdp@cdpcambodia.org

What kind of reparations can Civil Parties request?

If a person accused of a crime at the ECCC is found guilty, Civil Parties can ask the ECCC to grant reparations. Individual financial compensation is not possible in the ECCC proceedings. The judges have the power to award what are called “collective and moral reparations.”

In this context, “collective” means that the court is only able to order reparations that benefit Civil Parties as a group or that benefit groups of victims or Cambodian society.

The term “moral” reparations in this context refers to the specific type of reparations that the court is able to order. “Moral” reparations are reparations that are more symbolic than they are material or economic.

Examples of “collective and moral reparations” could be: orders to publish the court’s judgment in the mass media at the expense of the convicted person; orders to fund non-profit services or other activities that aim to benefit victims; or the creation of a memorial.

You can propose the type of collective and moral reparations you would like the ECCC to grant when you fill out the Victim Information Form.

Case 003:

Anyone who is a victim of alleged crimes that occurred on the following sites
between 17 April 1975 and 6 January 1979 may apply to become a Civil Party:

  • S-21 Security Centre, Phnom  Penh
  • Stung Tauch execution site, Ponhea Krek District, Kampong Cham Province
  • Kampong Chhnang Airport Construction Site, Krang Leav commune, Rolea P’ier district, Kampong Chhnang Province
  • Division 801 Security Centre,Veun Sai District, Rattanakiri Province
  • Stung Hav Rock Quarry worksite, Kampong Som Province
  • Wat Enta Nhien Security Centre and execution site (also known as Wat Kroam), Kampong Som Province
  • S-22 Security Centre, Mean Chey District, Phnom Penh
  • Durian Plantation,Ream Village, Ream Commune, Prey Nub District, Preah Sihanouk Province
  • Bet Trang worksite, Bet Trang Commune, Prey Nub District, Preah Sihanouk Province

CASE 004

Anyone who is a victim of the following actions may apply to become a Civil Party:

  • Actions against the Cham population in Kampong Cham
  • Actions against the Khmer Krom population in Takeo and Pursat
  • Actions against the East Zone evacuees
  • Purges of the Central Zone (Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom)
  • Purges of the North-West Zone (Pursat, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey)


Anyone who is a victim of alleged crimes that occurred on the following sites between 17 April 1975 and 6 January 1979 may apply to become a Civil Party:

A)  Kampong Cham Province (Central Zone) 

  • Wat O Trau Kuon Security Centre in Peam Chi Kong Commune, Kang Meas District
  • Wat Batheay Security Centre in Batheay Commune, Batheay District
  • Met Sop (Kor) Security Centre in Kor Commune, Prey Chhor District
  • Wat Phnom Pros Security Centre in Krola and Ampil Communes, Kampong Siem District
  • Kok Pring Execution Site in Vihear Thom Commune, Kampong Siem District
  • Chamkar Svay Chanty Security Centre in Svay Teap Commune, Chamkar Leu District
  • Anglong Chrey Dam Forced Labour Site in Prey Chhor District
  • “Thnal Bek execution site”, Svay Teap commune, Chamkar leu District, Kampong Cham Province (in relation to Wat Baray Chan Dek Security Centre)

B)  Kampong Thom province (Central Zone)  

  • Wat Srange Security Centre in Tbeng Commune, Kampong Svay District
  • Tuol Ta Phlong Prison and Execution Site in Kampong Chen Cheung Commune, Stung District
  • Wat Kandal Security Centre in Chror Neang Commune, Baray District
  • Wat Baray Chan Dek Security Centre in Balaing Commune, Baray District
  • The “Colonial Prison in Kampong-Thom”, Kampong Thom City, Kampong Thom Province (purge of the Central Zone)

C)  Pursat Province (North-West Zone)

  • Prison No. 8 in Sya Commune, Kandieng District
  • Tuol Pochrey Execution Site in Sre Sdok Commune, Kandieng District
  • Tuol Seh Nhauv Pits and Prey Krabau Killing Fields, Rumlech and Khnar Totung communes, Bakan District, Pursat Province
  • Phum Veal Prison, Talo commune, Bakan District, Pursat Province
  • Svay Chrum aka Phum Thkaul prison and Boeng Bat Kandal aka Trach Kraol Prison, Boeng Bat Kandal commune, Bakan District, Pursat Province
  • Chanreangsei Pagoda Execution Site - Kaun Thnoat or Cham Village mass graves and wells, Rumlech commune, Bakan District, Pursat Province
  • Veal Bak Chunching execution site, Sre Sdok commune, Kandieng District, Pursat Province

D)  Battambang Province (North-West Zone)

  • Wat Kirirom Security Centre in Phnom Sampov Commune, Banan district
  • Banteay O Ta Krey Execution Site in Treng Commune, Ratanak Mondul District
  • Banteay Treng Security Centre in Treng Commune, Ratanak Mondul District
  • Wat Thoamayutt Security Centre in Moung Ruessei District
  • Wat Kandal Security Centre in the center of Battambang City
  • Wat Samdech Security Centre in Ta Pon Commune, Sangke District 
  • Wat Po Laingka Security Centre in Kampong Prieng Commune, Sangke District
  • Thipakdei Security Office and Tuol Mtes worksite, Thipakdei commune, Koas Krala Disitrict , Battambang Province
  • Phnom Tra Cheak Chet and Along Vil Breng, Ruessei Preah village, Chhnal Mean Commune, Koas Krala Disitrict, Battambang Province
  • Sector 1 Security Office & Damnak Reang execution site, Banan village, Kanteu commune, Banan District, Battambang Province

E)  Banteay Meanchey Province (North-West Zone)

  • Wat Banteay Neang Security Centre in Banteay Neang Commune, Mongkol Borei District
  • La-Ang Phnom Kuoy Yum Execution Site in O Prasat Commune, Mongkol Borei District 
  • Wat Chamkar Khnol Execution Site in O Ombel Commune, Sisophon District
  • Phnom Trayoung Security Centre in Preah Net Preah District
  • Phum Chakrey Security Centre in Choup Commune, Preah Net Preah District
  • Wat Preah Net Preah & Chamkar Ta Ling
  • Trapeang Thma Dam in Por Char Commune, Phnom Srok District
  • Spean Spreng & Prey Roneam Dam in Preah Net Preah District

F) Takeo Province (South-West Zone)

  • Wat Pratheat Security Centre in Kok Prech Commune, Kirivong District
  • “Prey Sokhon execution site” and the “Wat Ang Srei Muny Detention Centre”, Sy Sla village, Thlea Prachum commune, Koh Andet District, Takeo Province
  • Slaeng village forest; Wat Angkun; Preil and Saom villages Execution sites & Wat So Ben prison, Kok Prech and Kampeng communes, Kirivong District, Takeo Province
  • Kraing Ta Chan Security Center, Tram Kak District, Takeo Province