On May 30, 2012, the Cambodia Tribunal Monitor (CTM) Project of the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam) conducted a workshop at Phnom Penh International University with participation of 400 foundation-year students. This is the second time that the CTM team has been there. With the same objective, the presentation focuses on the history of Democratic Kampuchea, and on-going development at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).

 

Starting at 9:00 a.m, Hou Hem, Head of Foundation Year Department, welcomed the team and participants, and listed the agenda of the day. Hin Sam Ath, Senior Vice-Rector of General Affairs, was then invited to give an opening speech. He encouraged students to pay attention to the presentation which focuses on the history of Democratic Kampuchea and on-going development of the trial of the senor Khmer Rouge leaders, as the presentation could provide student precise understanding of the country’s history, and to learn a lesson from the past.

 

Chea Phalla, leader of the group, then emphasized objectives of the workshop, and discussed the Khmer Rouge history by first tracing back to the creation of Cambodian Communist Party established in 1940s to struggle against the French colony, the party connection with the Vietnamese Communist Party, and King Sihanouk’s neutral policy during the cold war. She also mentioned about several main driving forces leading to the collapse of the Lon Nol regime, and people’s lives under the Khmer Rouge era (1975-1979). She ended her presentation by encouraging students to do more research on this topic by using Cambodia Tribunal Monitor Website (http://cambodiatribunal.org/), and screening a film “Tuol Sleng Prison in 1979”.

 

Later, Dy Socheata presented about trial of the senior Khmer Rouge leaders. She began with Case 001 which included Kaing Guek Iev alias Duch who was sentenced to life in prison. Duch was head of S-21. Then she moved to discuss about Case 002 which included 4 accused. At present, only 2 defendants were found in Case 002 as Ieng Sary just passed away in March 2013, and Ieng Thirith was released last year because she was unfit to stand trial.

 

The presentation ended fruitfully with questions from the floor. Students were happy to learn about the history of Khmer Rouge and on-going development of the ECCC. Some of them promised to share what they learned to their friends and fellows.

 

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