JUSTICE is NOT REVENGE

 On Monday July, 26 2010 the first verdict was announced in the case against former S-21 head Kaing Guek Eav alias Duch. The former head of S-21 was sentenced to 35 years. Due to his illegal detention from 1999-2007 his sentence was reduced by five years and in addition the eleven years he has already served in prison were credited. Duch has now only 19 years left in prison.

In the evening of the verdict day in Case 001 a panel discussion was organized by the Open Society Justice Initiative. ADHOCs president THUN Saray participated in the panel, next to the US War Crimes Ambassador at large Stephen Rapp, UN Secretary-General Assistant Clint Williamson, ECCC Deputy Prosecutor William Smith, ECCC National Prosecutor CHEA Leang, ECCC Head of Defense Richard Rogers, DC-Cam Legal Advisor Dr. John D. Ciorciariand Civil Party and Representative from KsemKsan CHUM Sirath. The penal was moderated by Heather Ryans, OSJI.

The discussion evolved around the implications of the judgment and the length of the sentence. The international guests were welcoming the judgment and the praising the work of the ECCC.

Questions to the panels’ experts were evolving around the civil party mechanism and the “uncreative” interpretation by the Trial Chamber in the regards of reparations. The ECCC Trial Chamber issued in the judgment that all statements of apology and acknowledgment of responsibility made by Duch during the course of the trial will be posted within the next 2 weeks on the ECCC’s official website as part of the reparations mandate of the court.

Mr. THUN Saray was stating that the victims are not satisfied with the length of the sentence, recognition of only 66 put of 93 Civil Parties and not existence of reparations. Furthermore he explained that justice is not revenge but it is important to monitor the process and advocate that there will be no earlier release for Duch.