1997

Negotiating justice

After their flight from Phnom Penh in January 1979, remnants of the Khmer Rouge continue to fight an insurgency from the Thai border. The vast majority of the CPK's ranking cadres — including senior Party officials, government representatives, Zone leaders and military commanders — have been executed in purges. Very few of the “old guard” remain.

Even after years of turmoil and civil unrest, calls for accountability for Khmer Rouge era crimes grow louder inside Cambodia and beyond.

21 June

Cambodia's First and Second Prime Ministers ask the international community for assistance to bring to justice those responsible for crimes during the Democratic Kampuchea period.⁶⁸

Pol Pot dies in April, while Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan surrender to the Royal Government in December.⁶⁹

18 March

A UN-appointed Group of Experts recommends the creation of a tribunal to try Khmer Rouge officials for crimes against humanity and genocide committed during the Democratic Kampuchea period.⁷⁰

2 January

Following negotiations between Cambodia and the United Nations, the National Assembly of Cambodia approves a draft Law on the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).

6 June

The United Nations and Cambodia sign an Agreement concerning the prosecution of Democratic Kampuchea era crimes at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).

The Agreement comes into effect on 29 April 2005.⁷¹

Moving forward through justice.

3 July

ECCC judges and prosecutors take their oaths of office in a ceremony held at the Royal Palace.

The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia

The ECCC commences work in 2007. Several CPK cadres have passed away since 1979.

Surviving CPK members investigated by the ECCC

IENG Sary

IENG Thirith

MEAS Muth

SOU Meth

YIM Tith

AO An

IM Chaem

Investigated

KHIEU Samphan

NUON Chea

Duch

Sentenced

12 June

The ECCC Plenary adopts the Internal Rules.⁷²

18 July

The Co-Prosecutors formally request the prosecution of Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Thirith and Kaing Guek Eav alias "Duch" for crimes.

Other senior leaders of the CPK such as Pol Pot, Ta Mok, Son Sen and Ke Pauk have passed away by this time.⁷³

31 July

Duch makes his initial appearance before the Co-Investigating Judges.⁷⁴

19 September

Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith are arrested and detained at the ECCC.

8 August

The Co-Investigating Judges indict Duch for the crimes against humanity and war crimes.⁷⁵

20 November

The International Co-Prosecutor requests the prosecution of Meas Muth, Sou Met,⁷⁶ Yim Tith, Ao An and Im Chaem for crimes.⁷⁷

30 March

Hearings in Case 001 commence.

TESTIMONIAL OF VANN NATH (S21 PRISONER)

“What I want is something that is intangible that is justice for those that already died.”

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26 July

In Case 001, The Trial Chamber sentences Kaing Guek Eav (alias Duch) to 30 years' imprisonment for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed at S-21 Security Centre⁷⁸ at which at least 11,742 prisoners were executed.⁷⁹

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Duch’s statement of apology

“As a Party member, I bear moral responsibility before the souls of the dead for all the crimes. As for S-21, I am legally answerable for the deaths of more than ten thousand people...”

15 September

The Co-Investigating Judges indict Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith and Khieu Samphan for crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide, and domestic crimes.⁸⁰

21 November

Hearings in Case 002/01 against Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan and Ieng Sary commence.⁸¹

Case 002/01
TRIAL Summary

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3 February

The Supreme Court Chamber resentences Duch to life imprisonment.⁸²

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14 March

Ieng Sary dies and the proceedings against him are subsequently terminated.⁸³

14 June

Sou Met dies and the proceedings against him are subsequently terminated.⁸⁴

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7 August

The Trial Chamber sentences Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity in Case 002/01.⁸⁵

8 January

Hearings in Case 002/02 against Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan commence.

22 August

Ieng Thirith dies while under judicial supervision after having been found unfit to stand trial.⁸⁶

23 November

The Supreme Court Chamber upholds Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan's life sentence in Case 002/01.⁸⁷

22 February

The Co-Investigating Judges dismiss the charges against Im Chaem.⁸⁸

The Co-Investigating Judges issue conflicting closing orders in relation to Ao An,⁸⁹ Meas Muth⁹⁰ and Yim Tith.⁹¹

The national Co-Investigating Judge dismisses the charges due to the ECCC's lack of jurisdiction over the suspects, while the international Co-Investigating Judge indicts them for various crimes.