Defense lawyers for Khmer Rouge leaders Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan boycotted an opening hearing for the two men on Friday, leaving the courtroom and putting the second and final phase of the trial for the two men in limbo.
The trial of two former Khmer Rouge leaders resumed on Friday. They were accused of genocide. Nuon Chea, 88 and Khieu Saphan, 83, were convicted in August on charges of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life in prison.
It remains unclear what will happen next with the hearing, which was to begin a trial of atrocity crimes for the two men, including, for the first time, genocide.
There was no discussion of a lack of movement on two cases—Nos. 003 and 004—at the court, nor a discussion of at least one potential defendant’s refusal to answer a court summons.
Cambodian and UN officials say they still need more funding to continue the work of the Khmer Rouge tribunal, despite waning interest from some donors.
The complaint accuses Nil Nonn, head of the Trial Chamber, French judge Jean-Marc Lavergne, and three other judges of “bias” and requests they be disqualified.
The hearings will open Oct. 17 in what is the tribunal’s most important trial to date.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong is slated to deliver a speech to the UN’s General Assembly on Monday in New York.
The donation includes 144 film slides, one audiocassette, and 1,220 digitalized photos.
Filloux spent years working with victims of the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia.
The date will mark the beginning of the second and final phase of the trial against Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, which was broken into two parts for expediency.
Load more