Public Forums

on

Justice & Reconciliation

(March 2006—July 2009)

Press Statement at 10^th Anniversary of the German Civil Peace Service Theary Seng with Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul (Berlin, 19 August 2009)

Justice & Reconciliation Forum Schedules

PUBLIC FORUM DAY

For each public forum on Justice & National Reconciliation, the Center for Social Development (led by Theary Seng, March 2006-July 2009) places great energy and attention in creating a safe environment to facilitate dialogue.  The chairs are arranged intimately closely in an oval shape in order that every participant can see the face of everyone else in the room.  Also, we do not have more than 200 participants (normally, 150 invited villagers and some relevant 30-50 individuals from Phnom Penh) at each forum; anything more would be a rally, not conducive for dialogue and deep engagement.

The principal goal of these public forums is to provide a secure space for conversations on topics many years overdue and highly sensitive and emotional, and in the process to broaden this conversational space.  We have an experienced German psycho-therapist and sensitive CSD staff trained in psychology on hand for counseling throughout the whole process – during ground preparation, tour visit, and Forum Day.

Many Cambodians in these villages have limited access to general information, particularly on these issues of justice and reconciliation. Not only do Cambodians experience informational limitation but also geographical limitations.  Their sense of “the world”, of “the nation”, of “being Cambodian” is geographically limited to their village or commune for many of them have never traveled outside of their communes.

In light of this knowledge, CSD focuses on instilling quality of information and presentation to engage all the five senses in this process of learning and engagement.  We invite different organizations and institutions to present diverse and competing ideas, through their talks or the printed materials which we encourage them to distribute at our public forums.  Moreover, each public forum is broadcasted and re-broadcasted on local television and national radio stations (3-5 hours per day on CSD Voice of Justice Radio Program) of that particular province's public forum during the following month, reinforced by countless interviews with Theary Seng on Radio Free Asia, Voice of America and RFI (very popular in Cambodia) , etc. As we are more concerned about deep, quality engagement and fully aware that these provincial participants will be ambassadors to their families and neighbors in their village, thus acting as multipliers, CSD would like to provide them with as many resources as possible to take back home with them in our limited engagement of several weeks we had with them (from ground preparation to Phnom Penh tour to the actual Forum Day).

GROUND PREPARATION

The Public Forum Unit makes 2-3 visits to the targeted province to meet with local authorities and villagers in small group settings to invite, to inform and to discuss with them the topics and logistics of the tour to Phnom Penh and Forum Day.

Initial meetings with provincial villagers to introduce and invite them to the Public Forum, for some of them to the Tour Visit in Phnom Penh (here in Mondulkiri).  I tried to also make as many of these ground preparation trips, here yes, to Mondulkiri and Kratie (where in the photo I am meeting with provincial government officials to invite them as well as ask for their recommendations of who else to ask for attendance.  We also go to local NGO human rights organizations with similar introduction and request in order to provide a balance mix of government and civil society invitees.

PROVINCIAL TOUR VISIT TO PHNOM PENH

(Tuol Sleng, Choeung Ek, ECCC)

Of the 150 invited provincial participants, CSD invites 50 of them to tour Phnom Penh (ECCC, Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek) one week before Forum Day. The idea is that during Forum Day, the one-third participants would be able to contribute more meaningfully to the larger discussions and dialogue after having experienced these sites in Phnom Penh.

Theary Seng speaking with visitors from Pailin to the ECCC, as ECCC Public Affairs chief Reach Sambath looks on.

Pailin residents at S-21 (Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum)...one week later, they attend the one-day public forum back in their home of Pailin.

Justice & Reconciliation Forum Photos and Agenda (2006-2009)

-  KAMPOT province (2006)

Former U.S. War Crimes Ambassador David Scheffer (left) and Theary Seng (in black) with other senior Kampot goverment, ECCC officials including Dr. Helen Jarvis, and human rights monitoring group, e.g. OSJI Heather Ryan.

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

Ground Preparation

Public Forum Morning

-  KRATIE province (2006)

Theary Seng, Canadian Ambassador Donica Pottie, Kratie provincial deputy governor, ECCC co-prosecutors Robert Petit and Chea Leang (Kratie, 2006).  We changed from only having conversations for several hours in the morning into a full Public Forum Day with this Kratie dialogue.

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

Ground Preparation

Public Forum Day

-  SIEM REAP province (March 2007)

DED Wolfgang Mollers, ECCC co-prosecutor Chea Leang, Siem Reap parliamentarian, Theary Seng, Dr. Helen Javis, ECCC Victims' Unit Chief Keat Bophal (left); Siem Reap man questioning the ECCC (right), (Siem Reap, 2007).

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

Ground Preparation

Provincial Tour Visit to Phnom Penh (S-21, Choeung Ek, ECCC)

Public Forum Day

-  MONDOLKIRI province (May 2007)

DED Wolfgang Mollers, Theary Seng, ECCC Reach Sambath, deputy provincial governor, Japanese Embassy political officer (left), Dy Khamboly; ethnic minorities of Mondulkiri (2007).

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

Ground Preparation

Provincial Tour Visit (S-21, Choeung Ek, ECCC)

Public Forum Day

-  SVAY RIENG province (June 2007)

Secretary of State of Ministry of Justice, DED Andreas Selmeci, ECCC Reach Sambath

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

Ground Preparation

Tour Visit to Phnom Penh (S-21, Choeung Ek, ECCC)

Public Forum Day

-  KAMPONG THOM plus PREAH VIHEAR provinces (July 2007)

ECCC Dr. Helen Jarvis, ECCC co-prosecutor Robert Petit, ECCC co-investigative judge Marcel Lemonde, ECCC Defense Support Section chief Rupert Skilbeck, ICTJ senior lawyer Caitlin Reiger, Theary Seng (pictured), embassy representatives, DED Wolfgang Mollers, East-West Center Phil Estermann at Kampong Thom public forum where Pol Pot's relatives are in the audience.

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

Ground Preparation

Provincial Tour Visit to Phnom Penh (S-21, Choeung Ek, ECCC)

Public Forum Day

-  KEP Municipality, incl PHNOM VOAR and KAMPOT province (Aug. 2007)

Long Panhavuth of Open Society Justice Initiative, David Boyle of ECCC Office of Co-Investigating Judges, DED Andreas Selmeci, Kampot Deputy Governor, Kep district governor

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

Ground Preparation

Tour Visit to Phnom Penh (S-21, Choeung Ek, ECCC)

Public Forum Day

-  BATTAMBANG province (Sept. 2007)

ECCC Public Affairs chief Helen Jarvis, UN Senior Assistant Prosecutor Anees Ahmed, Richard J. Rogers of ECCC Defense Support Section, Battambang Deputy Governor, American lawyer Ben Fleming of ECCC Office of Co-Investigating Judges, Heather Ryan of Open Society Justice Initiative, Australian Embassy representative

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

Ground Preparation

Tour Visit to Phnom Penh (S-21, Choeung Ek, ECCC)

Public Forum Day

-  PHNOM PENH national conference (Nov. 2007)

Japanese Ambassador Katsuhiro Shinohara, ECCC chief administrator Sean Visoth, Theary Seng, German Ambassador Frank Mann, ADHOC president Thun Saray on panel at Hotel Le Royal, Nov. 2007.

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, Theary's Opening Comments)

-  ODDAR MEANCHEY province (Feb. 2008)

Bill Smith (ECCC deputy UN co-prosecutors) answering questions of perpetrators/victims as Theary Seng and deputy chief of mission Fiona Couchaud, former KR leader and now deputy provincial governor and other ECCC officials listen.  Oddar Meanchey was created as a political compromise to integrate the former KR soldiers into society.

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

Ground Preparation

Provincial Tour Visit to Phnom Penh (S-21, Choeung Ek, ECCC)

Public Forum Day

-  RATANAKIRI province (Mar. 2008)

Theary Seng facilitating one-day dialogue with former KR soldiers and ethnic minority victims, as bulky policemen roam around outside to intimidate should we address the land-grabbing problems outside of our justice and reconciliation dialogues.

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

Ground Preparation

Provincial Tour Visit to Phnom Penh (S-21, Choeung Ek, ECCC)

Public Forum Day

-  KOH KONG province (June 2008)

Theary Seng listening to deputy governor of Koh Kong as NHK (Japan), ARTE (France/Germany) and Marc Eberle filmed the one-day dialogue.

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

Ground Preparation

Provincial Tour Visit to Phnom Penh (S-21, Choeung Ek, ECCC)

Public Forum Day

-  TAKEO plus KAMPONG SPEU provinces (1 Aug. 2008)

Theary Seng comforting a woman who witnessed her husband chopped to pieces in front of her, whose killer is still in her midst, as the provincial deputy governor, ECCC officials, among others, listened.

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

Ground Preparation

Provincial Tour Visit to Phnom Penh (S-21, Choeung Ek, ECCC)

Public Forum Day

-  KAMPONG CHAM province (29 Aug. 2008)

Cambodian Co-Prosecutor Chea Leang, UN (German) Senior Assistant Prosecutor Jurgen Assmann, American lawyer Ben Fleming of ECCC Office of Co-Investigating Judges

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

Ground Preparation

Tour Visit to Phnom Penh (S-21, Choeung Ek, ECCC)

Public Forum Day

-  PAILIN Muncipality (Oct. 2008)

A tough crowd of still hard-core former KR soldiers and supporters to facilitate; this man is explaining why he continues to support the senior Khmer Rouge leaders, as Theary Seng pushes him on his thoughts regarding the testimonies of countless victims as heard from the CSD public forums broadcasted all over the country on the Voice of Justice radio program and through other civil society outreach programs.

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

Ground Preparation

Provincial Tour Visit to Phnom Penh (S-21, Choeung Ek, ECCC)

Public Forum Day

The Phnom Penh Post (27 Oct. 2008)

-  PHNOM PENH national conference (Nov. 2008)

Theary Seng hosting the National Conference on Justice & Reconciliation with ECCC co-prosecutors Robert Petit and Chea Leang; ECCC chief administrator Sean Visoth; ECCC co-investigative judges You Bunleng and Marcel Lemonde; ECCC Defense Support Section Richard J. Rogers; CSD Board of Directors Haidy Ear Dupuy; OSJI Heather Ryan and DED country director Wolfgang Mollers answering victims from all Cambodia (Hotel Cambodiana, Nov. 2008).

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

-  BANTEAY MEANCHEY province (Feb. 2009)

Long Panhavuth of Open Society Justice Initiative speaking, 27 Feb. 2009, Banteay Meanchey

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

Ground Preparation

Tour Visit to Phnom Penh (S-21, Choeung Ek, ECCC)

Public Forum Day

-  STUNG TRENG province (April 2009)

ECCC Press Officer Lars Olsen, Stung Treng deputy governor, DED Stefan Kiesel, French lawyer Pauline Baranese of ECCC Defense Support Section

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

Ground Preparation

Tour Visit to Phnom Penh (S-21, Choeung Ek, ECCC)

Public Forum Day

-  PREY VENG province (May 2009)

The amazing, generous Robert Petit (ECCC international co-prosecutor), who attended almost all of CSD public forums all over the country, listening to questions from victims/perpetrators, as Theary Seng looks on.

MORE PHOTOS
(agenda, press release, radio broadcasts)

Ground Preparation

Provincial Tour Visit to Phnom Penh (S-21, Choeung Ek, ECCC)

Public Forum Day

-  PURSAT plus KAMPONG CHHNANG provinces (July 2009)

-  KAMPONG SOM plus KAMPOT provinces (Aug. 2009)

-  KANDAL province (Sept. 2009)

Video Clips of Public Forum Highlights in 2008

Video clips from Oddar Meanchey, Ratanakiri provinces

Video clips from Ratanakiri and Koh Kong provinces, including NHK

Video clips from Koh Kong, Takeo, Pailin provinces

Justice & Reconciliation Forum on Voice of Justice Radio Program

The Voice of Justice (now CJR's Voice of Justice & Reconciliation) Radio Program conceived by Theary Seng, is managed and hosted by the golden voice of Ms. Chap Chandina (with Women's Media Center for 9 years prior to joining CSD, now continuing with CJR) and can be heard seven days a week, covering 19 provinces and municipalities on (2006-09):

• Monday - Sunday (1-2 p.m) Sovanna Phum FM 104
• Monday - Sunday (11 a.m - 12 p.m) and (7-8 p.m) Commerce Station FM 93.5
• Monday - Sunday (8 - 8:30 p.m) Beehive Radio FM 105
• Monday - Sunday (1 -2 p.m.) Battambang FM 90.25
• Monday - Friday (4- 5 p.m.) Women’s Media Center FM 102

-  Radio FM 104 reaches approx. 14 provinces.

-  Radio FM 93.5 reaches approx. 17 provinces. 

-  Radio FM 105 reaches approximately 20 (of 24) provinces, comprising of 10,000,000 (of 14 M) Cambodians. It has 10KW power; coverage depends on the landscape (mountains or plains) and the quality of radio receiver.

Theary Seng in the Voice of Justice radio studio (housed within CSD), 2008, in addition to the high-quality pre-recorded programs which effectively created the NATIONAL DIALOGUE, by allowing everyone to be on the "same page",  and the foundation for other outreach efforts or reinforcements.

Theary Seng and DED country representative Wolfgang Mollers signing the 3-year US$300,000 Memorandum of Understanding of partnership (Phnom Penh, Jan. 2007)

** I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Mr. Wolfgang Mollers, country director of the German Development Service (DED), for his vision and the funding to make all these activities possible, particularly the use of these images and sounds for continuing impact and dissemination.

The above work of justice and reconciliation continues with the Center for Justice & Reconciliation, beginning August 2009 till present, initially as an NGO and now as a major project of CIVICUS: Center for Cambodian Civic Education.  See "Founding The Center for Justice & Reconciliation".