Transforming Killing Fields into Healing, Living Fields

National Conference, 11 December 2009

Pannasastra University of Cambodia auditorium

Mr. Bou Meng (only one of 3 living survivors of Tuol Sleng) signing in.

CJR founder Theary C. Seng moderating the national conference, 11 Dec. 2009

ECCC Witness Support Section chief Wendy, ADHOC president Thun Saray, ECCC co-investigating judge Marcel Lemonde.

Members of Association of Khmer Rouge Victims in Cambodia, the first association to be registered with the Ministry of Interior and the first to be registered with the ECCC Victims Support Section.

ECCC Public Affairs chief Reach Sambath

Prolific author and officer of the Association of Khmer Rouge Victims in Cambodia, Madam OUM Suphany

Dr. Greg Stanton

Chief of Victims Support Section Dr. Helen Jarvis

ADHOC Thun Saray

Two of only 3 living survivors of Tuol Sleng Torture Center: Mr. Van Nath and Mr. Bou Meng.

Photos by Jennifer Bombasaro-Brady, CJR Fellow

AGENDA

8:00 AM Registration

8:30 National Anthem: Mr. KHUON Sethisak, Tenor

8:35 WELCOME REMARKS - Mr. IM Sophea: National Co-Director / Reconciliation Programs - Dr. Andreas SELMECI: German Development Service (DED)

9:00 OPEN DIALOGUE

Moderated by Ms. Theary C. SENG, CJR Chair, Board of Directors; Civil Party

- Ms. MOM Sokly: Rep. of Victims’ Association; Civil Party Applicant

- Mr. BOU Meng: Rep. of Victims’ Association; Tuol Sleng Survivor

- Mr. Van Nath: Tuol Sleng Survivor

- Mr. THUN Saray: President, ADHOC

- Mr. Anees Ahmed: ECCC Office of Co-Prosecutors, Senior Assistant Prosecutor

- Hon. Marcel LEMONDE: ECCC Co-Investigating Judge

- Mr. REACH Sambath: Chief, ECCC Public Affairs

- Dr. Helen JARVIS: Chief, ECCC Victims’ Unit

- Ms. Wendy LOBWEIN: Chief, ECCC Witness/Expert Support Unit

- Dr. Gregory STANTON: President, Genocide Watch; CJR Advisory Board

11:00 CLOSING REMARKS: Mr. Daravuth SENG: Int’l Co-Director /Justice Programs

* The Conference ends at 11:15 when coffee and tea will be available as people depart.

** Simultaneous and consecutive translation available.  Of course, this conference would not be possible without the moral and financial support of the German Development Service (DED) – thank you!

OVERVIEW

1. Conference Goals:

a. Dialogue among stakeholders, in particular between

(i) Victims and

(ii) Civil Society working on victims’ outreach and ECCC officials

b. Dissemination of information to larger public, in particular the young and multiplying efforts via Voice of Justice & Reconciliation Radio Program.

2. Invited / Expected Participants: 250 individuals

a. 50 victims / civil party applicants from the provinces

b. 50 victims in and around Phnom Penh

c. Representatives of 2 Victims’ Associations

d. 100 university students

e. ECCC officials representing the sections of Victims, Witness/Expert, Defense, Prosecution, Trial Chamber, Pre-Trial Chamber, Public Affairs

f. Donor / Embassy Representatives g. Civil Society Representatives

h. Government Officials (Ministers and Members of Parliament)

i. Cambodian Teachers in and around Phnom Penh

3. Open Dialogue Format

The emphasis is dialogue. Of this dialogue, the stress is on open, frank discussions. The moderator /facilitator will open with a few minutes of introductory comments on format/rules of engagement, topic of victims’ participation in light of the Extraordinary Chambers (ECCC); followed by an introduction of each panelist (whose profile/biography will have been distributed in order the participants may know in advance who’s who on the panel). Immediately after, the floor is open for questions and brief comments from the participants in the audience, with priority given to the invited victims.

There will not be opening statements/comments by each panelist (as there are only allocated 2 hours for this session with many anticipated questions from the victims/audience as well as many panelists who will want to weigh in on the queries/comments raised. Moreover, CJR is responsible to PUC in its use of the facility to be done on time). Consequently, the moderator apologizes to the panelists and participants ahead of time—in light of the limited time and large participating individuals—for having to be abrupt in order to maintain the flow of conversations.

4. Materials to be distributed the day before and day of conference:

a. Understanding Trauma in Cambodia Handbook

b. Fair Trial Handbook

c. ECCC booklets/posters

d. Materials from other NGOs

e. CJR Victims’ Handbook