Prosecutors at ECCC issue summaries of Case 004 statements
THE International Co-prosecutors (ICPs) at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) has issued a summary of their final statements in Case 004 against Yim Tith, while the pre-trial chamber dismissed the previous case against Im Chaem due to a lack of jurisdiction.
Though the ICPs are required to make their official submissions confidentially, a summary may be released.
According to a statement received by The Post on Monday, the summary does not express the views of the National Coprosecutors nor the judges.
Dated May 31, the summary reads that the court has jurisdiction over any “senior leader” from the Khmer Rouge regime or one who is “most responsible” for the crimes against humanity committed by them.
It then asserts that Tith meets those requirements, being a senior leader within Democratic Kampuchea.
Tith held several high positions across two zones of the country. During the early days of the regime, he rose from deputy secretary of Kirivong district in what is now Takeo province to secretary of the entire region.
In 1977, when the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) began to purge its own cadres in the Northwest Zone, Tith assumed authorities over communities there.
The summary claims that, through these positions, Tith ordered and facilitated crimes that resulted in large-scale atrocities in the Northwestern Zone, stating that he should be tried for the genocide of Vietnamese and Khmer Krom groups in Cambodia in addition to murder charges.
In contrast, the trial against cadre Im Chaem has been dismissed by the pre-trial chamber for lack of personal jurisdiction.
This decision came after three judges supported the dismissal and only two voted to have Chaem tried.