Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan on the Khmer Rouge Trial: the Appeal Judgement by the Supreme Court Chamber on Kaing Guek Eav (alias Duch), former Chairman of the S-21 Security Center

February 3, 2012
Japanese

On Friday, February 3 (both local and Japan times), the Supreme Court Chamber of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) repealed Trial Chamber's decision to sentence Kaing Guek Eav (alias Duch) to 35 years imprisonment and sentenced to a life in prison. This is the first settled judgement by the ECCC, and Japan welcomes the progress made in its judicial process.
Japan regards the Khmer Rouge Trial as a crucial step toward the conclusion of the entire peace process in Cambodia, and believes that it will contribute to delivering justice and will strengthen the rule of law in Cambodia. Japan has also been playing a leading role in extending support in the international community. Japan has dispatched Mr. Motoo Noguchi, Professor, UN Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI) / Senior Attorney, International Legal Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan -- to serve as one of the International Supreme Court Chamber Judges.
Japan strongly hopes that the Khmer Rouge Trial will continue to proceed in an appropriate and smooth manner moving forward and that the serious crimes committed under the Khmer Rouge regime will be promptly tried under the court of international standards.

(*The foregoing is a provisional translation. The date indicated above denotes the date of issue of the original press release in Japanese.)

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