Defense Makes Another Push for Pre-Trial Release of the Accused

The Trial Chamber in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) has decided to conduct one consolidated hearing on Monday 31 January 20111 to hear oral submissions related to:

•    “Urgent Application for Immediate Release of Nuon Chea”. The Application is available at http://www.eccc.gov.kh/english/cabinet/courtDoc/824/E19_1_EN.PDF

•    Khieu Samphan’s “Application for Release Pursuant to Rule 82(3) of the Internal Rules". The Application is available at http://www.eccc.gov.kh/english/cabinet/courtDoc/823/E18_1_EN.PDF

•    “Urgent Request for Immediate Release of Madame Ieng Thirith”. The Request is available at http://www.eccc.gov.kh/english/cabinet/courtDoc/830/E21_EN.PDF


The hearing will start at 9:30 am. The Defence for each Accused, will each be permitted a maximum of 30 minutes to present their Applications. The Co-Prosecutors will be allowed a total of 60 minutes to respond to all Applications. The Accused's Defence will then be permitted 10 minutes each in response.

There are 482 seats in the public gallery of the courtroom, which are available for diplomats, media and the general public. Seats are distributed on first come, first served basis. Diplomats and media representatives who wish to reserve a seat in the public gallery must contact the ECCC Public Affairs Section at PAS@ECCC.GOV.KH at latest by Friday 28 January 2011.

We recommend that visitors arrive no later than 45 minutes before the hearings in order to leave sufficient time for registration and security check. All persons seeking admission to the ECCC courtroom must present a proof of identification (including a photo) and must pass through a security check.

Participants shall maintain dignity and proper behaviour all the time and shall wear appropriate clothing (no beachwear or shorts, flip flops etc). Their clothing may not display slogans, indicate their support for or to be offensive to any party of the proceeding. Please note, no persons under 16 years of age will be admitted to the Court and persons 16 -18 will be admitted only with the guardianship of an adult. No mobile phones, large bags, food or drink are permitted in the main courtroom.

Media accreditation and facilities
Representatives of the media that wish to attend the hearings are kindly requested to seek accreditation no later than on Friday 28 January 2011.

Media representatives currently holding an expired ECCC Press Accreditation Card must submit a completed Media Accreditation Form which can be downloaded from http://www.eccc.gov.kh/english/mediaRelations.aspx and send it to PAS@ECCC.GOV.KH. Please indicate the card number on your expired card.

Media representatives who have not previously been accredited to the ECCC must submit a completed Media Accreditation Form http://www.eccc.gov.kh/english/mediaRelations.aspx and send it to PAS@ECCC.GOV.KH together with a jpg portrait photo and a copy of their passport.

Please note that Media Accreditation Forms must be signed by the applicant before the request for accreditation can be processed.

A live feed of the public hearing will be available in the media room C105.

How to get to the court
The ECCC is located in Chaom Chau, 16 kilometers from downtown Phnom Penh, on the left hand side of National Road 4.

Public and media are requested to enter from the visitor’s gate at the eastern end of the compound.