Phnom Penh (FN), Jul. 16 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet instructed the Royal Government Working Group to study and establish a state institute dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).

The premier spoke on Tuesday (Jul. 16) during the groundbreaking ceremony of the ECCC Resource Centre expansion at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC).

Samdech Thipdei underlined that the significant achievements of the ECCC are now part of Cambodia's history. The country is regarded as one of the most promising in the region regarding peacebuilding, national unification, victim support, and legal processes.

In this context, the Royal Government has set forth principles to study and establish a state institute responsible for the ECCC legacy. This institute will document, manage, and serve as a research centre to share knowledge with the next generation, scholars, and the general public, educating them about serious crimes and the successes of the ECCC trial process.

At the same time, Samdech Thipadei requested the Royal Government Working Group to oversee the ECCC Research Centre and to conduct an in-depth study on six key points, including:

1. Core Roles and Responsibilities,

2. Name and Structure,

3. Status and Modality,

4. Partners of Cooperation,

5. Impact Assessment, and

6. Budget Requirements.

It should be noted that the ECCC was established under an agreement between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the United Nations in June 2003. It is an independent tribunal, tasked with prosecuting crimes committed by top leaders in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975-1979. After 16 years of operation, the trial of the top leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime concluded successfully in late 2022 with international support and recognition. During the trial, a total of 233,836 court documents were produced, equivalent to nearly 2.4 million pages in three languages such as Khmer, English, French.
=FRESH NEWS