Cambodian terrorism trial begins amid outcry

Heavily-armed police and military units backed up by attack dogs patrol Phnom Penh

By Phelim Kyne
Special to CNN

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- The trial of 32 suspects accused of trying to topple the Cambodian government last year has begun in controversy, with several defense lawyers walking out of proceedings.

Eight of 17 defense lawyers stormed out of the central Phnom Penh court on Monday in protest over what they called "poor trial conditions."

The suspects, allegedly members of the Cambodian Freedom Fighters (CFF) -- a US-based anti-Cambodian government organization -- face charges relating to a series of attacks in the Cambodian capital last November that killed at least eight people and injured seven.

The attacks, on government and military institutions, rocked Phnom Penh in the early hours of November 24 as Cambodia was enjoying its longest period of peace and stability in 30 years following the defection of the Khmer Rouge.

The accused include an assortment of soldiers, monks and farmers as well as Cambodian-American Richard Kiri Kim, who is the self-declared secretary-general of the CFF.

Another Cambodian-American, Chhun Yasith, who resides in Long Beach, California, is being tried in absentia for allegedly masterminding the attacks.

One other suspect is also being tried in absentia.

Legal fairness

Standing in front of a mound of court evidence that included a stack of AK-47 assault rifles, rockets and grenades, Kiri Kim voiced loud reservations about the fairness of the Cambodian legal system during the trial's opening proceedings.

"The Cambodian courts are not independent," he repeatedly said to presiding Judge Sok Samony Sopanarith, requesting that the judge be replaced.

Richard Kiri Kim leaves the court

Kiri Kim also questioned why he and other suspects had not been released on bail after being detained for more than six months after being charged in accordance with Cambodian law.

Boycott

Cambodian legal organizations and human rights groups also expressed concern about the conduct of the public trial and threatened to boycott further proceedings due to access restrictions to the court.

"We are concerned about public access to the trial," said Soun Visol of the Cambodian Defenders Project.

"Witnesses and family members of the accused were refused access to the courtroom and this is not in accordance with Cambodian law."

Media and human rights monitors who also barred from entering the court

The groups also argue that a five day trial for 32 suspects, two of whom in absentia, is not the most efficient method to guarantee a fair trial.

Cambodia is still recovering from the damage done to the country by the Khmer Rouge regime, which is accused of being responsible for the deaths of almost two million Cambodians during its 1975-1979 rule.