Since the Extraordinary Chambers of the courts in Cambodia (ECCC) started, I never entered into its campus, located along national road 4, in Dangkao District. But I used to take photo of its gate at the end of 2005 but I was threatened by military police to remove photos from my camera. They asked me “who allows you to shoot pictures of it.” I asked myself why I could not take picture of it. Oh my goodness!!!!

On Monday afternoon, December 3, the first time I went there to hear the ruling of Duch’s detention appeal. I thought that it maybe easy for common people to walk into court hall to see and listen to the trial. It was not like what I thought. Before being allowed to access court room, all visitors have to register to get permission ticket and then they have to pull the stuff from the pocket to be checked by X-ray gate.

Every one had been given different ticket, ticket for VIP, Media and visitor. To me, I got ticket for visitor. When I went through security guards, they did not allow me to take camera and cell phone into the court hall. So I had kept them at desk, except journalists. When I entered into the court hall, I saw each seat had been reserved for different guests such as Staff, Public, NGO worker, Journalist…etc. I went there to hear the release of Duch’s ruling, I hoped to see Duch’s face. In fact it was opposite to what I though, I just listed to the voice of judges through handset and watched them and Duch on white screen of LDC.

Visitors were waiting outside and waiting for registration.

Visitors were in line to enter into the court hall of ECCC, each one had been allowed to walk through X-ray.

Mr. Reach Sambath, spokesman for Khmer Rouge Tribunal, was checking the list of existing names of visitors and then gave ticket to them.

That is the way to go toward to court hall, when arriving at the door of hall, common visitors and journalist had been gone different place.

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