Communicating Justice: Cambodian Press Coverage of the ECCC’s Final Judgment

Abstract

This article explores Khmer-language media reporting of the final appeal judgment at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (Case 002/02). Media reports are interesting for two reasons. First, as a source of opinions expressed in Cambodia’s official language (Khmer), which often remain beyond purview of international observers. Second, as one of the few sources of information about the ECCC available to the Cambodian public now that official Court outreach has largely ceased. Yet, free media is significantly curtailed in Cambodia, and reporting on the ECCC is likely to be shaped by what is politically safe to print, as well as what is deemed publicly interesting. Against this backdrop this article explores: the press’s tendency to downplay Cambodian political interference in the ECCC proceedings; its (mis)representation of the ECCC’s genocide findings; its reporting on its prosecution of sexual and gender-based crimes; and its use of ‘justice for victims’ rhetoric.