002/19-09-2007-ECCC-OCIJ ЮŲŠ / No: D427 42. Khieu Samphan confirms in an interview that POL Pot was the highest authority in the CPK as Secretary of the Standing Committee, stating that “When we talk to Pol Pot it was the same as talking to the party because he was the party secretary”.117 He further states, “All the decisions were circulated to the level of the standing committee so that they could be implemented at the local level”.118 43. This primacy of the Standing Committee is corroborated by Duch who further confirms that after Pol Pot, Nuon Chea was second in the Standing Committee hierarchy followed by Ta Mok.119 A meeting minutes suggests that in Pol Pot’s absence, Nuon Chea would preside over meetings of the Standing Committee.120 Other members of the Standing Committee included Sao Yann alias Sao Phim (committed suicide 1978),121 Ieng Sary, Vorn Vet (later arrested and executed122), Ruos Nheum (later arrested and executed123) and Son Sen.124 Of these seven members, five were based permanently in Phnom Penh, namely: Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Vorn Vet and Son Sen (until his relocation in August 1977 to the East Zone to oversee the conflict with Vietnam).125 44. In addition to Pol Pot, Nuon Chea and Ta Mok, Ieng Sary enjoyed full-rights status as a member of the Standing Committee.126 Vorn Vet and Son Sen were likely either full-right or candidate members of the Standing Committee.127 45. Although it is clear from the evidence that Khieu Samphan was not a formal member of the Standing Committee whilst the CPK was in power, there is evidence of Khieu Samphan contributing to or assisting in the work of the Standing Committee, as outlined in the section of the Closing Order regarding Khieu Samphan.128 46. In a meeting on 9 October 1975 the Standing Committee exercised its authority to assign operational responsibility of various fields of governmental work to high-level CPK cadres, including members of the Central Committee. This included the military, the economy, security, foreign affairs and social action.129. They were required to report to the Standing Committee and real decision-making authority remained with the Standing Committee, the Minutes of Meeting stating, “In bringing up projects, we must ask the Standing Committee’s opinion so it may decide and approve”.130 The same minutes, requiring that records be kept of Standing Committee decisions, state that “The important objective is that minutes/records must be clear, what is asked must be known from decisions of the Centre, of the Standing Committee, minutes documenting meetings of the Centre, what day, what month, whatever needs to be done to make it clear is what must be done”. Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, National Road 4, Choam Chao, Dangkao Phnom Penh Mailing address: P.O. Box 71, Phnom Penh; Tel: +855(0)23 218914 Fax: +855(0) 23 218941. 19