Cambodia genocide trial begins

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/17/war-crimes-tribunal-cambodia

A notorious torture centre boss went before Cambodia's genocide tribunal today for its first trial over the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people at the hands of the Khmer Rouge regime more than three decades ago.

Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, who headed the S-21 prison in Phnom Penh is charged with crimes against humanity and is the first of five defendants scheduled for long-delayed trials by the UN-assisted tribunal. Duch, driven to the hearing in a bulletproof car from a nearby detention centre, intently followed the proceedings in a courtroom packed with some 500 people.

The 66-year-old is accused of committing or abetting a range of crimes including murder, torture and rape at S-21 prison formerly a school where up to 16,000 men, women and children were held and tortured, before being put to death.

"This first hearing represents the realisation of significant efforts to establish a fair and independent tribunal to try those in leadership positions and those most responsible for violations of Cambodian and international law," presiding judge Nil Nonn told the chamber.

Duch has made no formal confession. However, unlike the other four defendants, he "admitted or acknowledged" that many of the crimes occurred at his prison, according to the indictment from court judges. Duch, who converted to Christianity, has also asked for forgiveness from his victims.

[BlooInBloo]

1. I guess you have to say "better late than never", but sheesh.

:(

[babylonsister]

2. Good. It's never too late. 1.7 million?

:grr:

[rpannier]

3. I was in Phnom Penh 2 years ago

The high end of people killed is said to be between 1/4 and 1/3 of the population. Either directly (taken out and killed) or indirectly (starvation, beatings, illness, etc).

A good book on the subject is: Pol Pot: Anatomy of a Nightmare by Philip Short