Heng Samrin (L), Cgea Sim (M) and Hun Sen (R).By SOPHENG CHEANG
Associated Press
7th October, 2009
The tribunal trying former leaders of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge announced Wednesday that it has summoned six leading members of Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party to give testimony.
The action is likely to irk Hun Sen, who has repeatedly expressed his sharp dissatisfaction with any efforts by the U.N.-assisted tribunal to expand its scope and possibly include his political allies as suspects in grave human rights abuses committed when the communist Khmer Rouge held power from 1975-79.
The tribunal is seeking justice for the estimated 1.7 million people who died in Cambodia from execution, overwork, disease and malnutrition as a result of the communist Khmer Rouge's radical policies.
The tribunal released copies of letters summoning the six to testify to the investigating judges of the court. They are top members of Hun Sen's Cambodian People's party: Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Finance Minister Keat Chhon, National Assembly president Heng Samrin, Senate president Chea Sim and two other senators, Ouk Bunchhoeun and Sim Ka.
All are also former members of the Khmer Rouge, or exercised some authority when the group was in power.
The documents were released late in the day, and those named could not immediately be reached for comment.
The letters did not say specifically what information was sought, but said it was in connection with the cases of Nuon Chea, the group's ideologist; Khieu Samphan, its former head of state; Ieng Sary, its foreign minister; and "others." The three, along with Ieng Sary's wife, Ieng Thirith, who was minister for social affairs, are expected to be tried next year.
The tribunal is currently trying its first defendant, Kaing Guek Eav _ also known as Duch _ who commanded S-21 prison in Phnom Penh, where up to 16,000 people were tortured and then taken away to be killed. He is charged with crimes against humanity, war crimes, murder and torture.
Testimony in the his trial concluded last month, and closing arguments will be held late next month.
Critics accuse Hun Sen of trying to limit the tribunal's scope to prevent his political allies from being indicted. Hun Sen himself once served as a Khmer Rouge officer and many of his main allies are also former members of the group.
Hun Sen has claimed that expanding the list of defendants could lead to civil war, a claim doubted by his critics. The Khmer Rouge took control after a bitter 1970-75 civil war, and after being ousted from power in 1979, fought an insurgency from the jungles until 1999, when they ceased to exist as an organized force.
Last month, a tribunal prosecutor formally recommended that five more suspects be investigated for crimes against humanity and other offenses.
Associated Press
7th October, 2009
The tribunal trying former leaders of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge announced Wednesday that it has summoned six leading members of Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party to give testimony.
The action is likely to irk Hun Sen, who has repeatedly expressed his sharp dissatisfaction with any efforts by the U.N.-assisted tribunal to expand its scope and possibly include his political allies as suspects in grave human rights abuses committed when the communist Khmer Rouge held power from 1975-79.
The tribunal is seeking justice for the estimated 1.7 million people who died in Cambodia from execution, overwork, disease and malnutrition as a result of the communist Khmer Rouge's radical policies.
The tribunal released copies of letters summoning the six to testify to the investigating judges of the court. They are top members of Hun Sen's Cambodian People's party: Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Finance Minister Keat Chhon, National Assembly president Heng Samrin, Senate president Chea Sim and two other senators, Ouk Bunchhoeun and Sim Ka.
All are also former members of the Khmer Rouge, or exercised some authority when the group was in power.
The documents were released late in the day, and those named could not immediately be reached for comment.
The letters did not say specifically what information was sought, but said it was in connection with the cases of Nuon Chea, the group's ideologist; Khieu Samphan, its former head of state; Ieng Sary, its foreign minister; and "others." The three, along with Ieng Sary's wife, Ieng Thirith, who was minister for social affairs, are expected to be tried next year.
The tribunal is currently trying its first defendant, Kaing Guek Eav _ also known as Duch _ who commanded S-21 prison in Phnom Penh, where up to 16,000 people were tortured and then taken away to be killed. He is charged with crimes against humanity, war crimes, murder and torture.
Testimony in the his trial concluded last month, and closing arguments will be held late next month.
Critics accuse Hun Sen of trying to limit the tribunal's scope to prevent his political allies from being indicted. Hun Sen himself once served as a Khmer Rouge officer and many of his main allies are also former members of the group.
Hun Sen has claimed that expanding the list of defendants could lead to civil war, a claim doubted by his critics. The Khmer Rouge took control after a bitter 1970-75 civil war, and after being ousted from power in 1979, fought an insurgency from the jungles until 1999, when they ceased to exist as an organized force.
Last month, a tribunal prosecutor formally recommended that five more suspects be investigated for crimes against humanity and other offenses.
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