Phnom Penh (DPA)- Investigating judges at Cambodia's war crimes tribunal said Thursday that they had concluded their two-and-a-half-year investigation into four former leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime. The decision on whether to prosecute them for war crimes was expected in September.
Lars Olsen, a spokesman at the hybrid UN-Cambodian court, established in 2006, said the inquiry's end marked a milestone in the proceedings of the case.
The four former leaders have been charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes for their alleged roles in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people during the Khmer Rouge's rule of Cambodia from 1975 to 1979.
The four are: Nuon Chea, former deputy head of the movement; Khieu Samphan, the regime's head of state; Ieng Sary, the regime's foreign minister; and Ieng Thirith, the regime's social affairs minister.
All four are in detention pending their trial, which was likely to begin in early 2011 if the judges conclude they are to be prosecuted.
The case is the tribunal's second to date. The regime's chief executioner, Comrade Duch, was tried for crimes against humanity and war crimes last year. A verdict was expected within two months.
Duch was also indicted in the second case alongside the other four former leaders, but Olsen said a decision would be made later this year as to whether he would stand trial again.
Olsen said more than 2,000 petitions have been received from victims of the regime wishing to be parties to the proceedings.
Around a quarter of Cambodia's population is thought to have died from execution, disease, starvation and forced labour under the Khmer Rouge. Its leader, Pol Pot, died of a supposed heart attack in 1998.
Lars Olsen, a spokesman at the hybrid UN-Cambodian court, established in 2006, said the inquiry's end marked a milestone in the proceedings of the case.
The four former leaders have been charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes for their alleged roles in the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people during the Khmer Rouge's rule of Cambodia from 1975 to 1979.
The four are: Nuon Chea, former deputy head of the movement; Khieu Samphan, the regime's head of state; Ieng Sary, the regime's foreign minister; and Ieng Thirith, the regime's social affairs minister.
All four are in detention pending their trial, which was likely to begin in early 2011 if the judges conclude they are to be prosecuted.
The case is the tribunal's second to date. The regime's chief executioner, Comrade Duch, was tried for crimes against humanity and war crimes last year. A verdict was expected within two months.
Duch was also indicted in the second case alongside the other four former leaders, but Olsen said a decision would be made later this year as to whether he would stand trial again.
Olsen said more than 2,000 petitions have been received from victims of the regime wishing to be parties to the proceedings.
Around a quarter of Cambodia's population is thought to have died from execution, disease, starvation and forced labour under the Khmer Rouge. Its leader, Pol Pot, died of a supposed heart attack in 1998.
4 comments:
So this is going to be the 2nd chapter and the last for all camrades
Justice is too slow. These murderers could easily have been convicted in a Cambodian court because this ECCC cost too much money and deliver too late and little justice.
The cost of trying these murderers could have been better spent somewhere else, like developments, poverty reduction, health and education etc.
UN's judge just keep delay and delay to earn more wage, after all those murders going to die 1 by 1. in hunsen's way, they must get executed on phnom penh downton in the public's witness.
The 3 Hun Xen,Chea Xim and camarade Heng Xamrin are all khmer rouge,they have to go to the court too!!!!
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