27 July 2010
Cambodian courts must bring more Khmer Rouge war criminals to justice, Amnesty International states.
According to the charity, the courts must follow the landmark conviction of prison camp commander Kaing Guek Eav for crimes against humanity with more investigations and prosecutions.
The case was the first to be heard by the new Extraordinary Chambers, a joint Cambodian and international court.
Donna Guest, Amnesty International Deputy Director for the Asia-Pacific programme, said the conviction was "only the first step towards justice", adding that two million people died due to crimes committed under Khmer Rouge rule.
"Identifying only five or ten people as allegedly responsible for the massive atrocities does not do enough to satisfy the justice that Cambodians deserve and are entitled to under international law," she added.
Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, was sentenced to 35 years of imprisonment for his involvement in the S-21 Security Office in Phnom Penh between 1975 and 1979, during which time some 14,000 people died following torture and mass executions.
He is expected to serve no more than 19 years.
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