New Tang Dynasty Television
1st July, 2011
This is Nuon Chea, once one of Cambodia's most powerful men.
Now the man once known as "Brother Number Two" - and three other members of country's brutal Khmer Rouge regime - are on trial for genocide.
The quartet appeared in court Thursday for the final day of a pre-trial hearing in the Cambodian capital of Phnomh Penh.
The case, which has been years in the making, has dominated headlines here.
An estimated 1.7 million people died under the Khmer Rouge, who ruled the country from 1975 to 1979.
The court has been established specifically for this trial.
One defense lawyer alluded to allegations of bias and secrecy after Thursday's session.
[Dr. Sa Sovan, Lawyer of Former President Khieu Samphan]:
"I urge this court not to become a place for revenge. I want this court to respect the law."
A lead prosecutor however, said the opening days of the trial have been fair.
[Andrew Cayley, Co-Prosecutor]:
"Certainly based on my prior experience of the ICTY, the International Criminal Court, I can certainly rate this as one of the most successful and ordered series of procedural hearings that I have done at the beginning of the trial."
The others on trial with Chea are former President Kieu Samphan, Foreign Minister Ieng Sary and his wife, Culture Minister Ieng Thirith.
Once the trial proper begins, hundreds of people, including survivors of Khmer Rouge death camps, are expected to testify.
This is Nuon Chea, once one of Cambodia's most powerful men.
Now the man once known as "Brother Number Two" - and three other members of country's brutal Khmer Rouge regime - are on trial for genocide.
The quartet appeared in court Thursday for the final day of a pre-trial hearing in the Cambodian capital of Phnomh Penh.
The case, which has been years in the making, has dominated headlines here.
An estimated 1.7 million people died under the Khmer Rouge, who ruled the country from 1975 to 1979.
The court has been established specifically for this trial.
One defense lawyer alluded to allegations of bias and secrecy after Thursday's session.
[Dr. Sa Sovan, Lawyer of Former President Khieu Samphan]:
"I urge this court not to become a place for revenge. I want this court to respect the law."
A lead prosecutor however, said the opening days of the trial have been fair.
[Andrew Cayley, Co-Prosecutor]:
"Certainly based on my prior experience of the ICTY, the International Criminal Court, I can certainly rate this as one of the most successful and ordered series of procedural hearings that I have done at the beginning of the trial."
The others on trial with Chea are former President Kieu Samphan, Foreign Minister Ieng Sary and his wife, Culture Minister Ieng Thirith.
Once the trial proper begins, hundreds of people, including survivors of Khmer Rouge death camps, are expected to testify.
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