Voice of America
Phnom Penh
20/06/2006
Thiounn Thioeun, a Paris-educated intellectual and the health minister for the radical Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970s, has died in the Cambodian capital at age 86, family members said Tuesday.
He was expected to be a witness in the long-awaited U.N.-assisted Cambodian tribunal of surviving Khmer Rouge leaders, human rights activists and scholars said.
Thiounn Thioeun died in central Phnom Penh in Calmette Hospital, according to Ms. Thiounn Maly, who is believed to be his daughter. She says her father was a poor man after the Khmer Rouge regime fell in 1979 and was financially supported by his relatives in France.
Thiounn Thioeun is survived by three daughters who are living in Phnom Penh.
The director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, Youk Chhang, regrets the death of Thiounn Thioeun who he considers as a vital witness in the Khmer Rouge tribunal.
Youk Chhang says because Thiounn Thioeun was the health minister, he could have some answers to the Khmer Rouge's decisions during those years. He said some valuable evidence is buried forever.
Kek Galabru, founder of the Cambodian human rights group, Licadho, said she is concerned that both witnesses and former Khmer Rouge leaders are dying off before the start of the trial. She urges Cambodian and U.N. officials to move trial proceedings quicker.
Judges and prosecutors were recently formally appointed; prosecutors are expected to officially begin work this summer and conduct an 18-month probe.
Khmer Rouge Tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath says the tribunal understands the problem very well and is working hard to get started.
He was expected to be a witness in the long-awaited U.N.-assisted Cambodian tribunal of surviving Khmer Rouge leaders, human rights activists and scholars said.
Thiounn Thioeun died in central Phnom Penh in Calmette Hospital, according to Ms. Thiounn Maly, who is believed to be his daughter. She says her father was a poor man after the Khmer Rouge regime fell in 1979 and was financially supported by his relatives in France.
Thiounn Thioeun is survived by three daughters who are living in Phnom Penh.
The director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, Youk Chhang, regrets the death of Thiounn Thioeun who he considers as a vital witness in the Khmer Rouge tribunal.
Youk Chhang says because Thiounn Thioeun was the health minister, he could have some answers to the Khmer Rouge's decisions during those years. He said some valuable evidence is buried forever.
Kek Galabru, founder of the Cambodian human rights group, Licadho, said she is concerned that both witnesses and former Khmer Rouge leaders are dying off before the start of the trial. She urges Cambodian and U.N. officials to move trial proceedings quicker.
Judges and prosecutors were recently formally appointed; prosecutors are expected to officially begin work this summer and conduct an 18-month probe.
Khmer Rouge Tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath says the tribunal understands the problem very well and is working hard to get started.
3 comments:
These people derserve nothing from Cambodian people. Cambodian people have spent their taxes monies to send them for higher education. But they have learnt nothing to help Cambodian for better lifestyle, but they have returned to Cambodian people with an evils regime which has almost wiped their own race from the planet. These idiots should have died a longtimes ago so that Cambodia people shouldn't have that sufferings from them. Their parents should have been prouded from them and their children will carry shame about them.
Yeah another stupid comment person who don't really understand the Khmer Rouge or the politics it has played in that time. This is how the youn are laughting at you now because of your comments. Maybe someday you will understand of your own action toward other. This is similar to hun sen regime, they are abusing the people and later if the people have the power they kill all government people again. That is your clue man.
Dear Maly, please do not upset for loosing your idiot father. He is the most hate of human being in the 21 century. I cannot immagine that what kind of species is your father to have associates with all the killers in cambodia history. He has been born to create the suffering to others. His studies to be an educated person was a wasted. Three millions of lives have been wasted by all these idiots included your idiot father
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