File photo shows Nuon Chea (C), Pol Pot's second-in-command, during the Democratic Kampuchea regime of 1975-79. Nuon Chea was formally arrested Wednesday by a UN-backed genocide tribunal, court officials said after police earlier seized him from his home in northwest Cambodia.(AFP)Wed Sep 19, 2007
REUTERS - Following are five facts about Khmer Rouge "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea, who was taken into custody by the United Nations-backed "Killing Fields" tribunal on Wednesday.
Of the surviving Khmer Rouge cadres, Nuon Chea is believed to be the one most responsible for the deaths of the regime's estimated 1.7 million victims. Most were executed or died of starvation, torture or disease.
-- Born Long Bunruot around 1923, he grew up in the northwestern province of Battambang. His family is thought to have had Chinese ancestry.
Like many Khmer Rouge leaders, he used a number of aliases throughout his life, including Long Rith, Nuon, Second Brother and Grand Uncle.
-- Unlike many of Pol Pot's inner circle, Nuon Chea did not study in Paris. Instead, he read law at Bangkok's prestigious Thammasat University, where he became a member of the Thai Communist Party.
After cutting a deal with the Cambodian government in December 1998, he lived in a small wooden house in forests along the Thai border. His university connections and fluent Thai gave him ready access to medical treatment in Bangkok.
-- Was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (the Khmer Rouge's name for Cambodia) in 1960, a position that put him in charge of party and state security.
This included Phnom Penh's notorious S-21 interrogation and torture centre at the capital's Tuol Sleng high school.
-- On Jan 5, 1979, two days before the Vietnamese army overran Phnom Penh, Nuon Chea ordered S-21 head Duch, who has been charged with crimes against humanity, to kill all remaining prisoners.
Despite Duch's compliance, seven people are known to have survived. Along with Duch, they are expected to be key witnesses at the trial.
-- At a December 1998 news conference confirming his peace deal with Phnom Penh, Nuon Chea issued an apology of sorts to the Cambodian people. Those who had lived through four years of horror under the regime were unimpressed.
"Naturally, we are sorry -- not only for the lives of the people, but also for the animals. They all died because we wanted to win the war," he said.
Sources: Reuters, "Pol Pot: The History of a Nightmare" by Philip Short
Of the surviving Khmer Rouge cadres, Nuon Chea is believed to be the one most responsible for the deaths of the regime's estimated 1.7 million victims. Most were executed or died of starvation, torture or disease.
-- Born Long Bunruot around 1923, he grew up in the northwestern province of Battambang. His family is thought to have had Chinese ancestry.
Like many Khmer Rouge leaders, he used a number of aliases throughout his life, including Long Rith, Nuon, Second Brother and Grand Uncle.
-- Unlike many of Pol Pot's inner circle, Nuon Chea did not study in Paris. Instead, he read law at Bangkok's prestigious Thammasat University, where he became a member of the Thai Communist Party.
After cutting a deal with the Cambodian government in December 1998, he lived in a small wooden house in forests along the Thai border. His university connections and fluent Thai gave him ready access to medical treatment in Bangkok.
-- Was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (the Khmer Rouge's name for Cambodia) in 1960, a position that put him in charge of party and state security.
This included Phnom Penh's notorious S-21 interrogation and torture centre at the capital's Tuol Sleng high school.
-- On Jan 5, 1979, two days before the Vietnamese army overran Phnom Penh, Nuon Chea ordered S-21 head Duch, who has been charged with crimes against humanity, to kill all remaining prisoners.
Despite Duch's compliance, seven people are known to have survived. Along with Duch, they are expected to be key witnesses at the trial.
-- At a December 1998 news conference confirming his peace deal with Phnom Penh, Nuon Chea issued an apology of sorts to the Cambodian people. Those who had lived through four years of horror under the regime were unimpressed.
"Naturally, we are sorry -- not only for the lives of the people, but also for the animals. They all died because we wanted to win the war," he said.
Sources: Reuters, "Pol Pot: The History of a Nightmare" by Philip Short
12 comments:
Nuon Chea may say he did what Sihanouk had ordered him to do.
Then Sihanouk will be screwed like goat does to monkey.
As a Hero of Cambodia and as Great King.... as Father of Khmer Independence, father of evry thing for Khmer nation and as Justice Loving person, N. Sihanouk should voluntarily be present in the KR tribunal at least as Witness of the Whole Khmere Rouge in wchich he played very important roles then,,,,,
No need to withdraw his Royal immunity...
If I were Xihanouk I would be voluntarily present at KR Tribunal..to clarify as what happened in KR Times...(1970-79)1979-1991-2007)
FROM: Excellency Bandit Minister, Co-Minister, Minister of State, Deputy PM & Phd. & Dr. & General 7 Diamond Stars & Oknha Achar KNOY- PhD from Chea Chamroeun University-P Penh 1 of the Prestigeous Univ. in the World( Specialized in BANDIT)
Another fucking chink! We need to kill all the chink in Srok khmer all the people name Sok, Kim, Heng or Long are all fucking chinese bastard that needs to be killed. Only pure blood khmer people will be able to stay in Cambodia. And Angkor will rise again!!
Dear "Khmer Angkor", please study the history of Democratic Kampuchea. The racism you espouse is the exact same xenophobic nationalism that led the Khmer Rouge to genocide the Cambodian people.
I can't believe this expression. He is worse than KR. This primitive though causing hate and killing. Didn't your country have enough bloodshed?
6:47PM
If you want to kill all Khmer/Chinese people, you might kill 3/4 of the population, idiot. Then Hanoi will take over your land. I myself have chinese blood too, but I don't consider I'm Chinese/Khmer. Some people claimed they're Chinese, but they live in cambodia. If you don't speak Chinese or even you speak, don't think you're Chinese.
I suggest Kill pure Khmer like you because Pure khmer like you are so stupid. When pure khmer becomes leader like Pol Pot and Hun Sen, you see what happen to the country?.
Why don't you say Kill Youn in Cambodia, asshole?
This 6;47 pm called khmer angkor showed us that its character is the character of the killer.
This xtremist dragged khmer kingdom to where it is today.
i though hun kvak is stupid this 6;47 pm is worse. we cannot tell who is who behind the poster, he or she can be vietnamese or thai or lunatic khmer.
Fucking Chink (11:32), How dare you call yourself chinese/khmer? And keep on threathening Pure khmer people like me into submission by saying that without the chinese hanoi will take over.
Before your fucking ancestor came begging for their life to my ancestors who were kind enough to let them live, you were just a piece a shit!!
So either you go back crawling to Communist China or we will kick you out. Many pure khmer now realise that Chinese are evil!!
The person calling himself "Khmer Angkor" is just desperately trying to kick up a controversy. Jayavarman VII would have kicked this loser out of Angkor!
Hey! Khmer Angkor, please go to the doctor and get your head checkup.
just goes to show. almost 30yrs later, its still not over. i pray for anyone who feels the desire to kill anyone, Khmer, Chinese, Vietnamese, German or Irish
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