The Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: The arrests of the former Khmer Rouge foreign minister and his wife show that history cannot forgive them for their alleged roles in turning Cambodia into a killing field in the late 1970s, a local newspaper said Tuesday.
Ieng Sary and his wife, Ieng Thirith, who headed the Ministry of Social Affairs, were brought before Cambodia's U.N.-backed genocide tribunal on Monday to face charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The detentions of Ieng Sary, long regarded as the most untouchable former Khmer Rouge leader, and Ieng Thirith have brought to four the number of detained suspects wanted for trials by the tribunal.
"It is a reunion of former comrades, who together led the country to year zero and had all people they distrusted labeled as enemies and killed — a mistake history cannot forgive," the Koh Santepheap (Island of Peace) newspaper said in an editorial.
The radical policies of the communist Khmer Rouge are widely blamed for the deaths of some 1.7 million people from starvation, disease, overwork and execution. None of the group's leaders has faced trial yet.
The arrests come almost three decades after the Khmer Rouge fell from power, with many fearing the aging suspects may die before they ever see a courtroom. Trials are expected to begin next year.
The U.N.-assisted tribunal was created last year after seven years of contentious negotiations between the United Nations and Cambodia.
Ieng Sary and his wife were members of the inner circle of the Khmer Rouge. They were French-educated like its charismatic leader, the late Pol Pot, whose radicalism turned the country into a virtual charnel house. The connection was linked by marriage: Ieng Thirith's sister Khieu Ponnary was Pol Pot's first wife.
Ieng Sary "promoted, instigated, facilitated, encouraged and/or condoned the perpetration of the crimes" when the Khmer Rouge held power, according to a July 18 document presented by the tribunal's prosecutors to its investigating judges.
The document said there was evidence of Ieng Sary's participation in crimes which included planning, directing and coordinating Khmer Rouge "policies of forcible transfer, forced labor and unlawful killings."
The alleged crimes of his wife, Ieng Thirith, who is believed to be 75, include her participation in "planning, direction, coordination and ordering of widespread purges ... and unlawful killing or murder of staff members from within the Ministry of Social Affairs," the prosecutors said.
"Cambodia is moving toward closing the black chapter in its history," read the front-page headline of Rasmei Kampuchea (Light of Cambodia) newspaper.
Ieng Sary, just like his other former colleagues, has "shamelessly" denied any knowledge about killings under his regime, Kampuchea Thmey (New Cambodia) newspaper said in its editorial.
"Now the opportunity has arrived for them to reveal the secrets or try to cleanse themselves of any allegations," it said.
"The Cambodian people, while craving for justice, also find it to be no less important to know why they (Khmer Rouge leaders) created a genocidal regime," the newspaper added.
Ieng Sary and his wife, Ieng Thirith, who headed the Ministry of Social Affairs, were brought before Cambodia's U.N.-backed genocide tribunal on Monday to face charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The detentions of Ieng Sary, long regarded as the most untouchable former Khmer Rouge leader, and Ieng Thirith have brought to four the number of detained suspects wanted for trials by the tribunal.
"It is a reunion of former comrades, who together led the country to year zero and had all people they distrusted labeled as enemies and killed — a mistake history cannot forgive," the Koh Santepheap (Island of Peace) newspaper said in an editorial.
The radical policies of the communist Khmer Rouge are widely blamed for the deaths of some 1.7 million people from starvation, disease, overwork and execution. None of the group's leaders has faced trial yet.
The arrests come almost three decades after the Khmer Rouge fell from power, with many fearing the aging suspects may die before they ever see a courtroom. Trials are expected to begin next year.
The U.N.-assisted tribunal was created last year after seven years of contentious negotiations between the United Nations and Cambodia.
Ieng Sary and his wife were members of the inner circle of the Khmer Rouge. They were French-educated like its charismatic leader, the late Pol Pot, whose radicalism turned the country into a virtual charnel house. The connection was linked by marriage: Ieng Thirith's sister Khieu Ponnary was Pol Pot's first wife.
Ieng Sary "promoted, instigated, facilitated, encouraged and/or condoned the perpetration of the crimes" when the Khmer Rouge held power, according to a July 18 document presented by the tribunal's prosecutors to its investigating judges.
The document said there was evidence of Ieng Sary's participation in crimes which included planning, directing and coordinating Khmer Rouge "policies of forcible transfer, forced labor and unlawful killings."
The alleged crimes of his wife, Ieng Thirith, who is believed to be 75, include her participation in "planning, direction, coordination and ordering of widespread purges ... and unlawful killing or murder of staff members from within the Ministry of Social Affairs," the prosecutors said.
"Cambodia is moving toward closing the black chapter in its history," read the front-page headline of Rasmei Kampuchea (Light of Cambodia) newspaper.
Ieng Sary, just like his other former colleagues, has "shamelessly" denied any knowledge about killings under his regime, Kampuchea Thmey (New Cambodia) newspaper said in its editorial.
"Now the opportunity has arrived for them to reveal the secrets or try to cleanse themselves of any allegations," it said.
"The Cambodian people, while craving for justice, also find it to be no less important to know why they (Khmer Rouge leaders) created a genocidal regime," the newspaper added.
2 comments:
When KRT tribunal put all of them included Sihaknuk Hun Sen,Chea Sim and Heng Somrin let them reveal all their secrete about Hanoi the Big Scam and Get the big time involved direct and indirect in killing field, that not do any good if they do delaying some more time ,because all defendant are too old and too ill. VIETNAM GET AWAY FROM THIS CRIME ?
Look out Mr Corrupt man cause in 20 years from now there will be new laws, new ministers, new thinking , and there will be prison for those who are all power full and mighty now .Even if you are 85 years old when this happens you will be caught.
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