Jacques Vergès, aka The Devil's Advocate, in Paris (Photo: The New York Times)DPA
Phnom Penh - Controversial lawyer Jacques Verges, nicknamed 'The Devil's Advocate' for his defence of some of the world's most notorious men, arrived in Cambodia Monday to prepare to defend his friend, former Khmer Rouge head of state Khieu Samphan. During his long career, Thai-born octogenarian Verges has listed clients including Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie in 1987 and Venezuelan terrorist Illich Ramirez Sanchez, better known as Carlos the Jackal, and has long said he would defend Samphan if needed.
Said to have been a personal friend of Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot, who died in 1998, Verges is also a supporter of French-educated Samphan, who was arrested Monday by the joint Cambodia-UN tribunal on Khmer Rouge atrocities.
Verges arrived Monday morning and was met by other members of Samphan's legal team at Phnom Penh International Airport. He made no comment to waiting journalists.
Verges wrote the preface to Samphan's 2004 book "Cambodia's Recent History - And the Reasons Behind the Decisions I Made," in which Samphan espoused his famously anti-colonialist views and claims that despite being head of state, he is innocent because he did not belong to the higher echelons of the movement.
Charges against Samphan, 76, were expected to be announced later Monday. He has always denied any wrongdoing during the 1975 to 1979 regime during which up to 2 million Cambodians died.
Said to have been a personal friend of Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot, who died in 1998, Verges is also a supporter of French-educated Samphan, who was arrested Monday by the joint Cambodia-UN tribunal on Khmer Rouge atrocities.
Verges arrived Monday morning and was met by other members of Samphan's legal team at Phnom Penh International Airport. He made no comment to waiting journalists.
Verges wrote the preface to Samphan's 2004 book "Cambodia's Recent History - And the Reasons Behind the Decisions I Made," in which Samphan espoused his famously anti-colonialist views and claims that despite being head of state, he is innocent because he did not belong to the higher echelons of the movement.
Charges against Samphan, 76, were expected to be announced later Monday. He has always denied any wrongdoing during the 1975 to 1979 regime during which up to 2 million Cambodians died.
10 comments:
My father had sacrified so much for the people -- in the end -- he has been betrayed by his BELOVED country. However, it is my belief that the justice will exculpate my father's charge (s) against crime of humanity.
His exoneration will prove that he did perpetrate the alleged crime as we have believed.
Justice will prevail!
Oh, give us a break, will ya? justice will prevail? Since when? I hate to tell you this, but you are lost in the westerner smoke bombs, dude (5:55).
5.55pm, who did you refer to as your father ? khieve samphan ? if yes, he was a murderer, not a patriot.
Other crimes that we also need to bring to justice is the land giving away to Vietnames. Who we put him on trial?
Cambodian deserve justice.
5:55pm,
I'm prouded that Cambodia had produced such a honest and intellectual person names Khieu Samphon. From Kg Chham province where plenty of educated teachers who joined him in the Jungle. Unfortunately, he served a wrong master. He didn't have to gutt to backout or fight back because he afraid to die.
Just like Henry Kissinger, both got their PhD in economy. Both are working for a dictator leader (Pol Pot vs Nixon), both are accused of crime against humanity. The only different between the two is one is in untouchable superpower country, other is in a small country. Mr. Khieu involved in 1.7 million deads, Henry involved far more. Just B-52 alone dropped on Cambodia since 1960-1969 destroyed almost a million people not including indirect killing of Timoreses, Banglades, South Americas... etc.
Since Mr. Khiev picked a wrong leader, he must learn to deal with it. Everyone will die just a matter of time. He will die in 5-10 years anyway, locking him for life now so millions will fell relief.
Born in Thailand and brought up on the island of Réunion, Jacques Vergès is the son of Raymond Vergès, a French diplomat, and a Vietnamese mother. He joined the Reunionese Communist Party. In 1942, with his father's encouragement, he sailed to Liverpool to become part of the Free French Forces under Charles de Gaulle, and participate in the anti-Nazi resistance. After the war, while his brother Paul was imprisoned for murdering a political rival to their father, Jacques went to the University of Paris to study law. In 1949 he became president of the AEC (Association for Colonial Students), where he met and befriended Pol Pot[citation needed]. In 1950 at the request of his Communist mentors he went to Prague to lead a youth organization for four years.
Born in Thailand and brought up on the island of Réunion, Jacques Vergès is the son of Raymond Vergès, a French diplomat, and a Vietnamese mother. He joined the Reunionese Communist Party. In 1942, with his father's encouragement, he sailed to Liverpool to become part of the Free French Forces under Charles de Gaulle, and participate in the anti-Nazi resistance. After the war, while his brother Paul was imprisoned for murdering a political rival to their father, Jacques went to the University of Paris to study law. In 1949 he became president of the AEC (Association for Colonial Students), where he met and befriended Pol Pot[citation needed]. In 1950 at the request of his Communist mentors he went to Prague to lead a youth organization for four years.
pol pot, khiev samphan, and noun chea are not the real mass murderers during the killing field. but it was the lower level KR commanders and cadres like Hun Sen and Heng Samrin that did all the killing.
2.12am SOUND LIKE YOU KILLED THE COW FOR HUMAN TRAFIC ACIDENT!
yO MAY NEED PHD FROM vietcong!
There goes another idiot who think the lower level KR official is free to kill anyone they please.
Go back in your rat's hole, fool (2:12)!
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