A Cambodian police officer, rear left, tries photograph of a symbolizing justice statue at the U.N.-back genocide tribunal during a hearing Monday, Feb. 4, 2008. A Cambodian court adjourned a hearing Monday over former Khmer Rouge leader Nuon Chea's appeal against his detention by Cambodia's U.N.-backed genocide tribunal tasked with seeking justice in the communist movement's atrocities in late 1970s. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)--Former Khmer Rouge leader Nuon Chea made his first appearance Monday before Cambodia's U.N.-backed genocide tribunal, but the hearing was quickly adjourned after his defense lawyer asked for a delay.
Nuon Chea, the Khmer Rouge's former ideologist, has been detained since Sept. 19 on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his involvement in the group's brutal 1975-79 rule, which caused the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people.
His Cambodian lawyer asked the court to postpone the hearing so a foreign lawyer could join him in appealing for Nuon Chea to be released on bail, claiming the tribunal's investigating judges did not have sufficient grounds to detain him.
Prak Kimsan, head of the five-judge panel, gave the defense until Wednesday to explain how much time they needed.
"The panel has decided to adjourn the hearing," he told the court.
Nuon Chea, 81, is one of five former Khmer Rouge leaders expected to go on trial this year.
In a detention order last year, the judges charged him with involvement in crimes including "murder, torture, imprisonment, persecution, extermination, deportation, forcible transfer, enslavement and other inhumane acts."
The tribunal says detention is necessary to prevent him from pressuring witnesses, destroying evidence and escaping. They say Nuon Chea's own safety could also be at risk if he is released.
Nuon Chea has denied any guilt, saying he is not a "cruel" man. He has also called himself "a patriot and not a coward" trying to run away.
Son Arun, Nuon Chea's lawyer, said Sunday his client is asking for bail because he "feels an absence of freedom in his detention, where all he does is eat and sleep."
"It is not like when he used to live with his family," Son Arun said.
Last week, Cambodia's bar association refused to swear in Son Arun's Dutch partner, Victor Koppe, because he had breached its rules by petitioning the tribunal before taking its oath.
Nuon Chea is the second detained former Khmer Rouge leader to appear before judges in a courtroom.
In December, the pretrial chamber judges ruled against a similar appeal for release by Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, who headed the Khmer Rouge's notorious S-21 prison.
Thousands of the movement's perceived enemies were tortured at the prison - now a genocide museum - before being executed at "killing fields" outside the capital, Phnom Penh.
Duch, who has been charged with crimes against humanity, implicated Nuon Chea in the atrocities.
Nuon Chea, the Khmer Rouge's former ideologist, has been detained since Sept. 19 on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his involvement in the group's brutal 1975-79 rule, which caused the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people.
His Cambodian lawyer asked the court to postpone the hearing so a foreign lawyer could join him in appealing for Nuon Chea to be released on bail, claiming the tribunal's investigating judges did not have sufficient grounds to detain him.
Prak Kimsan, head of the five-judge panel, gave the defense until Wednesday to explain how much time they needed.
"The panel has decided to adjourn the hearing," he told the court.
Nuon Chea, 81, is one of five former Khmer Rouge leaders expected to go on trial this year.
In a detention order last year, the judges charged him with involvement in crimes including "murder, torture, imprisonment, persecution, extermination, deportation, forcible transfer, enslavement and other inhumane acts."
The tribunal says detention is necessary to prevent him from pressuring witnesses, destroying evidence and escaping. They say Nuon Chea's own safety could also be at risk if he is released.
Nuon Chea has denied any guilt, saying he is not a "cruel" man. He has also called himself "a patriot and not a coward" trying to run away.
Son Arun, Nuon Chea's lawyer, said Sunday his client is asking for bail because he "feels an absence of freedom in his detention, where all he does is eat and sleep."
"It is not like when he used to live with his family," Son Arun said.
Last week, Cambodia's bar association refused to swear in Son Arun's Dutch partner, Victor Koppe, because he had breached its rules by petitioning the tribunal before taking its oath.
Nuon Chea is the second detained former Khmer Rouge leader to appear before judges in a courtroom.
In December, the pretrial chamber judges ruled against a similar appeal for release by Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, who headed the Khmer Rouge's notorious S-21 prison.
Thousands of the movement's perceived enemies were tortured at the prison - now a genocide museum - before being executed at "killing fields" outside the capital, Phnom Penh.
Duch, who has been charged with crimes against humanity, implicated Nuon Chea in the atrocities.
1 comment:
It really cracks me up when I see the soldier (picture on the left)taking a photo of a statue with his mobile phone camera.
Suffice to say, these soldiers are useless and brainless.
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