AFP
PHNOM PENH — The Khmer Rouge's main jail chief told a war crimes court Wednesday he would like the "strictest level of punishment" -- even death by stoning -- for his crimes against the Cambodian people.
Duch, whose real name is Kaing Guek Eav, is on trial for overseeing the torture and execution of about 15,000 people at Tuol Sleng detention centre in the late 1970s.
The 66-year-old told the UN-backed tribunal that the country "can condemn me to whatever the highest level of punishment is" after his likely conviction.
"If there is a Cambodian tradition -- like it existed in the past when people threw rocks at Christ to death -- Cambodian people can do that to me. I would accept it," said Duch, who converted Christianity in the 1990s.
Duch has previously accepted responsibility for his role governing the jail and begged forgiveness for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
But he has consistently rejected claims by prosecutors that he held a central leadership role in the Khmer Rouge, and says he never personally killed anyone during the brutal 1975-79 regime.
"I will accept without challenges... all judgments which will be made by this chamber, the judgment of my role as the chairman of S-21 and all the crimes committed there," he said.
"I am humble before the Cambodian people, I accept all of these crimes and would like the Cambodian people to condemn me to the strictest level of punishment."
"My life is just one life and cannot compare to those lives which were lost during the period," he added.
Led by Pol Pot, who died in 1998, the Khmer Rouge emptied Cambodia's cities in a bid to forge an agrarian utopia, resulting in the deaths of up to two million people from starvation, overwork and torture.
Speaking of those who lost family members, Duch said, "I accept their regret, their sorrow and their suffering."
Duch, whose real name is Kaing Guek Eav, is on trial for overseeing the torture and execution of about 15,000 people at Tuol Sleng detention centre in the late 1970s.
The 66-year-old told the UN-backed tribunal that the country "can condemn me to whatever the highest level of punishment is" after his likely conviction.
"If there is a Cambodian tradition -- like it existed in the past when people threw rocks at Christ to death -- Cambodian people can do that to me. I would accept it," said Duch, who converted Christianity in the 1990s.
Duch has previously accepted responsibility for his role governing the jail and begged forgiveness for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
But he has consistently rejected claims by prosecutors that he held a central leadership role in the Khmer Rouge, and says he never personally killed anyone during the brutal 1975-79 regime.
"I will accept without challenges... all judgments which will be made by this chamber, the judgment of my role as the chairman of S-21 and all the crimes committed there," he said.
"I am humble before the Cambodian people, I accept all of these crimes and would like the Cambodian people to condemn me to the strictest level of punishment."
"My life is just one life and cannot compare to those lives which were lost during the period," he added.
Led by Pol Pot, who died in 1998, the Khmer Rouge emptied Cambodia's cities in a bid to forge an agrarian utopia, resulting in the deaths of up to two million people from starvation, overwork and torture.
Speaking of those who lost family members, Duch said, "I accept their regret, their sorrow and their suffering."
6 comments:
Poor Duch! I don't know what will happen to you next. Beside they may put you in jail for the rest of your life. Can you see now for all Khmers? There's nothing you can do, you are stuck. Khmer Rouge is over, it's past. We all should look for the future.
AngkorianKrama Man
i like the fact that he repented himself before god and ask for forgiveness and not blaming anyone but his own action. that is a good example he put out for the jury to decide. anyway, it's good to see this in the court and whether the juries can reconcile with his past criminal activities is another story altogether, here. god bless cambodia.
Duch is a Human Being,
He is now remorsefull of his crimes Against Humanity.
But how are N.Sihanouk, Hun Sen, Chea Sim, Heng Samrin, plus his cronies.
They are all criminals, but more
inhuman than Duch. They are the mastermind of khmer people's murderers of about two millions, and then replaced by millions Viets who continue to flock and resettle very easily in Cambodia,
and share all international aids which deverved for Khmer only.
hey, we all know that. we all are in it together at that time, so now we them. think about it! plus, think about how old they are. remember that nobody can live forever fact? well, how old are they? think about it, ok! be smart, two wrongs don't make it right, you know!
Your sentence doesn’t make no sense.
AngkorianMan Krama Man
Cambodian leaders must learn from Duch example of willing to come to terms of his mistakes and move on... Only you know you are wrong then you can reverse the course or make the change of your action... Does Hun Sen realize his action and comes to terms with the Cambodian people???
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