PHNOM PENH, Nov 25 (Reuters) - The Khmer Rouge's chief torturer and jailer expressed "excruciating remorse" on Wednesday for more than 14,000 people killed under his watch at a notorious prison during Cambodia's ultra-Maoist revolution of the 1970s.
In the final week of testimony for the first senior Khmer Rouge cadre to face the U.N.-backed "Killing Fields" tribunal, Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, said he was solely liable for the killings but that he served a "criminal organisation".
"I found I had ended up serving a criminal organisation which destroyed its own people in outrageous fashion. I could not withdraw from it," said the 67-year-old former maths teacher.
"I was like a screw in the machinery of a car that could not be removed," he added.
Duch is accused of "crimes against humanity, enslavement, torture, sexual abuses and other inhumane acts" as commander of S-21 prison during one of the darkest chapters of the 20th century when the Khmer Rouge ruled from 1975-79 under Pol Pot.
He said he was convinced he was fighting to free Cambodia from U.S. imperialism during the Vietnam War. He has denied personally killing or torturing prisoners and has repeatedly said he was following orders out of fear for his own life.
Karim Khan, a civil party lawyer, urged the tribunal's five-judge panel this week to reject Duch's assertion that he had little choice but to carry out orders, saying Duch was "ideologically of the same mind" as the Khmer Rouge leaders.
The tribunal seeks justice for 1.7 million people, nearly a quarter of Cambodia's population, who perished from execution, overwork or torture during the Khmer Rouge's agrarian revolution.
"I am deeply remorseful of and profoundly affected by this destruction," he said. "I am solely and individually liable for the loss of at least 12,380 lives."
Researchers say that number is inaccurate and more than 14,000 were killed after passing through S-21, also known as Tuol Sleng. Only seven people survived.
"I forever wish to most respectfully and humbly apologise for the deaths," he said.
"PSYCHOLOGICALLY ACCOUNTABLE"
Duch faces up to life in prison if convicted. A prosecutor said on Thursday Duch should get 40 years in prison for his role.
Now a born-again Christian, Duch has in the past expressed remorse for the S-21 victims, most of them tortured and forced to confess to spying and other crimes before they were bludgeoned to death at the "Killing Fields" execution sites.
But he appeared to take this further on Wednesday, speaking of his remorse and telling a court packed with about 600 people, including some survivors of the regime, that he would seek help to be recognised again as "part of humankind".
"I am psychologically accountable to the entire Cambodian population for the souls of these who perished," he said.
"May I plead with you to allow me to share with you my immense and enduring sorrow ... in order to express my most excruciating remorse."
Prosecution lawyers say Duch had broad autonomy and did nothing to stop prison guards from inflicting rampant torture.
Witnesses in 72 days of hearings spoke of beatings with metal pipes, electrocution, near-starvation, violent rape and forcing some prisoners to eat their own excrement.
A verdict is expected by March.
Four other senior Khmer Rouge cadres are in custody awaiting trial. They are ex-president Khieu Samphan, former foreign minister Ieng Sary, his wife Khieu Thirith and "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea.
Pol Pot, architect of the Khmer Rouge's "Year Zero" peasant revolution, was captured in 1997 and died in April 1998. One-legged military chief Ta Mok died in 2006.
The chamber of three Cambodian and two foreign judges -- known as the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia -- requires four to agree on a verdict.
(Writing by Jason Szep; Editing by Alan Raybould)
In the final week of testimony for the first senior Khmer Rouge cadre to face the U.N.-backed "Killing Fields" tribunal, Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, said he was solely liable for the killings but that he served a "criminal organisation".
"I found I had ended up serving a criminal organisation which destroyed its own people in outrageous fashion. I could not withdraw from it," said the 67-year-old former maths teacher.
"I was like a screw in the machinery of a car that could not be removed," he added.
Duch is accused of "crimes against humanity, enslavement, torture, sexual abuses and other inhumane acts" as commander of S-21 prison during one of the darkest chapters of the 20th century when the Khmer Rouge ruled from 1975-79 under Pol Pot.
He said he was convinced he was fighting to free Cambodia from U.S. imperialism during the Vietnam War. He has denied personally killing or torturing prisoners and has repeatedly said he was following orders out of fear for his own life.
Karim Khan, a civil party lawyer, urged the tribunal's five-judge panel this week to reject Duch's assertion that he had little choice but to carry out orders, saying Duch was "ideologically of the same mind" as the Khmer Rouge leaders.
The tribunal seeks justice for 1.7 million people, nearly a quarter of Cambodia's population, who perished from execution, overwork or torture during the Khmer Rouge's agrarian revolution.
"I am deeply remorseful of and profoundly affected by this destruction," he said. "I am solely and individually liable for the loss of at least 12,380 lives."
Researchers say that number is inaccurate and more than 14,000 were killed after passing through S-21, also known as Tuol Sleng. Only seven people survived.
"I forever wish to most respectfully and humbly apologise for the deaths," he said.
"PSYCHOLOGICALLY ACCOUNTABLE"
Duch faces up to life in prison if convicted. A prosecutor said on Thursday Duch should get 40 years in prison for his role.
Now a born-again Christian, Duch has in the past expressed remorse for the S-21 victims, most of them tortured and forced to confess to spying and other crimes before they were bludgeoned to death at the "Killing Fields" execution sites.
But he appeared to take this further on Wednesday, speaking of his remorse and telling a court packed with about 600 people, including some survivors of the regime, that he would seek help to be recognised again as "part of humankind".
"I am psychologically accountable to the entire Cambodian population for the souls of these who perished," he said.
"May I plead with you to allow me to share with you my immense and enduring sorrow ... in order to express my most excruciating remorse."
Prosecution lawyers say Duch had broad autonomy and did nothing to stop prison guards from inflicting rampant torture.
Witnesses in 72 days of hearings spoke of beatings with metal pipes, electrocution, near-starvation, violent rape and forcing some prisoners to eat their own excrement.
A verdict is expected by March.
Four other senior Khmer Rouge cadres are in custody awaiting trial. They are ex-president Khieu Samphan, former foreign minister Ieng Sary, his wife Khieu Thirith and "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea.
Pol Pot, architect of the Khmer Rouge's "Year Zero" peasant revolution, was captured in 1997 and died in April 1998. One-legged military chief Ta Mok died in 2006.
The chamber of three Cambodian and two foreign judges -- known as the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia -- requires four to agree on a verdict.
(Writing by Jason Szep; Editing by Alan Raybould)
18 comments:
Sihanouk+Ho+Mao
1* Puok =3 persons(control each other,even go to toilette,to bed every where)
2*Puok is in Kromm(10 persons....)
3*3 Kromm is in Korng Tauch(30 persons)
4*3 korng Tauch is in Korng Thom(100 persons)
5*3 Korng thom is in Vorrak-Sena...etc
Communism have no Buddha.
Everyone should take a piss and walk away with your heads held high, yet accomplished nothing.
Pi Anh (again)
The biggest criminal is the Chineese's Government. Khmer Rouge's organization could not have done without their help. The second biggest criminal is Vietnam. Their red regime and doctrine caused huge conflict in the Communist's world. The Cambodian people were the innocent one that got caught in this fight and died like animals. If there is any real justice in the world, the two criminals must answer to the highest court in the land. The Entire UN's body need to be reform and look at exactly what kind of government that are acceptable to people and they should absolutely do away with the Communist Criminal!!!
Even this current time, the German still pay the jews for the killing done by the Nazi german. And there are mercenary out there to get any remainder former Nazi member.
Even this current time, the German still pay the jews for the killing done by the Nazi german. And there are mercenary out there to get any remainder former Nazi member.
Jason Szep; Alan Raybould, sound like vietcong ass kissers
Polpot while rejecting by yuons was mad and led purge against group of proyuon khmer rouge group believing he can get rid of yuons by doing this and can stay to power long last. What polpot cant understand is, his revolution corps made of yuons and yuons tools if he destroy these tools, he imminently lead to own destruction but being rejected by yuons, polpot has no other choice but tempted this hopeless stupid act.
Yuons communists leaders said,”polpot is not clever but has a great political potentiality (for yuons to use of course) to which his surname “polpot” political potential, his politican surname given by yuons to sarlot sar or polpot
The architects of the killing field are Vietcongs. People can learn it through countless historical documents. It was Vietcong who formed and trained Khmer rouge how to lead genocide against khmer people - how to administrate Cambodia during their brief terror reign in order to exterminate khmer people more quickly. This process of killing and destruction, yuons did test it before execute it in Cambodia during the killing field. Duch as polpot like hun sen are all yuon killing instruments even being used differently.
Every body watch CTN. Mr. Dr. Cheum Phal Vorin Sam Rainsy don't respect law. He dortor of law.
7:09PM,
Don't blame others. It was that destructive group of Khmer intellectuals who started verything since they were students in France. If you want to shif the total responsibility to China, you must kick Sihanouk first; he was the one who begged China for help so he could kill his own people. Sihanouk is an evil King.
Duch was a killer.
But at least he admits his wrong doing.
Like Angkuli-mear, finally woke up of his bad action.
Some Khmer leaders never be brave enough for their criminal atcs in the past.
Crocodile tears! Hang the bastard!
The Holocaust of the jews in Germany is the biggest lie of the 20th century.
Just google for: arthur butz "the Hoax of the 2oth century" to read the truth.
Another good book from a jewish author is: Norman Finkelstein "the Holocaust industry"
There is no business like Shoah business ;)
11:03
Get the fuck out before i gass you, you fucking hoax.
11:03
I dislike the jews for what they are doing to the palistinians but uou are sick beyond belief!
killing is a business for yuons as those who are used by yuons in its industry of killing
40 years in prison is not enough in my opinion. This guy is very mean when he was in power, killing far too many innocent people even his own in-law, his own family. He should be hung alive, broadcast on TV so the Cambodian people can see to relieve anger, and to teach other KR bad guys not to follow this astrocity. German in WWII killed too many people also, but those killed are not their own people. But the KR loved to kill his own Khmer, his own blood. What made them do that? what they get out of it? Retaliation, revenge....yes!
Those KR were in power not to rebuild the country, not to build a good and clean society. They in power to kill, period. In Cambodia history, no era like KR era.
What are you going to tell your kids when they see pictures of skulls and bones on TV or on portraits?
JUSTICE HAS BEEN PARTIALLY SERVED!
I agreed...! King Sihanouk should be the one to blame for all of those mass killing by Pol Pot Khmer Rouge and the destruction of our country. Cambodia has NEVER been regained since. That's right, he begged China for guns, radioed from Pekin to kill each other. He kissed Ho Chi Ming ass and allow Viet Congs to walk through our country, and to station and trained the POL POT Khmer Rouge.
King Sihanouk is a dumbest king in the world. This king should be brought to justice with other KR leaders.
What is one good thing King Sihanouk has done for the country? ...NONE. Nothing but destruction!
ANTI-KING CITIZEN
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