By JERRY HARMER
Associated Press
Closing arguments began Monday in the trial of former Khmer Rouge prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, the first high-ranking member of Cambodia's ousted regime to be tried for war crimes at a U.N.-backed tribunal.
The proceedings conclude Friday and tribunal judges are expected to issue a ruling and sentence early next year. Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch (pronounced DOIK), is expected to testify as soon as Wednesday.
The tribunal is seeking justice for an estimated 1.7 million people who died from execution, overwork, disease and malnutrition as a result of the ultra-communist group's policies while in power from 1975-79.
Duch commanded S-21 prison in Phnom Penh, where up to 16,000 people were tortured and then taken away to be killed. He is charged with crimes against humanity, war crimes, murder and torture. He faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Cambodia has no death penalty.
Duch is the only accused Khmer Rouge leader to acknowledge responsibility for his actions. Four other senior Khmer Rouge leaders are in custody awaiting trial.
"He has said from the start 'I want to explain in front of the judges, in front of public opinion.' This will be the last moment when he can explain," Francois Roux, Duch's lawyer, said Sunday. "So he's worried about what he's going to say and how he's going to say it."
Roux described his client as "nervous and anxious" about taking the stand for one last time and refused to detail what Duch would say. But he said that his client was hopeful the judges would take into consideration the fact he has admitted his guilt and apologized to his victims.
In earlier testimony, Duch accepted responsibility for his role in overseeing the prison and asked for forgiveness from victims' families. He also told the court that he was ready to accept heavy punishment for his actions.
He has denied personally killing or torturing the S-21 prisoners, and said he felt compelled by fear for his own life to follow the orders of senior Khmer Rouge leaders.
"At this moment it's very important to give credit to Duch for his guilty plea. Duch has recognized his responsibility," Roux said. "He has asked forgiveness from his victims."
The tribunal, which opened March 30, has featured testimony from nine expert witnesses, 17 witnesses on facts and seven character witnesses and 22 "civil parties" representing victims.
More than 23,000 people have observed the trial from the public gallery in the courtroom, tribunal officials said.
Roux said the fact that Duch cooperated with the court doesn't "erase" his crimes but it has gone a long ways to further the understanding of what happened.
"We have moved forward the understanding, the recollection," he said. "We have all moved forward in our understanding of the Cambodian tragedy."
The proceedings conclude Friday and tribunal judges are expected to issue a ruling and sentence early next year. Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch (pronounced DOIK), is expected to testify as soon as Wednesday.
The tribunal is seeking justice for an estimated 1.7 million people who died from execution, overwork, disease and malnutrition as a result of the ultra-communist group's policies while in power from 1975-79.
Duch commanded S-21 prison in Phnom Penh, where up to 16,000 people were tortured and then taken away to be killed. He is charged with crimes against humanity, war crimes, murder and torture. He faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Cambodia has no death penalty.
Duch is the only accused Khmer Rouge leader to acknowledge responsibility for his actions. Four other senior Khmer Rouge leaders are in custody awaiting trial.
"He has said from the start 'I want to explain in front of the judges, in front of public opinion.' This will be the last moment when he can explain," Francois Roux, Duch's lawyer, said Sunday. "So he's worried about what he's going to say and how he's going to say it."
Roux described his client as "nervous and anxious" about taking the stand for one last time and refused to detail what Duch would say. But he said that his client was hopeful the judges would take into consideration the fact he has admitted his guilt and apologized to his victims.
In earlier testimony, Duch accepted responsibility for his role in overseeing the prison and asked for forgiveness from victims' families. He also told the court that he was ready to accept heavy punishment for his actions.
He has denied personally killing or torturing the S-21 prisoners, and said he felt compelled by fear for his own life to follow the orders of senior Khmer Rouge leaders.
"At this moment it's very important to give credit to Duch for his guilty plea. Duch has recognized his responsibility," Roux said. "He has asked forgiveness from his victims."
The tribunal, which opened March 30, has featured testimony from nine expert witnesses, 17 witnesses on facts and seven character witnesses and 22 "civil parties" representing victims.
More than 23,000 people have observed the trial from the public gallery in the courtroom, tribunal officials said.
Roux said the fact that Duch cooperated with the court doesn't "erase" his crimes but it has gone a long ways to further the understanding of what happened.
"We have moved forward the understanding, the recollection," he said. "We have all moved forward in our understanding of the Cambodian tragedy."
4 comments:
This prison Chief responsible for so many life, and just put him life in jails? i think he should be executed...!
The condemnation of Kaing Guek Eav as khnow Duch to stay in jail until the end of his life is not enough for thousands of victims who perished in S21 and costly for public finances.
We urge the Prime Minister after the final sentence of this criminal and assassin of the Khmer people to revoke his Cambodian nationality and to return him to China the land of his ancestors. Because it is a shame for Cambodia to continue to authorize this Chinese khmer to continue to wear Cambodian nationality.
Kaing Guek Eav is not worthy to wear the Cambodian nationality.
In the same way all the criminals and dangerous offenders definitively sentenced by Cambodian justice and who have dual nationality may have their Cambodian nationality revoked by Cambodian government and expelled to the country where they have a
2nd nationality.
We must defend the national identity M. Hun Sen.
Send him to Hanoi or Pékin,
Si Kuyteav Ma tok Mok chenh Luy Maneak Eng. And now is Duch roster.
Who are bigger than Duch? Duch did everything by the orders of the Big leaders
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