Radio France Internationale
Prosecutors called for a 40-year jail sentence for Khmer Rouge prison chief Duch, who is accused of overseeing the deaths of 15,000 people at the notorious Tuol Steg detention centre. Duch is charged with crimes against humanity, war crimes, torture and premeditated murder, and faces a maximum term of life in prison.
The trial, which began in February, is the first of Khmer Rouge cadres. It is taking place through a tribunal set up in 2006 after almost a decade of negotiations between Cambodia and United Nations.
In his testimony, Comrade Duch, whose real name is Kaing Guek Eav, has confessed his role in the atrocities and asked for forgiveness from the victims' families. He is scheduled to apologise again when he addresses the UN-backed court later Wednesday.
"We submit... that the sentence to be submitted by this trial chamber should be 40 years in prison," prosecutor Bill Smith told judges in the prosecution's final arguments.
Smith said a 45-year prison sentence would be appropriate for Duch although this should be reduced by five years for his general cooperation, limited acceptance of responsibility and expressions of remorse.
"No one should make the mistake that this case is equal to an unqualified guilty plea before an international tribunal," said Smith.
The Khmer Rouge came to power in 1975 and under leader Pol Pot wiped out nearly two million Cambodians through starvation, overwork and execution, before they were toppled by Vietnamese-backed forces in 1979.
Hundreds of Cambodians came to the specially-built courtroom outside Phnom Penh, and this week's proceedings are being broadcast live by all of the country's television stations.
Only about a dozen people survived Tuol Steng. Approximately 15,000 men, women and children passed through the torture centre between 1975 and 1979. After forced, false confessions of disloyalty to the regime, they were executed nearby Choeung Ek, at the so-called "Killing Fields", which now houses a genocide museum.
Nearly two million people were killed by the Pol Pot regime between 1975 and 1979.
Duch has been detained since 1999, when he was found working as a Christian aid worker in the jungle, and was formally arrested by the tribunal in July 2007.
Four other more senior Khmer Rouge leaders are set to go on trial in 2011. The court is also considering opening cases against five other former Khmer Rouge cadres.
A verdict in the Duch trial is expected early next year.
The trial, which began in February, is the first of Khmer Rouge cadres. It is taking place through a tribunal set up in 2006 after almost a decade of negotiations between Cambodia and United Nations.
In his testimony, Comrade Duch, whose real name is Kaing Guek Eav, has confessed his role in the atrocities and asked for forgiveness from the victims' families. He is scheduled to apologise again when he addresses the UN-backed court later Wednesday.
"We submit... that the sentence to be submitted by this trial chamber should be 40 years in prison," prosecutor Bill Smith told judges in the prosecution's final arguments.
Smith said a 45-year prison sentence would be appropriate for Duch although this should be reduced by five years for his general cooperation, limited acceptance of responsibility and expressions of remorse.
"No one should make the mistake that this case is equal to an unqualified guilty plea before an international tribunal," said Smith.
The Khmer Rouge came to power in 1975 and under leader Pol Pot wiped out nearly two million Cambodians through starvation, overwork and execution, before they were toppled by Vietnamese-backed forces in 1979.
Hundreds of Cambodians came to the specially-built courtroom outside Phnom Penh, and this week's proceedings are being broadcast live by all of the country's television stations.
Only about a dozen people survived Tuol Steng. Approximately 15,000 men, women and children passed through the torture centre between 1975 and 1979. After forced, false confessions of disloyalty to the regime, they were executed nearby Choeung Ek, at the so-called "Killing Fields", which now houses a genocide museum.
Nearly two million people were killed by the Pol Pot regime between 1975 and 1979.
Duch has been detained since 1999, when he was found working as a Christian aid worker in the jungle, and was formally arrested by the tribunal in July 2007.
Four other more senior Khmer Rouge leaders are set to go on trial in 2011. The court is also considering opening cases against five other former Khmer Rouge cadres.
A verdict in the Duch trial is expected early next year.
4 comments:
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!
40 years for tortured, beatten, and killed 15,000.00 Khmer people. This court is a joke. These stupid mother fucker foreingners just there for money. Charles Manson got life time. Come on stupid world wake up.
a jork for these different ground assassins
this is an understatetment, really. nothing can ever bring back the millions of khmer victims under the stupid KR, really!
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