AFP
CAMBODIA'S UN-backed genocide court announced today it had completed investigations against surviving senior leaders of the 1970s Khmer Rouge regime.
The five leaders of the hardline communist regime charged in case 002 are currently being held at the court while the tribunal prepares to give a verdict in its first trial of one of the detainees, former prison chief Duch.
"The notification of the conclusion of the investigation today is clearly a milestone in the judicial process in case 002," tribunal spokesman Lars Olsen said.
Lawyers now have 30 days to request further investigations and judges hope to issue an indictment in the case by September. The earliest a second trial could start is the end of this year, he said.
Former Khmer Rouge follower Nuon Chea, head of state Khieu Samphan, foreign minister Ieng Sary, and his wife, minister of social affairs Ieng Thirith are all being held for genocide and other charges in the case, alongside Duch.
Duch, real name Kaing Guek Eav, was already tried for his role as head of the regime's Phnom Penh-based torture centre S-21. Final arguments were heard in November.
Investigative judges would decide in their indictment whether all five suspects would be tried, Mr Olsen said.
After several years of haggling between Cambodia and the UN, the tribunal was created in 2006 to try former Khmer Rouge leaders.
Up to two million people were executed or died of starvation or overwork during the regime's 1975-1979 rule, which emptied Cambodia's cities and forced the population to work on collective farms in its bid to forge a communist utopia.
The five leaders of the hardline communist regime charged in case 002 are currently being held at the court while the tribunal prepares to give a verdict in its first trial of one of the detainees, former prison chief Duch.
"The notification of the conclusion of the investigation today is clearly a milestone in the judicial process in case 002," tribunal spokesman Lars Olsen said.
Lawyers now have 30 days to request further investigations and judges hope to issue an indictment in the case by September. The earliest a second trial could start is the end of this year, he said.
Former Khmer Rouge follower Nuon Chea, head of state Khieu Samphan, foreign minister Ieng Sary, and his wife, minister of social affairs Ieng Thirith are all being held for genocide and other charges in the case, alongside Duch.
Duch, real name Kaing Guek Eav, was already tried for his role as head of the regime's Phnom Penh-based torture centre S-21. Final arguments were heard in November.
Investigative judges would decide in their indictment whether all five suspects would be tried, Mr Olsen said.
After several years of haggling between Cambodia and the UN, the tribunal was created in 2006 to try former Khmer Rouge leaders.
Up to two million people were executed or died of starvation or overwork during the regime's 1975-1979 rule, which emptied Cambodia's cities and forced the population to work on collective farms in its bid to forge a communist utopia.
5 comments:
How about Hun Sen, Chea Sim, Heng Somrin, Va Nahong, Hor Namhong, Cheam Yeap, Thea Banh and all their clans? They all killers during Khmer Rouge Regimes. The court should go after them too.
10:19PM, they all killer then and still killer now. ECCC are not going to do antything about them because they scared of Hun Xen. This court is pathetic! Waiste of funds....
If the court brave enough to convict those current top ganster it will open up major hope for Cambodia and Cambodians for betterment.
The truth and justice need to be found for all victims and their families' members. But I see this court as a waste of money. It takes years to trial six elderly people, who gonna die soon.
This money can better be used to development rural areas and help poor Khmer.
CK
10:42PM, I agree! It is a waiste of funds. In addition, they scared to even summons Hun Xen's clans.
This money could spend on healthcare for elders or/and poor kids attending school.
"Final arguments were heard in November."
Does anyone care to explain what these crackerjacks have been doing since then?
This court is slower than geological time.
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