DPA
Phnom Penh - An international war crimes tribunal in Cambodia Monday heard an appeal by defence lawyers that it release three former leaders of the Khmer Rouge movement ahead of their trial, which is expected to start later this year.
Four former leaders of the movement have been held in pre-trial detention at the UN-backed court, which is based in Phnom Penh.
Lawyers said the rules of the court meant that their clients, who were arrested in 2007, should be released since they had already been held for longer than permitted.
The movement's former head of state, Khieu Samphan, addressed the court briefly, and told the judges he had little to add to his lawyer's submission.
'I have just one suggestion,' said Khieu Samphan. 'Please abide by the law.'
The two other defendants who appeared in court were: 'Brother Number Two' Nuon Chea, the movement's ideologue, who left the court early complaining of dizziness; and Ieng Thirith, the former social affairs minister, who also returned to the detention centre after waiving her right to be present.
The fourth former leader, foreign minister Ieng Sary, has not appealed his detention.
Earlier this month, the tribunal confirmed the indictments against the four, clearing the way for their trial to begin on charges of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other crimes under Cambodian law. They deny the charges.
The court's announcement followed a series of appeals by the defendants against their pre-trial detention, all of which were rejected by the court.
However, their lawyers said the court's decisions lacked reasoning, and under the court's rules were therefore illegal. They said the court should release their clients immediately.
Later Monday the court will hear submissions from the prosecution detailing why the three should remain in pre-trial detention.
The four ex-leaders are accused of involvement in millions of deaths from execution, disease, starvation and overwork during the Khmer Rouge's 1975-79 Maoist regime.
A recent demographic study by the tribunal estimated that there were between 1.7 million and 2.2 million deaths in that period, 800,000 of which were violent.
The genocide charges relate to the persecution of Cham Muslims and ethnic Vietnamese living in Cambodia at the time.
All the accused are elderly - aged 78 to 85 - and there are fears one or more might die before a trial is concluded. The movement's leader, Pol Pot, died in 1998.
2 comments:
Let the three go for one month, they can not run away from the death gate, let them smell 2011 air outside then let then have ants for one week
Dear Dr. Hun Sen and Ten Thousands stars Dr. Hun Manet,
Why do you and your relatives give Kos Trol, sea and lands to Vietnam? Why? and Why?
Why do you and all of your relatives involve a lot of murder cases in Cambodia? Why? Why?
Why do you murder Cambodian K5, 1997 events and so on and so on with lost count? Why?
If you are so good why do you and your families murder Cambodians? Why? And Why?
If you are so good, why do above 90% Cambodians are so poor but you and your relatives are billionaires and millionaires? Why? Why?
Why do you try to kill people from telling the true? Why? Why?
What is the difference from Khmer Rough and you, Sir?
If you are so good why do you block KI from Cambodians?
If you are so good, why do you steal all Cambodian life such as well being, health, cut down Cambodians life expectancy as well? But you and your small group are eat well, sleep well, exercise well, have oversea doctors and best medical treatment from high class private doctors from oversea. Most Cambodians that have no money, your healthcare system left Cambodians patients to die in front of your hospital. Why? Why?
If you are so good why more than 6 millions Vietnamese are living permanently in Cambodia, right now? Why, Dr. Hen Sen? And Why
Everywhere, I walk in Cambodia I see Vietnamese speak Vietnamese every where, why? Why?
Don't you and your families scare of hell for eternity?
When you die can you bring all of your power and money with you?
Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Big ass lady and his beloved Dr. Hun Manet Please don't put us in jail or kill us for this! We want to live like you and your families do!
Khmers victim of 1997 and K5
PS
If Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet remove the tablet it is show they are extremely coward and his star are just joy stars given by his daddy not by patriotism. Dr. Hun Manet is very coward as his daddy they only aim to kill innocent Cambodians that all. Dr. Hun SEn and Dr. ten stars Hun Manet are very great at bullying Cambodians and killing Cambodians but cowardly toward Thai and Viet.
CPP are not just corrupted, CPP are extremely corrupt. They are even sell the country such as Kos Trol, Seas, lands, Cambodian people, Cambodian health and well being, all resources in the Cambodia…with lost count. You name it!
Seriously where is the win win policy of Dr. Hun Sen represent? The country is getting smaller and smaller and shame by Dr. Hun Sen and Dr. Hun Manet and his families, his relatives and friends.
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