AFP
PHNOM PENH : Ex-Khmer Rouge cadre Duch asked for forgiveness for running a feared jail where thousands died, but maintained he was only following orders as he took the stand for a final time on Wednesday.
Cambodia's UN-backed court sentenced Duch, 68, in July to 30 years' jail for war crimes and crimes against humanity for overseeing the deaths of some 15,000 people at the notorious prison Tuol Sleng - or S-21 - in the late 1970s.
Reading from a handwritten note, Duch said he only survived the brutal regime "because I respectfully and strictly followed the orders", even if at times he felt "very depressed".
He asked "for forgiveness of the souls of the victims" and "for the families of those victims to accept my apology", echoing statements made at his original trial before his shock demand to be acquitted in his closing speech in November 2009.
In three days of hearings this week, the defence, prosecution and civil parties all appealed against the punishment.
In his final address to the Supreme Court Chamber on Wednesday, Duch said "the senior leaders and those most responsible were others, not me".
Duch's lawyers are seeking a full acquittal and release, arguing that he falls outside the court's jurisdiction because he was "just a minor secretary".
The prosecution wants a life term, commuted to 45 years in jail for time spent in unlawful detention.
He also urged former regime members "to recognise that we joined the movement... to liberate the country, however the party's line was criminal".
Led by "Brother Number One" Pol Pot, who died in 1998, the Khmer Rouge wiped out up to two million people through starvation, overwork and execution.
S-21, in Phnom Penh, was at the centre of the regime's security apparatus and thousands were taken from there for execution at a nearby "killing field".
Duch has been detained since 1999, when he was found working as a Christian aid worker in the jungle. He was formally arrested by the tribunal in July 2007.
2 comments:
The Buddha said,"EVIL DEED GETS EVIL DEED"but "GOOD DEED GETS GOOD DEED".
The owner of Golden Star Palace Chinese Restaurant at Cabramatta is former Khmer Rouge Military Commanders who murdered thousands of innocent Cambodian life during Pol Pot regime. If they condemn and bring Kaing Guek Eav (Duch) to justice why Khmer rouge court of justice should be exemption the owner of Golden Star Palace that murdered thousands of Khmer lives and took their belonging such as gold, jewelry, diamonds to Australia become very rich family and live in peace like theses. That is very unfair to human being that he murdered very cruelty and painful death.
We are Khmer people and Khmer Communities around the world would like Khmer Rouge Court of justice, KI Media, VOA, Radio Free Asia, Radio France International, Mr. Sam Rainsy, World Human Right Group, UN, World Court Of Justice, Australian Government to bring this war criminal to justice like Kaing Guek Eav (Duch).
We are human being we must not support war criminal who murdered thousands human life like this.
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