Cambodian man guilty in failed coup attempt

Cambodian policemen stand in front of Cambodian Freedom Fighters' (CFF) weapons and flags in Phnom Penh, in 2001

Callahan said his client (Chhun Yasith) had founded the CFF after deciding that "speeches and diplomacy were not going to be enough" to unseat Hun Sen.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — A Cambodian man was found guilty by a US jury on Wednesday of fomenting a failed coup attempt in his native country in November 2000 and now faces a possible life sentence.

Chhun Yasith, 52, a California accountant who arrived in America in the 1980s after the collapse of the Khmer Rouge's "Killing Fields" regime, was accused of drawing up plans for the overthrow of Prime Minister Hun Sen in Phnom Penh from his modest office in Long Beach, southwest of Los Angeles.

"The planning and fundraising happened right here in the United States," prosecutor Lamar Baker told jurors earlier this month at the US District Court of Los Angeles. "It was like the labels say, 'Made in the USA.'"

After a two-week trial, he was found guilty of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction outside the United States and engaging in a military expedition against a nation with which the United States is at peace.

He was also found guilty of conspiracy to kill in a foreign country and conspiracy to damage or destroy property in a foreign country.

Chhun Yasith is scheduled to be sentenced on September 8.

Prosecutors said Chhun Yasith founded a group known as the Cambodian Freedom Fighters (CFF) in 1998 and was elected president after traveling to Thailand to enlist the support former Cambodian military personnel.

The CFF planned a twin-pronged strategy to bring about revolution, prosecutors said. The group was ordered to carry out "popcorn" attacks on soft targets such as karaoke bars, nightclubs and coffee houses before launching an all-out assault to overthrow the government.

After one of the so-called "popcorn" attacks -- the July 2000 bombing of a nightclub in Cambodia that left two people dead and many injured -- Chhun Yasith sent a fax to members "bragging about hospitals filling up with victims," Baker said.

Chhun Yasith selected a total of 291 targets for their ill-fated coup, codenamed "Operation Volcano."

Despite being warned by senior CFF advisors that the rebel forces were not big enough to challenge the Cambodian army and police, Chhun Yasith -- based in Thailand -- pressed ahead with the coup attempt, which took place on November 24, 2000.

Dozens of armed men stormed into Phnom Penh firing AK-47 rifles and rockets at government buildings, leaving at least four people dead, before the rebellion was quelled.

More than 100 people were jailed for the attack, which left Hun Sen unscathed.

Chhun Yasith was tried in absentia in Phnom Penh in June 2001 and convicted of conspiracy, terrorism and membership of an illegal armed group.

During the US trial, Chhun Yasith's attorney, Richard Callahan, argued that his client's "only goal was to bring democracy to his homeland."

"It was misguided and naive in its execution but it was not misguided and naive in its intent," Callahan said, saying his client had launched a "noble effort to save Cambodia" from the "tyrannical regime of Hun Sen."

Callahan said his client had founded the CFF after deciding that "speeches and diplomacy were not going to be enough" to unseat Hun Sen.

In a December 2000 interview with the Cambodia's English-language Cambodia Daily newspaper, Chhun Yasith said the attack was a failed coup bid and vowed to strike again to topple the government.

"We were prepared to transform Cambodia into a country like the US," Chuun Yasith told the newspaper. "We had a constitution that would've turned Cambodia into a republic," he added.

Chhun Yasith and his wife, Sras Pech, 42, face another trial on July on charges of running a fraudulent tax-preparation business in Long Beach.

President of Cambodian Opposition Group Convicted Of Plotting To Overthrow Cambodian Government

Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Source: US Department of Justice, US Attorney's Office

LAWFUEL - The president of the Cambodian Freedom Fighters – a Long Beach, California-based organization that was formed to seize political control in the southeast Asian country – was found guilty today of conspiring to kill in a foreign country.

Yasith Chhun, 51, a United States citizen, was found guilty of four felony charges at the conclusion of a 10-day trial. In addition to the conspiracy to kill in a foreign country count, the jury convicted Chhun of conspiracy to destroy property in a foreign country, conspiracy to violate the Neutrality Act by engaging in a military expedition against a nation with whom the United States is at peace and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction in a foreign country.

The evidence presented at trial showed that Chhun traveled to the Cambodia-Thailand border in October 1998 to meet with Cambodian military personnel who were opposed to the ruling party in Cambodia, the Cambodia People's Party, headed by Prime Minister Hun Sen. At this time, the Cambodian Freedom Fighters (CFF) was born and Chhun was made president of the group. The opposition forces from Cambodia agreed to acquire weapons and Chhun agreed to raise funds for the violent overthrow of the Cambodian government. Fundraisers were held at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, and strategy meetings were held at Chhun’s office in Long Beach.

The CFF eventually developed plans for "Operation Volcano," which would be a major assault on Cambodian government institutions and Prime Minister Sen. Documents introduced as evidence in the trial contained notations by Chhun that he would “tear Hun Sen” apart, “cut their necks,” and “send them to hell soon.”

On November 24, 2000, Chhun orchestrated the attack on the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, which included attacks on buildings housing the Ministry of Defense, the Council of Ministers and a military headquarters facility. About 200 CFF members used AK-47 rifles, grenades and rockets during the assault. As a result of the attack, several Cambodian police officers and civilians were wounded, and at least three CFF members were killed.

Seven witnesses came from Cambodia to testify. One of the victims who was 20 years old on the night of the attack said he was guarding a gas station when CFF members armed with AK-47s approached him. Even though he told the CFF members that he was unarmed, the witness testified that they shot him and then threw a grenade at him.

Chhun is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Dean D. Pregerson on September 8. He faces a potential sentence of life without parole in federal prison.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-Criminal Investigation.

Chhun and his wife, Sras Pech, 42, are named in a second indictment that accuses them of running a fraudulent tax-preparation business in Long Beach. They are scheduled to go on trial in that case on July 1.

CONTACT: Assistant United States Attorney Lamar Baker
(213) 894-0627

Assistant United States Attorney Richard Y. Lee
(213) 894-2692
Release No. 08-044

Long Beach Man Convicted Of Cambodia Conspiracy

April 16, 2008
KNBC Channel4 (Los Angeles, California, USA)

LOS ANGELES -- A Long Beach accountant was convicted Wednesday of federal charges stemming from the failed coup attempt he led against Cambodia's government in November 2000.

Yasith Chhun, the 52-year-old president of the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, faces life in prison without parole when sentenced on Sept. 8, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Chhun was found guilty of the four charges against him -- conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, conspiracy to damage or destroy property in a foreign country, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction outside the United States, and engaging in a military expedition against a nation with which the United States is at peace.

The conviction followed a two-week trial in downtown Los Angeles, in which jurors were told that Chhun planned "Operation Volcano" to overthrow the government of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The failed attempt resulted in the deaths of at least three CFF members, according to the U.S. government. An unknown number of civilians, members of the Cambodian National Police and Cambodian military were injured.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar Baker told jurors that Chhun hatched a "Made in the USA" plot to overthrow Cambodia's government and knowingly put other people's lives -- but not his own -- in danger.

But Chhun's attorney, Richard Callahan, argued that his client's "only goal was to bring democracy to his homeland."

Neither Baker nor Callahan were immediately available for comment on the verdict.

During the trial, prosecutors portrayed Chhun as a callous, cowardly, incompetent leader of the CFF, who held group meetings at his Long Beach business, CCC Professional Accounting Services, located in the 2700 block of East 10th Street.

Chhun also met with former members of the Khmer Rouge military at the Cambodia-Thailand border in October 1998 to plan Sen's overthrow, prosecutors said.

The Khmer Rouge and its leader, Pol Pot, ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. The Communist organization was blamed for the deaths of more than 1 million people through execution, forced labor and starvation in what became known as the country's "killing fields."

After raising money in the United States -- including staging a May 2000 fundraiser at the Queen Mary -- the CFF launched "popcorns," or small-scale guerrilla attacks in Cambodia against gas stations, coffee shops and other targets, according to the U.S. government.

Chhun sent a congratulatory fax to one CFF member whose bombing of a nightclub resulted in two deaths and scores of injuries, prosecutors said.

Ignoring the advice of senior CFF officials who warned about the group's lack of money and popular support, Chhun launched "Operation Volcano," a major assault on Cambodian government buildings and the Sen administration, according to the prosecution.

On Nov. 24, 2000, Chhun -- safely stashed away in Thailand at the time -- orchestrated attacks on buildings housing Cambodia's Ministry of Defense, the Council of Ministers and a military headquarters facility, prosecutors said.

Jurors were shown photographs of those who were injured during the assault. The victims suffered gunshot wounds from AK-47 assault rifles and shrapnel injuries from exploded hand grenades, according to the prosecution. Some of them testified at Chhun's trial.

Jurors also were shown videotaped testimony from Chhun's co-conspirators -- three of whom are serving life sentences in Cambodian prisons.

After the coup failed, Chhun returned to the United States. The FBI arrested him at his Long Beach home on June 1, 2005, after a federal grand jury indicted him.

Chhun also gave incriminating statements to an FBI agent, who recorded them, prosecutors said.

But Callahan portrayed Chhun and his followers as naive freedom fighters who made "a noble effort to save Cambodia" from the "tyrannical" government of Hun Sen -- a former brigade commander under Pol Pot.

Chhun is a man "desperately concerned about the people of Cambodia and their future," Callahan told jurors earlier this month. "You need to see what he saw and feel what he felt."

He said the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution in support of having the United States support Sen's indictment in an international court of law. That resolution was passed in October 1998 -- the same month Chhun traveled to Southeast Asia to plot against Cambodia's government, Callahan said.

He also noted Cambodia's problems, which he said include corruption, poverty, civil rights abuses and child sexual slavery.

Chhun stayed behind in Thailand during Operation Volcano after a top CFF military commander told him it would a security risk for him to be in Cambodia during the assault, Callahan said.

Chhun, along with his wife, Sras Pech, 42, still face separate federal charges alleging they ran a fraudulent tax-preparation business in Long Beach. Trial in that case is scheduled to begin on July 1.

Chhun Yasith convicted of failed Cambodian coup attempt [-CFF had access to " Weapon of Mass Destruction"???]

Chhun convicted of failed Cambodian coup attempt

04/16/2008
P-T wire reports
Long Beach Press Telegram (California, USA)

LOS ANGELES -- A federal jury in Los Angeles has convicted a Long Beach accountant of charges stemming from the failed coup attempt he led against Cambodia's government in November 2000.

Yasith Chhun, the 52-year-old president of the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, was found guilty of conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, conspiracy to damage or destroy property in a foreign country, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction outside the United States and engaging in a military expedition against a nation with which the United States is at peace.

The failed coup resulted in the deaths of three CFF members and an unknown number of civilian injuries.

Chhun, who stayed behind in Thailand during the attempted coup, later escaped to the United States. The FBI arrested him in June 2005.

He faces a potential life prison term when sentenced Sept. 8.

'Freedom Fighter' Faces US Court

By Mark Pierce, VOA Khmer
Original report from Long Beach, Calif.
07 April 2008

The trial of Cambodian-American Chhun Yasith on charges related to an alleged attack on government forces finally began this week in Los Angeles, California.

Chhun Yasith was arraigned in June 2005 on charges stemming from clashes between the Cambodian Freedom Fighters and government forces in November 2000.

Chhun Yasith is also accused, along with wife Sras Pech, of filing falsified tax claims for recently arrived Cambodian immigrants. Both are in federal custody in Los Angeles.

US federal prosecutors charge that Chhun Yasith helped lead an armed attack against a country "that is at peace with the United States."

A jury was selected last Wednesday, and by Thursday opening arguments were presented by both the prosecuting and defense attorneys.

"This accountant from the city of Long Beach decided he was going to take over a country," the New York Sun quoted prosecutor Lamar Baker saying. "And he was willing to take lives in order to do so."

Richard Callahan Jr., Chhun Yasith's attorney, said the Cambodian Freedom Fighters had tried to overthrow the "tyrannical regime" of Prime Minister Hun Sen, the Sun reported.

"They attempted what they believed was a gallant effort to save Cambodia from the regime of Prime Minister Hun Sen," Callahan was quoted as saying. "These men put their lives on the line for the cause....The effort was misguided and naïve in its execution to be sure, but it was not misguided in its intent."

Both sides will review Chhun Yasith’s role in forming the CFF, which allegedly included fundraising activities in the Long Beach area in the 1990s and fomenting a rebellion from the Thai-Cambodian border area.

The trial is expected to last twelve days, according to the US Department of Justice.

The attack left four of the CFF members dead and several policemen wounded.

The Cambodian government has sent 14 police officers to testify at the trial, some of them as eye-witnesses, Cambodian authorities said.

The Cambodian government requested that the US arrest Chhun Yasith for several years before the US took him into custody in 2005.

Neutrality and Justice

Chhun Yasith (L) and General Vang Pao (R)

April 7, 2008
New York Sun Editorial

'Contrary to the government's assertion, it is by no means self-evident that a person engaged in extra-territorial or resistance activities — even militant activities — is necessarily a threat to the security of the United States. One country's terrorist can often be another country's freedom-fighter."

* * *

It happens that those words were written by one of our wisest federal Judges, John Noonan, who rides the 9th United States appellate circuit. He was deciding, in 2004, an immigration case involving a Sikh militant. We thought of the judge's point as we were ruminating on two current criminal prosecutions on the Coast that are being levied by the Justice Department against individuals who are hardly neutral — they are on our side in a twilight struggle against remnant communist regimes in Indochina.

One, whose opening arguments last week were covered by our Josh Gerstein, involves the trial of a Cambodian American Yasith Chhun, an accountant who was indicted in May 2005 under the Neutrality Act for alleged acts against the government of Cambodia. The charges also included conspiring to kill in a foreign country, to destroy property overseas, and to use a weapon of mass destruction, namely, rocket propelled grenades. Mr. Chhun's defense, our Mr. Gerstein reported Wednesday, is arguing that he was engaged in a noble, if naive, attempt to free his countrymen from a despotic regime and that he had no desire to see anyone killed in the process. The head of the regime against which he plotted, Hun Sen, was, the defense has pointed out, a brigade commander under Pol Pot, one of the worst mass murderers in history.

The second case, which Mr. Gerstein has also been covering, involves the Hmong freedom fighter, Vang Pao, who, with ten other men, was indicted in June at Sacramento on a strikingly similar set of federal charges for their attempts to liberate their homeland of Laos. They were also charged with conspiring to violate the Neutrality Act and conspiring to kill abroad. The Hmong group also faces weapons charges because it allegedly tried to purchase weapons here in America. We have already voiced in these columns our alarm at the case against Vang Pao. In league with our Central Intelligence Agency, he led the Laotian hill tribes in the twilight struggle against the communist conquest of his, and neighboring, countries in Indochina. There are few men alive on the planet today to whom the cause of freedom owes as much as is owed to Vang Pao.

* * *

The issues in these trials, however, go way beyond Vang Pao and Yasith Chhun — to the question of America's traditional role in the world. "At least since 1848, the year of democratic revolutions in Europe," Judge Noonan wrote in the immigration case cited above, "the United States has been a hotbed of sympathy for revolution in other lands, often with emigres to this country organizing moral and material support for their countrymen oppressed by European empires such as those of Austria, Britain and Russia." He cited such famous figures as David Ben Gurion and Nelson Mandela and made a reference to the struggle for Tibet. The jurist issued a call for an evaluation of evidence rather than speculation that couldn't be more important as America regards the freedom-fighters operating against the remnant communist dictators in Indochina.

Comment to New York Sun Editor [regarding Chhun Yasith's trial]

April 3, 2008
By Kok Sap
Originally posted on http://neokhmer.wordpress.com

RE: At Trial, Cambodian-American Coup Plotter Portrayed as Reckless

Dear Editor,

The article compels me to comment. No slight the aftermath was from 3-6 killed and most likely all were insurgents and by standers caught in cross fire. The charges appear credible but raise confusion further. In light of 1797 neutrality laws and its interpretation by brilliant Attorney General Robert F Kennedy in April 20 1961 statement which appears inapplicable in Citizen Yasith case. Undoubtedly he is a sacrificial lamb for our foreign relations enhancement with Cambodia dictator. Conveniently his charges are based on outdated laws. This makes one wonder when we are getting sentimental with any known dictator.

In his arguments then there were major scale military operations Puma and Zapata led by Captain Zuniga Brigade 2506 which all were prepared, trained and departed from US to overthrow a foreign sovereignty. The Attorney General Robert F Kennedy, the boss of the very FBI famously put,” There have been a number of inquiries from the press about our present neutrality laws and the possibility of their application with the struggle for freedom in Cuba.

First may I say the neutrality laws are among the oldest laws in our statue book. Most of the provisions dated from our first year of independence, and with only minor revisions, have continued in force since the 18th century. Clearly they were not designed for the kind of situation which exists in the world today.

Second the neutrality laws were never designed to prevent the individuals from leaving the United States to fight for a cause in which they believed. There is nothing in neutrality laws which prevents refugee from Cuba from returning to that country to engage in the fight for freedom. Nor is individual prohibited from departing the United States, with others of like belief, to join still others in second country for an expedition against in a third country.

There is nothing criminal in individual leaving the United States with an intent of joining the insurgent group. There is nothing criminal in his urging others to do so. There is nothing criminal in several persons departing at the same time.

What the law does prohibit is as a group organized a military expedition from departing from United States to take action as a military force against a nation with whom the United States at peace.

There are also provisions of early origin forbidding foreign states to recruit mercenaries in this country. No activities engaged in by Cubans patriots which have been brought to our attention appear to be violations of our neutrality laws.”

From USINS angle, refugee definition fits all refugees whether from Cuba, Cambodia or Rwanda. All fled from fear of reprisal, persecution, stateless, and believes or fears of own life in danger. The United States has traditionally been proud of its claim, a home of the brave and the freed. The most adorable lady who stood tall in New York harbor said, ” Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Given if Mr. Kennedy was still living, he probably argued in Citizen Yasith behalf that there was no law broken. The main thrust of his argument might be Citizen Yasith was not a military or mercenary recruiter. Beside in real earth time, during the event he had never set foot in either second (Thailand) or third country (Cambodia) and caught pants down in this so called plot of coup. Mr. Kennedy has clearly said, there is no criminal in his urging others to do so.

Citizen Yasith plead not guilty to the elevated charges. Seemingly it is a criminal act by showing his affection and enthusiasm in providing support of morale for a handful insurgents to take own initiative in revolting against a known dictator in Cambodia. Along the line there was another arrest of another coup plotter, General Vang Pao from Laos charged with conspiring to buy arms for the insurgents in Laos. Sadly, this General was no stranger but a staunch and instrumental ally in US war against Hanoi and China communism then. It is frightening to see the impact from US anti domino theory unrolls its friendly fire.

According to the imprisoned former police chief Heng Pov and FBI accounts per Mr. Ron Abney in March 1997, the very dictator had ordered the assassins to toss 4 grenades in the peaceful demonstration crowd which caused at least 20 death and hundreds of injured.

The irony was some US politicians were informed of the Cambodia Freedom Fighters intent. With strong hope, Citizen Yasith would have thought US take note seriously. Subsequently, the US grand jury is in action to condemn a delusional coup plotter as FBI agent called him with the help from Cambodia dictator selected 15 strong witnesses.

The US knows the dictator has the audacity to disobey the UNDP 1993 election laws and 1991 Paris Peace Accord not to say he used bloody coup in July 1997 to grab power. In this tyrant action alone cost more lives and property destruction than the accused Citizen Yasith in folds. CFF intent was to stop the dictator from terrorizing people furthermore.

In this mockery of US neutrality laws, April 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion was a full blown organized military expedition with US land, sea, and air forces support in addition to Brigade 2506 manned by Cuban exiles from Florida’s Everglades training base. The aftermath was phenomenal and historically heroic action for US foreign policy then.

For the sake of understanding and comparison from Wikipedia source, “By the time fighting ended on April 21, 1961 68 exiles were dead and 1,209 captured. A few were executed and the rest sentenced to thirty years in prison for treason. After 20 months of negotiation with the United States, Cuba released the exiles in exchange for $53 million in food and medicine. Cuba’s losses during the Bay of Pigs Invasion are unknown, possibly 4,000-5,000.

In one air attack alone, Cuban forces suffered an estimated 1,800 casualties when a mixture of army troops, militia, and civilians were caught on an open causeway riding in civilian buses towards the battle scene in which several buses were hit by napalm. The total casualties for the Brigade 2506 were 104 members killed, and a few hundred more were wounded. After the Bay of Pigs, Castro fearing the US might try to invade Cuba again.”

One can only assume this must be a daunting task for the prosecution to arrest and detain a criminal like Citizen Yasith. Meanwhile the lady from New York Harbor must be speechless that her words were no longer inspiring and meaningful. This is a new page of US history in foreign policy of SE Asia.

At Trial, Cambodian-American Coup Plotter Portrayed as Reckless

April 3, 2008
BY JOSH GERSTEIN
Staff Reporter
New York Sun

LOS ANGELES — A Cambodian-American tax preparer and self-described freedom fighter, Yasith Chhun, recklessly endangered the lives of civilians and his own followers when he launched a coup attempt in his homeland in 2000, a prosecutor told jurors during opening arguments yesterday at Mr. Chhun's trial in federal court here.

Mr. Chhun's defense replied that he was engaged in a noble, if naïve, attempt to free his countrymen from a despotic regime and that he had no desire to see anyone killed in the process.

"This accountant from the city of Long Beach decided he was going to take over a country," the prosecutor, Lamar Baker, said. "And he was willing to take lives in order to do so."

Mr. Chhun's attorney, Richard Callahan Jr., said the group, which called itself the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, had the laudable goal of removing what he called the "tyrannical regime" of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

"They attempted what they believed was a gallant effort to save Cambodia from the regime of Prime Minister Hun Sen," Mr. Callahan said. "These men put their lives on the line for the cause. ... The effort was misguided and naïve in its execution to be sure, but it was not misguided in its intent."

Mr. Callahan told jurors about the "killing fields" in which an estimated 1.7 million people died in the 1970s during the murderous regime of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. "Hun Sen had been a brigade commander under Pol Pot and unfortunately many of the same abuses continued under his reign," the defense attorney said. Mr. Callahan noted that in 1998, as the plans for the coup were being crafted, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution calling for Mr. Hun Sen to be indicted under international law for a variety of human rights abuses, including attacks on political rallies and the killing of Cambodian opposition figures.

The defense lawyer said Mr. Chhun's contacts with American political leaders in Washington led him to believe America would back the putsch. "His CFF members also believed the U.S. would be there," Mr. Callahan said.

At the outset of his 35-minute argument, Mr. Baker showed jurors a photograph of a bloodied man sprawled on a sidewalk clutching what appeared to be a weapon. The prosecutor said the man was a private security guard at a gas station who was fired on with an AK-47 during the coup attempt and later had a grenade tossed at him by a member of Mr. Chhun's group.

Mr. Chhun, 52, faces charges of conspiracy to kill overseas, conspiracy to damage or destroy property in a foreign country, and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction outside America. He also is charged with violating the Neutrality Act, a law that dates to 1797 and bars private military expeditions against countries with which America is at peace. Each of the conspiracy counts carries a possible life sentence. Violation of the Neutrality Act carries a possible sentence of 25 years in prison.

In court filings, the prosecution argued that federal law prohibits privately launched military efforts in most circumstances because of the deleterious effects such missions can have on America's relations with other governments. However, Mr. Baker did not make such an argument to jurors yesterday, leaving it to them to speculate about the possible impact of Mr. Chhun's amateur war-making on America.

Mr. Baker did stress that much of the planning for the attack was done on American soil. "It was, as sometimes the labels or the commercials say, 'Made in the U.S.A.,'" he said.

During his 15-minute opening, Mr. Callahan disagreed. "There was actually very little connection to the United States," he told jurors.

Mr. Baker glossed over the manner in which Mr. Hun Sen "came to power." However, the prosecutor acknowledged, albeit briefly, that Cambodia suffers from poverty, corruption, and human rights violations.

"The defendant and his Cambodian Freedom Fighters thought they could solve all of Cambodia's problems if they could just take over the country," Mr. Baker said. The prosecutor also suggested twice that Mr. Chhun was a coward because he stayed behind when the attempted takeover was carried out. "The defendant's encouragement stopped at the Cambodia border. When it was time for Operation Volcano, he remained in Thailand," Mr. Baker said.

Mr. Callahan said military advisers told Mr. Chhun that he could jeopardize the security of the operation by going along.

Press reports from the scene in Phnom Penh said about six people were killed when the coup attempt was easily put down by Cambodian government forces on the morning of November 24, 2000. However, Mr. Baker told jurors yesterday that only three men died and that all of them were insurgents.

The prosecution's opening contained a contradiction of sorts. While the prosecution is contending that any attempt by an American to overthrow Cambodia's government by force is unlawful, Mr. Baker at times seemed to fault Mr. Chhun for failing to use enough force.

Ultimately, Mr. Chhun's guilt or innocence could hinge not on the coup attempt itself but on the smaller-scale "popcorn" attacks that the insurgent group allegedly carried out in the months leading up to the coup attempt. Mr. Baker said Mr. Chhun was willing to cause "injuries and death to others" in order to get publicity for the group.

While jurors may be reluctant to convict Mr. Chhun for leading an assault on the Cambodian government, they may be less willing to forgive the smaller attacks, which prosecutors said involved throwing grenades into coffee shops and karaoke bars where mostly civilians would be present.

The prosecution's first witness was an FBI agent who suggested that Mr. Chhun, who worked out of a small office in a strip mall, suffered from delusions of grandeur. "He said he would become the interim president of Cambodia until new elections could be held," the agent, Donald Shannon Jr., said. Mr. Shannon said Mr. Chhun made the statement in an interview several months after the November 2000 coup attempt.

While Mr. Chhun's openness at that time would seem to suggest he thought he had done nothing illegal, Mr. Shannon said the accountant sometimes switched words to make the attack sound less violent. The agent said Mr. Chhun talked of "attacks" on government officials in Cambodia, but would then say, "I mean 'arrest.'"