By KER MUNTHIT
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Charged with crimes against humanity, former Khmer Rouge Foreign Minister Ieng Sary and his wife were formally put in detention Wednesday by Cambodia's U.N.-backed genocide tribunal.
The 1975-79 Khmer Rouge regime was blamed for the deaths of some 1.7 million people from starvation, disease, overwork and execution. None of the group's leaders has yet faced trial.
The tribunal's co-investigating judges decided to place Ieng Sary and his wife, Ieng Thirith, who was the Khmer Rouge social affairs minister, in provisional detention for up to a year, said tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath.
He said the judges left open the opportunity for the couple and their lawyers to appeal the detention order. They were both charged Tuesday with crimes against humanity, with Ieng Sary additionally charged with war crimes.
After their arrest Monday at their villa in the capital, Phnom Penh, they were kept in police custody until the tribunal judges ruled Wednesday on their pretrial detention. Their arrest brought to four the number of former Khmer Rouge leaders in custody awaiting trial.
The U.N.-assisted tribunal was created last year after seven years of contentious negotiations between the United Nations and Cambodia.
The arrests of the Khmer Rouge suspects come almost three decades after the group fell from power, with many fearing the aging suspects might die before they ever see a courtroom. Trials are expected to begin next year.
Nuon Chea, the former Khmer Rouge ideologist, and Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, who headed the Khmer Rouge S-21 torture center, were detained earlier this year on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Khieu Samphan, who served as Khmer Rouge head of state, meanwhile was hospitalized in Phnom Penh early Wednesday after suffering a stroke. He was stricken Tuesday at his home in Pailin in northwestern Cambodia.
According to prosecutors' documents made available to The Associated Press, Khieu Samphan was the fifth suspect whom the tribunal's prosecutors seek to charge. His arrest had been expected soon.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, speaking at a graduation ceremony Wednesday, said he sent a helicopter to bring Khieu Samphan to Phnom Penh, where his health will be closely monitored. The tribunal, which does not yet have jurisdiction over Khieu Samphan, was not involved in the government's decision to fly him to Phnom Penh, Reach Sambath said.
Khieu Samphan, believed to be 76, was admitted to Cambodia's best-equipped medical facility, Calmette Hospital, immediately after arrival.
His wife, So Socheat, said her husband fainted and collapsed to the floor when he tried to get up from a hammock Tuesday.
"His mouth became twisted, and he was not able to pronounce any clear words," she said.
She said that when her husband regained consciousness, he told the doctors at their house that he could not afford to pay any expenses if he were taken to a hospital.
His blood pressure has been brought down and he has regained normal movement in his arms and legs, said a nurse, who asked not to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media.
U.S. Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli said the stroke indicated that Khieu Samphan was getting nervous about being arrested.
"Perhaps justice breathes down his neck and causes his stress," he told The Associated Press. "It's good that they'll have to confront their demons,"
But Khieu Samphan's daughter, Khieu Rattana, said she did not think this caused his stroke.
"He has been aware all along that he will be arrested," she said. "He is not concerned about it and said he is ready to go to the tribunal."
The 1975-79 Khmer Rouge regime was blamed for the deaths of some 1.7 million people from starvation, disease, overwork and execution. None of the group's leaders has yet faced trial.
The tribunal's co-investigating judges decided to place Ieng Sary and his wife, Ieng Thirith, who was the Khmer Rouge social affairs minister, in provisional detention for up to a year, said tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath.
He said the judges left open the opportunity for the couple and their lawyers to appeal the detention order. They were both charged Tuesday with crimes against humanity, with Ieng Sary additionally charged with war crimes.
After their arrest Monday at their villa in the capital, Phnom Penh, they were kept in police custody until the tribunal judges ruled Wednesday on their pretrial detention. Their arrest brought to four the number of former Khmer Rouge leaders in custody awaiting trial.
The U.N.-assisted tribunal was created last year after seven years of contentious negotiations between the United Nations and Cambodia.
The arrests of the Khmer Rouge suspects come almost three decades after the group fell from power, with many fearing the aging suspects might die before they ever see a courtroom. Trials are expected to begin next year.
Nuon Chea, the former Khmer Rouge ideologist, and Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, who headed the Khmer Rouge S-21 torture center, were detained earlier this year on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Khieu Samphan, who served as Khmer Rouge head of state, meanwhile was hospitalized in Phnom Penh early Wednesday after suffering a stroke. He was stricken Tuesday at his home in Pailin in northwestern Cambodia.
According to prosecutors' documents made available to The Associated Press, Khieu Samphan was the fifth suspect whom the tribunal's prosecutors seek to charge. His arrest had been expected soon.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, speaking at a graduation ceremony Wednesday, said he sent a helicopter to bring Khieu Samphan to Phnom Penh, where his health will be closely monitored. The tribunal, which does not yet have jurisdiction over Khieu Samphan, was not involved in the government's decision to fly him to Phnom Penh, Reach Sambath said.
Khieu Samphan, believed to be 76, was admitted to Cambodia's best-equipped medical facility, Calmette Hospital, immediately after arrival.
His wife, So Socheat, said her husband fainted and collapsed to the floor when he tried to get up from a hammock Tuesday.
"His mouth became twisted, and he was not able to pronounce any clear words," she said.
She said that when her husband regained consciousness, he told the doctors at their house that he could not afford to pay any expenses if he were taken to a hospital.
His blood pressure has been brought down and he has regained normal movement in his arms and legs, said a nurse, who asked not to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media.
U.S. Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli said the stroke indicated that Khieu Samphan was getting nervous about being arrested.
"Perhaps justice breathes down his neck and causes his stress," he told The Associated Press. "It's good that they'll have to confront their demons,"
But Khieu Samphan's daughter, Khieu Rattana, said she did not think this caused his stroke.
"He has been aware all along that he will be arrested," she said. "He is not concerned about it and said he is ready to go to the tribunal."
