Monday, March 19, 2012

Khmer Rouge jailer to testify against regime’s senior leaders at UN-backed tribunal

Sunday, March 18, 2012
The Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The Khmer Rouge’s chief jailer is scheduled to testify against three of the regime’s surviving leaders who are accused of crimes against humanity.

All three are expected in court Monday during the testimony of Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch.

They include the Khmer Rouge’s chief ideologist Nuon Chea, ex-head of state Khieu Samphan and former foreign minister Ieng Sary.

All in their 80s, they are accused of crimes against humanity, genocide, religious persecution, homicide and torture. An estimated 1.7 million people died during the Khmer Rouge’s brutal rule in the 1970s.

Duch is serving life imprisonment for his role as commander of the Tuol Sleng prison, where up to 16,000 people were tortured before being killed.

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