Former Khmer Rouge head of state Khieu Samphan (Photo: AFP)Phnom Penh (VNA) - The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts ofCambodia (ECCC) on November 16 sentenced two most senior surviving leaders ofthe country’s former Khmer Rouge regime to life in prison for committinggenocide.
Nuon Chea, 92, was the chief ideologist of the Khmer Rouge and second incommand to Pol Pot. Khieu Samphan, 87, was head of state during the brutalregime, which ruled from 1975 to 1979.
Spokesman of the trial chamber of the ECCC Neth Pheaktra told the press onNovember 16 that the verdicts in Case 002/02, which charged both men withcrimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, were announced with the presenceof representatives from the United Nations, the ambodian Government, foreign embassies,and local people.
“Thepronouncement of the verdict on Friday is a historical event for the KhmerRouge tribunal, for Cambodia and for the world, as well as for internationaljustice”, he said.
The hearing for the case lasted 283 days, starting from October 2014, duringwhich 185 individuals testified, he added.
YoukChhang, director of the Documentation Centre of Cambodia, which archives theKhmer Rouge atrocities, said the verdict "affirms the collective humanityof the victims and gives recognition to the horrible suffering that theysuffered."
The ECCC is aspecial Cambodian court which receives international assistance through theUnited Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials. It was set up in 2006 tobring to trial senior leaders and those most responsible for crimes committedduring the Khmer Rouge regime. In that period, at least 1.7 million Cambodianpeople are believed to have died from starvation, torture, execution and forcedlabour.
It has so far spent more than 318 million USD for its activities during2006-2017, of which Japan contributed 29 percent. The chamber had to ceaseoperation several times due to shortage of capital.-VNA
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