CAMBODIA / KHMER ROUGE TRIAL ADVANCER

On Monday 26 July 2010, the United Nations (UN) backed war crimes tribunal in Cambodia will sentence Kaing Guek Eav alias Duch, the first Khmer Rouge cadre to stand trial for crimes against humanity resulting in the deaths of at least 12,000 people at the S-21 prison from 1975 to 1979.

The judgement comes three years after Duch was identified as one of the five
former Khmer Rouge members suspected of crimes by the Co-Prosecutors of the tribunal, Extraordinary Chambers (ECCC) in the Courts of Cambodia.

If convicted, Duch will face charges for being responsible for the crimes committed in S-21, alleged to be the apex of Khmer Rouge security center. Taking into consideration mitigating factors such as Duch’s cooperation with the ECCC and his illegal detention by the Military Court since 1999, the Prosecution is requesting 40 years’ imprisonment in lieu of a life prison sentence.

During the trial hearing, Duch had confessed to being responsible for the crimes committed in S-21.

In 1975, the Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot seized power in Cambodia. Within 24 hours, Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh was emptied out and its residents forcibly marched into the countryside. Those who resisted were shot.

The regime ended in 1979 when Vietnam invaded Cambodia and overthrew the Pol Pot regime.

After Duch’s trial, Tribunal is expected to begin its second case next year. Pol Pot died 12 years ago, but four senior members of his regime now face an array of charges, including genocide.

The ECCC, which started operating in 2007, is a Cambodian court, established by domestic law. An Agreement between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the UN provides the framework for international participation and assistance to the court.