Khmer Rouge tribunal faces uphill struggle with second trial focus 09/21/2010

Khmer Rouge tribunal faces uphill struggle with second trial

focus

09/21/2010
PHNOM PENH — Three decades after their reign of terror, four Khmer Rouge leaders are finally set to go on trial, but the case poses a major challenge and has been described as “the most complex since Nuremberg.”

A UN-backed tribunal on Thursday indicted four former members of the regime for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in connection with the deaths of up to two million people between 1975 and 1979.

The accused, whose trial is expected to begin in early 2011, are “Brother Number Two” Nuon Chea, former foreign minister Ieng Sary, his wife and former social affairs minister Ieng Thirith and former head of state Khieu Samphan.

“Some people have said, and I believe they are right, that this is the most complex trial since the Nuremberg trials,” said outgoing co-investigating judge Marcel Lemonde, referring to the landmark Nazi trial after World War II.

The indictments set the stage for the second trial at the hybrid court — made up of Cambodian and international legal officials — following a landmark conviction in July that saw former prison chief Kaing Guek Eav sentenced to 30 years for overseeing the deaths of 15,000 men, women and children..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100921com6.html