Genocide Trial in Cambodia Wraps Up This Week

by Barbara McPherson | November 24, 2009 at 10:29 am

101 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

The genocide trial of Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, wraps up in Cambodia this week. Prosecutors are calling for a life sentence for Duch who has admitted his part in the torture and death of over 16 000 people under his control. Cambodia does not have a death sentence penalty.

The defendant, Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, was a senior prison chief during the Khmer Rouge's brutal rule over Cambodia between 1975 and 1979.

He is accused of overseeing the torture and execution of about 16,000 men, women and children at the regime's the S-21 prison, housed in a former high school in the capital, Phnom Penh.

This was during the infamous period in Cambodia when the Khmer Rouge, a radical communist group took over the country in 1975. Cambodia lost millions of its citizens in the following four years to torture, starvation and overwork. This period of Cambodia's history inspired the Hollywood movie The Killing Fields.
Duch's trial has been ongoing since February. His sentencing is not expected until the New Year. It is the first of a series of trials backed by the UN to deal with a four of the Khmer Rouge leaders. There are ongoing debates within the country as to the value of the trials. Some former Khmer Rouge cadres hold high political office in Cambodia's government.
Duch has admitted his crimes but uses the rationalization that he was only following orders from the Pol Pot regime. He has since converted to Christianity and is asking for forgiveness for his atrocities.