Cambodian's Khmer Rouge trial to start next month
Associated Press, Phnom Penh | Tue, 10/18/2011 8:55 PM
Cambodia's genocide tribunal will begin its long-awaited full-scale trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders late next month.
The UN-backed tribunal announced Tuesday that substantive proceedings will begin Nov. 21 in the trial of Khieu Samphan, the group's head of state; Nuon Chea, who was leader Pol Pot's No. 2 and the group's chief ideologist; Ieng Sary, the former foreign minister; and his wife, Ieng Thirith, who was minister for social affairs.
The tribunal is seeking justice for an estimated 1.7 million people who died of starvation, exhaustion, lack of medical care or torture during the communist Khmer Rouge's 1970s rule.
The defendants have been indicted for crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide, religious persecution, homicide and torture.
