Sunday, 10 February 2008

Putin lashes out as term nears end

seattletimes.nwsource.com
Saturday, February 9, 2008

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Khmer Rouge victim confronts defendant

A Cambodian genocide victim confronted a former Khmer Rouge leader in a courtroom Friday, demanding to know who was responsible for the "hellish regime" that killed 1.7 million people, including her parents.

Tribunal officials called it a historic moment when Theary Seng took the stand on the second day of a hearing of former leader Nuon Chea's appeal for release from pretrial detention at Cambodia's U.N.-backed genocide tribunal.

"It's the first time a victim is able to stand up and confront a defendant. It's extremely symbolic," said Peter Foster, a tribunal spokesman. Nuon Chea, who was the main ideologist for the now-defunct communist group, has been held since Sept. 19 on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his involvement in the Khmer Rouge's ruthless 1975-79 rule. He is one of five former Khmer Rouge leaders detained by the tribunal, expected to hold the first trials later this year.

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