Cambodia: Landmark Khmer Rouge tribunal opens

Landmark Khmer Rouge tribunal opens

PHNOM PENH - The chief of a prison where some 16,000 men, women and children were tortured before being killed appeared yesterday before Cambodia's genocide tribunal in its first trial over the Khmer Rouge reign of terror more than three decades ago.

Kaing Guek Eav - better known as Duch - is charged with crimes against humanity and is the first of five defendants scheduled for long-delayed trials by the U.N.-assisted court. They were among a close-knit clique that turned Cambodia into a vast slave labor camp and charnel house in which 1.7 million or more died of starvation, disease and execution. Duch, who headed the S-21 prison in Phnom Penh for the Khmer Rouge, is the only defendant to have expressed remorse for his actions, and yesterday he again voiced regret for what he did and sought forgiveness.

"Duch acknowledges the facts he's being charged with," his French lawyer Francois Roux, said after court session. "Duch wishes to ask forgiveness from the victims but also from the Cambodians. He will do so publicly. This is the very least he owes the victims." This week's hearing establishes the schedule for the trial, which is expected to begin in late March. The prosecution said it will present 33 witnesses over 40 days, while the defense said it seeks to have 13 witnesses testify over 4 1/2 days. Duch's professed sentiments have no direct legal ramifications, and seem unlikely to change public attitudes.

Duch, 66, is accused of committing or abetting a range of crimes including murder, torture and rape at S-21 prison - formerly a school - where suspected enemies of the Khmer Rouge - men, women and children - were held and tortured, before being executed.