Ieng Sary Hospitalized

31 January 2008.

The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 545

Tribunal Officials Concerned about Health of Five Former Khmer Rouge Leaders in Detention

“Phnom Penh: A Khmer Rouge tribunal official said on 29 January 2008 that Mr. Ieng Sary, 76, was admitted to Calmette Hospital at mid noon of 28 January, to have his hypertension checked by doctors and to have a medical checkup for his chronic diseases. The statement of this official is parallel to the announcement of the pre-juridical process of Nuon Chea, which is due to be held on 4 February.

“Mr. Reach Sambath, the Khmer Rouge tribunal’s spokesperson, told Koh Santepheap by phone that Mr. Ieng Sary had been brought to Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh to have a medical examination for his hypertension related ailments. He continued, ‘We have made all efforts to treat him.’

“Mr. Eang Udom, Ieng Sary’s defense lawyer, said that Mr. Ieng Sary had suffered a serious relapse of heart related diseases, and on 29 January he was still hospitalized, waiting for medical help from Calmette doctors. The lawyer added, ‘He is suffering from a serious heart disease, that is why he was sent to the hospital, right now he is being observed by the doctors.’

“Mr. Reach Sambath added that ‘it is normal for older people to have hypertension, the patients are asked to take medicine regularly, because if they do not take it, it can cause problems; however, we consider all means to help him, providing highest attention; we are not careless.’

“It is noted that Mr. Chhit Chhoeun, as known as Ta Mok, had been detained by the military court in Phnom Penh for many years; later on, he suffered from serious ailments and was sent to a hospital. He died in the Ketumealea Hospital a few day later, on 23 October 2006.

“Mr. Reach Sambath continued that so far, the other accused, besides Mr. Ieng Sary, are in normal health. However, the five defendants are all old, they can face blood vessel or heart related aliments like Mr. Ieng Sary, while they are waiting for their hearings at the court.

“Mr. Ieng Sary and his wife had been brought to the Khmer Rouge tribunal in the early morning of 12 November 2007, charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes. Mr. Ieng Sary and his wife were the former Khmer Rouge Number Three and Number Four top leaders, who were arrested and have been jailed at the Khmer Rouge tribunal after Duch, the former chief of Tuol Sleng prison, and Nuon Chea, the former president of the People’s Assembly of the Democratic Kampuchea regime.

“On 28 January 2008, 28 judges of the Khmer Rouge tribunal met for their third plenary session to discuss the court’s performance every half year. In that meeting, Mr. Kong Srim, chairing the session, said that the investigating co-judges have been conducting their investigations of the defendant Ieng Sary, charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes, and had issued a warrant to temporarily detain the defendant.

“Mr. Kong Srim added that the five defendants have been charged and are temporarily detained for only four months, starting from the date when the investigative requests were issued.

“During the last few months, there were hints that the Khmer Rouge tribunal does not have sufficient money, and the funds can run out by April 2008, while legal processes have been done only for one of the former Khmer Rouge leaders, that is for the bail request for the defendant Duch. The date for the judgments has not yet been set, while before it was considered that the Khmer Rouge tribunal is a three years project and it was expected to cost US$56.3 million.

“Mr. Kong Srim claimed that ‘we start the year 2008 with a great success.’ He added that the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia is the smallest one of the international courts, and it has also the lowest budget. ‘We have around 300 staff members (200 national employees and 100 international staff members).’”

Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6258, 30.1.2007