Jailed former Khmer Rouge leaders seek conjugal visits

earthtimes.org
Tue, 26 Feb 2008
DPA

Phnom Penh - Despite being hospitalized with heart problems three times since his arrest last year, elderly jailed former Khmer Rouge leader Ieng Sary has requested the court grant conjugal visits, local media reported Tuesday. The English-language Cambodia Daily quoted Ieng Sary's lawyer Ang Udom as saying the 82-year-old "misses his wife," fellow detainee Ieng Thirith, also known as Khieu Thirith, the sister-in-law of former Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot.

"He wants to see her, she wants to see him ... why does the tribunal prevent them from seeing each other?" the paper quoted Ang Udom as saying.

The lawyer was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

The elderly husband and wife are among five senior former Khmer Rouge leaders currently in detention at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Up to 2 million Cambodians died during the Khmer Rouge's 1975-79 Democratic Kampuchea regime, one of the bloodiest reigns of the last century. Pol Pot died at home in 1998.

The paper also reported that Ieng Sary had requested his current stay in hospital to monitor heart problems be extended indefinitely, but court sources said this request was unlikely to be granted as the court provided round-the-clock medical care and his condition was not thought to be life threatening.