Monday, 8 June 2009

Khmer Rouge prison chief: babies were 'smashed'

A handout photo shows former Khmer Rouge prison chief, Kaing Guek Eav better known as Duch (right) with his defence lawyer. Duch told Cambodia's UN-backed war crimes trial Monday that his staff had murdered babies by smashing them against trees at a "killing field"
(AFP/File/AFP)

Mon Jun 8

PHNOM PENH (AFP) – The former jail chief of the Khmer Rouge regime told Cambodia's UN-backed war crimes trial Monday that his staff had murdered babies by smashing them against trees at a "killing field".

Kaing Guek Eav, better known by his nom de guerre Duch, is on trial for overseeing the torture and extermination of 15,000 people who passed through the hardline communist movement's notorious Tuol Sleng prison.

"The horrendous images of those (babies) smashed against trees, yes, that was done my subordinates," Duch said, referring to paintings depicting the atrocities committed by members of the 1975 to 1979 Khmer Rouge regime.

"I myself do not blame my subordinates, because they worked under me. I am criminally responsible," the 66-year-old added.

The former maths teacher, wearing a grey short-sleeved shirt, was responding to prosecution questions about the regime's policies at Tuol Sleng, where prisoners were often accompanied by their children.

Duch apologised at his trial late March, saying he accepted blame for the extermination of thousands of people at the prison, which served as the centre of the 1975-1979 regime's security apparatus.

But he has denied prosecutors' claims that he played a central role in the Khmer Rouge's iron-fisted rule, and maintains he only tortured two people himself and never personally executed anyone.

Duch faces life in jail if convicted by the court, which does not have the power to impose the death penalty.

Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot died in 1998 and many believe the UN-sponsored tribunal is the last chance to find justice for victims of the regime, which killed up to two million people.

The tribunal was formed in 2006 after nearly a decade of wrangling between the United Nations and the Cambodian government, and is expected to next year to begin the trial of four other senior Khmer Rouge leaders also in detention.

8 comments:

  1. This guy should be send to death! Its not justice for all cambodian victims...

    ReplyDelete
  2. This guy Duch should be excute or shot to death...Why put him in prison for life in luxury bangalow?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rаpid raspberry κetonеs means neveг havіng
    to consult youг physіcіan before starting it I had hearԁ all these foods aѕ poisоn.
    Now, you may not be good for a few. Question 3:
    Arе HCG drops combined with healthy еatіng and self estееm
    killеr. This ԁiet lаsted in
    populагіty of гaspberry ketοnes hypnosis will make уou lоse weight but
    you wіll find low cаrb diеt had cаuseԁ the injury,
    it is too rapid weіght loss plans.

    Review my web blog :: best raspberry ketone supplement

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anywhere, when i read this
    piece of writing i thought i could also create comment due to this good
    paragraph.

    my webpage: stretch mark removal and home remedy

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for finally writing about > "Khmer Rouge prison chief: babies were 'smashed'" < Loved it!

    Check out my web blog ... laser stretch mark removal

    ReplyDelete
  6. That is a good tip especially to those fresh
    to the blogosphere. Brief but very precise information… Appreciate your sharing this one.
    A must read post!

    Look at my webpage Stretch mark lotion

    ReplyDelete
  7. Everything is very open with a very clear description of the challenges.
    It was definitely informative. Your site is useful.
    Thank you for sharing!

    Here is my page :: stretch mark lotion

    ReplyDelete
  8. What i do not understood is if truth be told how you are now not actually much
    more well-favored than you might be now. You're very intelligent. You recognize therefore considerably with regards to this subject, produced me in my view believe it from numerous various angles. Its like women and men don't
    seem to be fascinated except it's one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your individual stuffs great. Always deal with it up!

    My web blog; mederma stretch mark therapy

    ReplyDelete