Phnom Penh
30 June 2008
Former Khmer Rouge foreign minister leng Sary appeared beforeCambodia's genocide tribunal to press for his release from pretrialdetention. He is one of five defendants being held by the so-calledExtraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, set up to try theformer leaders of the ultra-Maoist group for crimes against humanity. Rory Byrne reports for VOA from Phnom Penh.
Looking visiblyinfirm, 82-year-old leng Sary appeared in court today to appeal for hisrelease from pre-trial detention on the grounds of ill-health.
Hislawyers said that he is too old and frail to pose a flight-risk or tothreaten potential witnesses, and asked that he be placed under housearrest until his trial begins, probably next year.
Leng Saryis charged with crimes against humanity, committed during the brutal1975-1979 rule by the Khmer Rouge, when almost two million people diedfrom starvation, disease, overwork and execution.
Known as'Brother Number Three' in the organization's secretive hierarchy, hewas deputy prime minister as well as foreign minister of DemocraticKampuchea, as Cambodia was renamed by the Khmer Rouge. Using hisposition, he encouraged thousands of Cambodians living abroad to comehome. Almost all were later executed.
Youk Channg is thedirector of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, which is compilingevidence on the Khmer Rouge regime ahead of the upcoming trials.
"Heis sort of the international face of the Khmer Rouge, out there [to]convince the world, and the West, to believe that the regime was asuccess and was good for the country," said Channg. "His mission[was] to bring Cambodians abroad back to the country to help build therevolution - and usually [the] people ended up executed."
lengSary was given an amnesty by the government in 1996 as a reward forbreaking with the Khmer Rouge, along with hundreds of his supporters. Until his arrest last year, he lived in a palatial villa in the capitalPhnom Penh, earning a small-fortune from gold and precious-stonesinterests.
Youk Channg says his prosecution is seen as particularly important for many Cambodians.
"He[was] the untouchable Khmer Rouge leader that has been protected by thegovernment, given amnesty by the kings, and have so much money," saidChanng. "So for all of us who is the victims having him arrested makesa huge difference."
leng Sary is one of five defendants beingheld by the tribunal, which plans to begin its first trial later thisyear. His wife, 76-year-old Ieng Thirith, who served as the KhmerRouge's social affairs minister, is also being held on charges ofcrimes against humanity.
A decision on leng Sary's appeal is notexpected for a couple of weeks. Similar appeals by other defendantshave been rejected.