West-demonised Khmer Rouge minister dead
15 March 2013 8:01 AM IST
Former Khmer Rouge minister Ieng Sary, who was on trial for genocide and war crimes, died on Thursday, the UN-backed court said, denying Cambodians a verdict over his role in the brutal regime.
The death of the former student radical, who as Khmer Rouge foreign minister was one of the regime’s few public faces, heightens fears the remaining elderly defendants may not live to see justice at the much-delayed tribunal.
‘We can confirm that Ieng Sary died this morning after being hospitalised since 4 March,’ court spokesman Lars Olsen said, adding it was ‘regrettable we cannot finish the proceedings in the case’.
At 87, he was oldest of three former leaders on trial, and, along with ‘Brother Number Two’ Nuon Chea, 86, and one-time head of state Khieu Samphan, 81, denied charges including war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.
The death of the former student radical, who as Khmer Rouge foreign minister was one of the regime’s few public faces, heightens fears the remaining elderly defendants may not live to see justice at the much-delayed tribunal.
‘We can confirm that Ieng Sary died this morning after being hospitalised since 4 March,’ court spokesman Lars Olsen said, adding it was ‘regrettable we cannot finish the proceedings in the case’.
At 87, he was oldest of three former leaders on trial, and, along with ‘Brother Number Two’ Nuon Chea, 86, and one-time head of state Khieu Samphan, 81, denied charges including war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.
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