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Top Khmer Rouge leader arrested | |
(40 minutes later) | |
Police in Cambodia have arrested the most senior surviving member of the notorious Khmer Rouge regime, as part of a UN-backed genocide investigation. Nuon Chea was flown from his jungle home to the capital, Phnom Penh, to appear before Cambodian and foreign jurists in a special genocide tribunal. The 82-year-old was second-in-command to Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot. | |
More than a million people are thought to have died during the four years of Khmer Rouge rule between 1975-79. | More than a million people are thought to have died during the four years of Khmer Rouge rule between 1975-79. |
Nuon Chea, who was also known as "brother number two", has been living alongside Khieu Samphan, once the Khmer Rouge's head of state, in Pailin, the movement's former jungle headquarters. | Nuon Chea, who was also known as "brother number two", has been living alongside Khieu Samphan, once the Khmer Rouge's head of state, in Pailin, the movement's former jungle headquarters. |
Police and court officials went to his home near the Thai border early on Wednesday to question him, witnesses said. | Police and court officials went to his home near the Thai border early on Wednesday to question him, witnesses said. |
He was then taken under police escort to a helicopter for the flight to Phnom Penh. | He was then taken under police escort to a helicopter for the flight to Phnom Penh. |
Five suspects | Five suspects |
The UN-backed tribunal has taken years to get off the ground, triggering fears that the ageing Khmer Rouge leaders would never be brought to justice. | The UN-backed tribunal has taken years to get off the ground, triggering fears that the ageing Khmer Rouge leaders would never be brought to justice. |
KHMER ROUGE TRIBUNAL Will try cases of genocide and crimes against humanityFive judges (three Cambodian) sit in trial courtCases decided by majorityMaximum penalty is life imprisonmentBudget of $56.3m Key figures facing trial | KHMER ROUGE TRIBUNAL Will try cases of genocide and crimes against humanityFive judges (three Cambodian) sit in trial courtCases decided by majorityMaximum penalty is life imprisonmentBudget of $56.3m Key figures facing trial |
But in July, prosecutors charged their first suspect, an ex-Khmer Rouge prison chief, with crimes against humanity. | But in July, prosecutors charged their first suspect, an ex-Khmer Rouge prison chief, with crimes against humanity. |
Kang Kek Ieu, also known as Duch, was in charge of the notorious S21 jail, where thousands of people were imprisoned, tortured and killed. | Kang Kek Ieu, also known as Duch, was in charge of the notorious S21 jail, where thousands of people were imprisoned, tortured and killed. |
Duch was the first of five suspects whom prosecutors have asked the tribunal to investigate over their role in the brutal Khmer Rouge regime. | Duch was the first of five suspects whom prosecutors have asked the tribunal to investigate over their role in the brutal Khmer Rouge regime. |
But the man most wanted for crimes against humanity in Cambodia will never be brought to justice. | But the man most wanted for crimes against humanity in Cambodia will never be brought to justice. |
Pol Pot, the founder and leader of the Khmer Rouge, died in a camp along the border with Thailand in 1998. | Pol Pot, the founder and leader of the Khmer Rouge, died in a camp along the border with Thailand in 1998. |