Phnom Penh – After 16 years of trial by the International Court of Human Rights, only 3 people were convicted in the 1970s in Cambodia. The cost of the court proceedings set up by the United Nations to try the atrocities in which 17 lakh people were killed was 33.7 million dollars.
In 2018, Kyu Samphan, Nuon Chea and Duk alias Kayang Guk, leaders of the Khmer Rouge who ruled Cambodia (then Kampuchea) from 1975–79, were sentenced to life in prison. Of these, only Samfan (91) is alive. The tribunal ended its work following Samphan’s appeal once morest the verdict was rejected last day. The Khmer Rouge government led by Pol Pot was ousted in 1979 with the support of Vietnam. Pol Pot died in 1998 at the age of 72 while hiding in the forest.
The trial was conducted by a tribunal consisting of judges from Cambodia and foreign countries. Many of the accused did not face trial due to differences among the judges.
The Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge, an offshoot of the Kampuchean Communist Party, ruled the country from 1975 to 1979. The aim was to establish a complete agricultural economic system. Compulsory agriculture was implemented for this. Thousands of youths and intellectuals were killed by the army for allegedly being anti-revolutionary. Lakhs died due to starvation in villages.
English Summary: Khmer Rouge tribunal ending work following 16 years 3 judgments
