"Am I therefore become your enemy,because I TELL YOU THE TRUTH...?"
(Galatians 4:16)

'It was a hellish regime'

Phnom Penh,Cambodia-A Cambodian genocide victim confronted a former Khmer Rouge leader for the first time in a courtroom on Friday, demanding to know who was responsible for the "hellish regime"that caused the deaths of some 1.7 million people,including her parents.Tribunal officials called it a historic moment when Theary Seng took the stand in the second day of a hearing for former leader Noun Chea's appeal against his pretrial detention at Cambodia's UN-backed genocide tribunal.Nuon Chea has denied any guilt, saying he is not a "cruel" man."If Nuon Chea claimed he was not responsible, who was then for the loss of my parents and other victims' loved ones?" asked Theary Seng, a Cambodian-American."What we know is that Nuon Chea was the second leader after (late Khmer Rouge leader) Pol Pot.It was a hellish regime."No Khmer Rouge leaders have ever stood trial for their regime's activities, and there are fears the ageing and infirm defendants could die before facing justice. Pol Pot died in 1998.Nuon Chea, who was the main ideologist for the now defunct communist group, has been held since September 19 on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his involvement in the Khmer Rouge's ruthless 1975-79 rule.He is one of five former Khmer Rouge leaders detained by the tribunal, which is expected to hold the first trials later this year.Nuon Chea sat stoically across from Theary Seng in the courtroom as she testified. When she was 7 years old, Theary Seng and her four-year-old brother were "shackled and held under inhumane condition in a Khmer Rouge prison", she said.Peter Foster, a tribunal spokesperson, said the courtroom confrontation was historic."It's the first time a victim is able to stand up and confront a defendant. It's extremely symbolic," Foster said. "We made history today."Nuon Chea is the second defendant to appear before judges to appeal for release from pretrial detention. He has argued the tribunal's investigating judges did not have sufficient grounds to detain him.
As in the days of Noah....
Diposting oleh