UN tribunal frees Pol Pot's in law on health grounds
Phnom Penh (AsiaNews /
Agencies) - The UN tribunal for war crimes in Cambodia, said Ieng Thirit,
sister in law of the dictator Pol Pot, can not stand trial on health grounds. The
woman, 80, was released yesterday, but had to surrender her passport and
identity card to the authorities. Thirit suffers from a degenerative disease
similar to Alzheimer's. According to the court she is not fit to stand trial
and will live in semi freedom.
Sister of Khieu Ponnary, wife of Pol Pot, Ieng Thirt along with her husband
Ieng Sary was one of the leaders of the ultra-Maoist regime which from 1975 to
1979 killed over two million people, about a quarter of the Cambodian
population. Minister for Social Affairs during the regime, Thirit is one of the
few defendants in the trial for the heinous crimes committed by the Khmer
Rouge. The woman is accused of genocide, torture and crimes against humanity.
The news of her release has sparked dismay among the families of the victims
and the few survivors of the extermination camps and the mass killing of the
regime. "I can not oppose the judgment of the court - says Bau Meng, 71, a former inmate of the Tuol
Sleng prison, the infamous S 21 - but it is now more difficult to get justice
from this court."
Arrested in 2007 with her husband Thirit supported Pol Pot until his death in 1997. In recent years the
former Khmer Rogue member denied any involvement in the atrocities committed
during the regime and always refused to cooperate with the Tribunal. To date,
the only one who has admitted his guilt is Kaing Guek Eav, better known as
"Comrade Duch". The 'former commander of Tuol Sleng prison was sentenced
Aug. 18, 2012. A
second trial against three other Khmer Rouge leaders is underway: Nuon Chea,
known by the nickname of "Brother Number Two", Khieu Samphan, former
head of state of Democratic Kampuchea, Ieng Sary, former foreign minister of
the regime.
In recent years, many have criticized the UN Tribunal of corruption and
inefficiency. Its investigations have targeted - in part - only the symbols of
the regime but have not ensured true justice to the Cambodian people. Pol Pot
died in 1998 due to illness and never stood trial nor charges for atrocities
committed under his command. In addition, many of the old second ranking officials
of the Maoist movement are still free and in many cases also hold important
roles of government.
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