Cambodia trial begins
Cambodians watch a live feed of the tribunal at Phom Penh's Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. The first of five former Khmer Rouge leaders was being tried for crimes against humanity during the government's 1975-1979 regime. (David Longstreath / The Associated Press)
An unidentified man, injured by a land mine during the Khmer Rouge's reign, attends the proceedings for the trial against former prison leader Kaing Guek Eav. (David Longstreath / The Associated Press)03/30/2009
By Grant Peck
The Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - The man accused of overseeing the torture and execution of enemies of Cambodia's former Khmer Rouge rulers faced scores of his victims Monday, as the first trial for one of the communist group's leaders opened at a genocide tribunal.
Victims of the 1975-79 government, some missing limbs, mixed with earnest law students in a modern courtroom to watch the trial of Kaing Guek Eav, who ran the main prison where every inmate "was destined for execution," according to the indictment.
The 66-year-old defendant, widely known as Duch, betrayed no emotion as court officials read the litany of horrors that took several hours and was broadcast live nationwide.
