Cambodia has welcomed the conviction of two Khmer Rouge leaders forcrimes against humanity by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts ofCambodia (ECCC).
Cabinet spokesman Ek Tha said on August 8 thatCambodia never lost sight of justice for the victims of thesehorrors and welcomes this delivery of judgment.
Earlier on August 7, the ECCC sentenced Nuon Chea, 88, and ex-head of state Khieu Samphan, 83, to life imprisonment.
Itwas the first-ever conviction for top leaders of a regime responsiblefor the deaths of up to two million Cambodians through starvation,overwork or execution from 1975-1979.
The verdict was also hailed by many victims, foreign governments and social organisations.
The complex case against Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan was split into aseries of smaller trials in 2011 to get a faster verdict given theiradvanced age and the vast number of accusations.
A second trialagainst the pair began last week, while the tribunal is alsoinvestigating two new possible cases involving several lower-rankingcadres.
The UN-backed ECCC was established in 2006 with thepurpose of regaining justice for victims of the Khmer Rouge regime from1975-1979.
Earlier, the court also gave a life sentence judgment toformer head of Toul Sleng prison Kaing Guek Eav (alias Duch) for warcrimes and crimes against humanity.-VNA
Cabinet spokesman Ek Tha said on August 8 thatCambodia never lost sight of justice for the victims of thesehorrors and welcomes this delivery of judgment.
Earlier on August 7, the ECCC sentenced Nuon Chea, 88, and ex-head of state Khieu Samphan, 83, to life imprisonment.
Itwas the first-ever conviction for top leaders of a regime responsiblefor the deaths of up to two million Cambodians through starvation,overwork or execution from 1975-1979.
The verdict was also hailed by many victims, foreign governments and social organisations.
The complex case against Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan was split into aseries of smaller trials in 2011 to get a faster verdict given theiradvanced age and the vast number of accusations.
A second trialagainst the pair began last week, while the tribunal is alsoinvestigating two new possible cases involving several lower-rankingcadres.
The UN-backed ECCC was established in 2006 with thepurpose of regaining justice for victims of the Khmer Rouge regime from1975-1979.
Earlier, the court also gave a life sentence judgment toformer head of Toul Sleng prison Kaing Guek Eav (alias Duch) for warcrimes and crimes against humanity.-VNA
