Khmer Rouge leaders found guilty of genocide that killed millions
Friday, November 16, 2018 IST
Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot was responsible for killing an estimated 2 million in Cambodia in the late 1970s.
It is infamous for being Cambodia's version of Nazi extermination policy against Jews during World War II with the notorious Khmer Rouge - officially called Communist Party of Kampuchea - responsible for the killing of millions during the late 1970s. Forty years since, two of its most senior leaders still alive have been declared guilty of genocide and handed out life sentences.
According to The Guardian, 92-year-old Nuon Chea - deputy to Khmer Rouge head Pol Pot, and 87-year-old Khieu Samphan - former head of state - were found guilty of having presided over mass killings between 1977 and 1979, on Friday. Both have already been serving life sentences but have now been held responsible for the mass genocide which shocked the world almost as much as the Holocaust in Nazi Germany. Local media reports that many families of the 1.7 million victims of Khmer Rouge's atrocities had gathered for the verdict and that there were scenes of jubilation afterwards. Many called it a historic judgement which ensured leaders of Khmer Rouge are punished despite their age.
Both Chea and Samphan reportedly did not deny that they were key leaders of Khmer Rouge in the 1970s but said they had no role to play in the genocide which wiped off 25% of the country's population at the time.
The subsequent fall of Khmer Rouge, after Vietnamese armed forces and fighters from Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation captured the capital of Phnom Penh, led to the establishment of tribunals to investigate crimes against humanity. Families of victims say it has been a long and tough battle for justice but many feel punishing leaders of the regime still alive would be a deterrent against any similar regime which may crop up here or anywhere else.
Related Topics
Trending News & Articles
While the Uttarakhand High Court has asked to block 857 websites, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) found 30 portals without any pornographic content.
...
Recently posted . 64K views . 1 min read
The four boys as well as five school officials, including the director and principal, were arrested after the incident. The minors were presented before the Juvenil...
Recently posted . 9K views . 1 min read
Rahul was having an Italian passport and was carrying suitcase full of dollars. Some say it was about was it $2 million.
Rahul and his girl friend was th...
Recently posted . 9K views . 7 min read
True – Tr...
Recently posted . 8K views . 83 min read
More in National
Nirav Modi fled India in January 2018, a few weeks before the scam came to light.
Recently posted. 563 views . 0 min read
The move comes after Drug Controller General of India served show cause notices to Amazon and Flipkart for selling ‘adulterated’ beauty products...
Recently posted. 706 views . 1 min read
Communications chipmaker Broadcom Ltd is expected to soon unveil a bid for smartphone chip company Qualcomm Inc. The rumoured Broadcom-Qualcomm deal could be the bi...
Recently posted. 809 views . 1 min read
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 464 views
Recently posted . 2K views
Recently posted . 2K views
Recently posted . 3K views . 20 min read
Recently posted . 3K views . 34 min read
Major food business companies have voluntarily decided to not advertise on children’s channels products that have high fat content, the government said.
Recently posted. 655 views . 1 min read
New Delhi: Trouble is by all accounts preparing for RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday raids at three farm houses of Mis...
Recently posted. 888 views . 12 min read