A war crimes tribunal in Cambodia is about to take up the first
prosecution of a Khmer Rouge official accused in connection with 1.7
million deaths during the regime's reign of terror.
Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch, goes on trial Tuesday for war crimes,
crimes against humanity, torture and murder. Duch was head of the S-21
detention center where more than 12,000 Cambodians were executed after
being accused of disloyalty to the Khmer Rouge.
Duch has confessed that he committed atrocities and has asked for forgiveness.
The joint Cambodian - United Nations court will put at least five Khmer Rouge officials on trial.
Human rights advocates say more people should be prosecuted, but
Cambodian officials have been reluctant to increase the number of
trials.
The communist Khmer Rouge controlled Cambodia between 1975 and 1979.
Under its leader Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge attempted to create what it
called a communist utopia.
City dwellers were forced into the countryside and anyone who looked
educated or was accused of disloyalty was tortured and often executed.
The Khmer Rouge was ousted when Vietnam invaded in 1979.