Cambodia's trial of the Khmer Rouge's two surviving leaders began hearing closing statements today, with pleas for belated justice almost 40 years after the brutal regime destroyed a generation of Cambodian people.
Now ailing and elderly, Nuon Chea, 87, the regime's chief ideologist, and Khieu Samphan, 82, its head of state, are charged with genocide and crimes against humanity including torture, enslavement and murder for planning and implementing the policies that left an estimated 1.7 million people dead.
Initial statements on today came from the lawyers of "civil parties" participating in the trial to represent the victims. Statements from the prosecution and defence are scheduled through the end of October, and a verdict is expected in the first half of 2014.
Hundreds of victims who lost their loved ones during the regime's 1970s rule packed the tribunal's courtroom and crowded outside.
"I need to see justice," said Prak Sri, a 66-year-old who travelled from the southern province of Takeo. "I want to see this court punish these Khmer Rouge leaders because 11 of my relatives were killed."
Death and disability have robbed the tribunal of other defendants. Khmer Rouge Foreign Minister Ieng Sary died in March, and his wife Ieng Thirith, the regime's social affairs minister, was declared unfit for trial in September 2011 after being diagnosed with dementia. The group's top leader, Pol Pot, died in 1998.
Just 20 minutes into today's hearing, Nuon Chea told the court he felt ill.
"I feel dizzy. May I leave?" the man known as Brother No 2 told the court. He was escorted out in a wheelchair, taken to a holding cell to watch the proceedings via video link.
The Khmer Rouge, in power from April 1975 until January 1979, emptied the country's cities, forcing Cambodians into backbreaking work in rural collectives and executing any it suspected of dissent.
Torture and death by starvation, lack of medical care, overwork and execution were endemic under the Khmer Rouge.
Civil party lawyers recounted testimony of mothers who watched their babies die due to lack of food and medicine and families forcibly marched at gunpoint across the countryside.
"Forced transfers involved the complete emptying of towns and cities," said civil party lawyer, Hong Kim Suon.
"There was usually no food, water, shelter or medical care," he said.
"The consequences of the forced transfers resulted in famine, disease and death."
Surviving victims hope that "after more than 30 years their right to justice and reparations will be realised," said another civil party lawyer, Pich Ang.
