Team at odds over Ao An case
AO AN – the former Khmer Rouge deputy secretary of the regime’s Central Zone – is responsible for genocide, oversaw more than 40,000 deaths and should be sent to trial, the international side of the Khmer Rouge tribunal’s prosecution team has argued, though the national side maintains his case should be thrown out.
The deep rift in the prosecution when it comes to the court’s government-opposed later cases was once again put on display yesterday, as the team released separate summaries of their final submissions to the co-investigating judges in An’s case.
An, who is charged with genocide and other crimes against humanity, is one of four controversial cases before the tribunal. Prime Minister Hun Sen himself warned that “civil war” could break out in Cambodia if An – along with Yim Tith, Im Chaem and former alleged naval commander Meas Muth – were put on trial.
National Co-Prosecutor Chea Leang said that the only “senior leaders” “most responsible” for the crimes of the Democratic Kampuchea regime were “the existing accused” – namely Brother Number Two Nuon Chea and former Head of State Khieu Samphan.
“Ao An, named in case 004/2, is not subject to the personal jurisdiction of the ECCC that needs to be prosecuted,” she said.
International Co-Prosecutor Nicholas Koumjian disagreed, saying An should be indicted and sent to trial. CONTINUED
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