Khmer Rouge Torturer Trial Continues

Kill or be killed, this is what the attorney for the Khmer Rouges former chief who oversaw the torture and slaughter of thousands of Cambodians said in todays round of closing arguments.


Its the final two days of testimony for the U.N.-backed war crimes tribunal. Duch, who was the commander of the S-21 prison, is on trial for the murder of more than 14,000 people in Cambodia during the 1970s.


[Francois Roux, Duch's Attorney]:

"He probably functioned a little like a machine, a machine respectful of orders and instructions. He received instructions which he could not contest and he found himself in the situation where he had to choose to kill or be killed."


The courtroom is packed with more than 600 people, including many survivors of the communist regime blamed for 1.7 million deaths from 1975 to 79. Duch is scheduled to take the stand again on December 27, the final day of the trial. A verdict is expected by March.


Duch is accused of quote, "crimes against humanity, enslavement, torture, sexual abuses and other inhumane acts" end quote-- as commander of the S-21 prison during one of the darkest chapters of the 20th century.


Only seven of the 14,000 people who went to the S-21 prison survived.


Prosecutors have urged the five-judge panel to reject Duch's claims that he had little choice but to carry out orders. They say Duch was quote "ideologically of the same mind" end quote, as the communist leaders and didn't try to stop prison guards from inflicting torture.


The tribunal seeks justice for nearly a quarter of Cambodia's population who died from execution, overwork or torture, during the Khmer Rouge's revolution, which ended with the 1979 invasion by Vietnam.


A Khmer Rouge survivor says that she can't forgive Duch for his crimes.


[Om Han, Khmer Rouge Survivor]:

"I cannot forgive him as he killed many people all around the country then."


Duch, if convicted, could face life in prison.

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[whatisupfolks]

The Pol Pots were ideological backed by the Chineses to kill their own people .....this guy was just a small fish in a huge filthy pond !

`` Deng Tjao Binh ´´ and his sill living followers in China must be brought to the Tribunal too !

BEWARE OF THE CHINKS BEFORE YOU DEAL WITH THEM

[thysawonn]

just hang the killer. not worst keeping him in prision. He is the #1 killer in phnom penh during khmer rouge .he act like he a victim. It make me sick.

[vdsantos11]

he's just following orders ??

looks like that you have a touch of being nazi huh

[Supenmanu]

"i was just following orders"

I think i heard that sentence in a similar setting before....

[htavos]

Kill or be killed? BULLSHIT! How can he live his life knowing what he did? I hope he riot in hell.