Khmer Rouge Defendant Ieng Thirith Makes First Appeareance in Court; Nepal Abolishes Monarachy; Bangladesh Arrests Grassroots Leaders

By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Former Khmer Rouge leader, Ieng Thirith, made her first appearance at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.  She requested to be released because she alleged she was "unfit to stay in jail."

Ieng Thirith's lawyers have alleged that she is mentally ill.  In court, judges asked Ieng Thirith how many children she had, and she could only recall after several answers.  Diana Ellis, her lawyer, said, "In view of her age and her poor chronic health, a lengthy period in detention will ... adversely affect her health.  The charged person would remain in Cambodia, would require treatment and would not flee."  However, court officials have already stated doctors have deemed Ieng Thirith fit to stand trial.

Although the mass killings by the Khmer Rouge regime occurred decades ago, the Khmer Rouge Tribunal was not officially established until 2006.  Trials are not set to begin until late this year.  The age of the defendants has become an issue in the Khmer Rouge Tribunal because some fear a prosecution will not happen or may be meaningless.

For more information, please see:

AFP - Former Khmer Rouge Minister Argues to Go Free - 20 May 2008

BBC News - Ex-Khmer Rouge Minister in Court - 21 May 2008

Jurist - Paper Chase: Former Khmer Rouge Minister Makes First Appearance Before Cambodian Tribunal - 21 May 2008

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KATMANDU, Nepal - Nepal voted to abolish a 239-year old monarchy, which was a key demand of the Maoists after the group ended a decade long war with the government and became part of the political process instead. 

Upon hearing the news, the most of public danced in the streets and waved flags in celebration.  They chanted, "Welcome to a republic."  A public holiday was also declared.  In an address to the assembly, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said, "Today is the day when my dreams have been realized and similarly the dreams of the nation have perhaps also been realized."

Royalists, however, protested the abolishment threw pamphlets demanding the monarchy remain.  There were also three explosions in the capital.  There was a clash outside the royal palace between royalists and police.  About 25 people were hurt in the incident.  Although some royalists oppose the change, they are heavily outnumbered by mainstream political groups and Maoist former rebels.

For more information, please see:

IHT - Royal Flag is Lowered over Nepal - 29 May 2008

IHT - Nepal Reborn as a Republic - 29 May 2008

Reuters - Nepal Abolishes Centuries-Old Hindu Monarchy - 29 May 2008

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DHAKA, Bangladesh - After key political parties rejected an offer to talk with the interim army-government, nearly 50 grassroots leaders were arrested.

The two political parties involved, Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), vow to seek the release of their respective leaders.  Both threaten that if the leaders are not released, protests will be launched countrywide. 

The government contends that the leaders were detained on graft and corruption charges.  "It was confirmed that the detainees were trying to instigate the people against the interim-government," a senior officer of the joint forces said on Saturday without giving details.

For more information, please see:

Reuters - Bangladesh Detains 50 Grassroot Leaders: Police - 31 May 2008

IPS - With More Leaders Arrested Democracy Retreats - 21 May 2008