Khmer Rouge chief sets up splinter group
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.One of the senior leaders of Cambodia's genocidal Khmer Rouge government has confirmed he has established a movement to rival the Khmer Rouge guerrillas led by Pol Pot. A statement written by Ieng Sary also confirms he intends to seek reconciliation with the Cambodian government which is split over his attempts to regain a legitimate political role.
Ieng Sary says he has decided to break with "the dictatorial group" led by Pol Pot and claims that Cambodia "will be reduced to nothing if the Khmer [Cambodian] people continue to fight each other indefinitely".
Most of the international media insists on describing Ieng Sary as "Brother No 2", or second in command to Pol Pot, but as he pointed out in an interview with the Bangkok Post on Monday, this is "a gross mistake". He identified Brother No 2 as being Nuon Chea, the deputy secretary of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who he said was responsible for the rounding up and killing of intellectuals and diplomats lured back to Cambodia during Khmer Rouge rule from 1975-78.
Authoritative independent sources confirm Ieng Sary was not the second in command but, as deputy prime minister, foreign minister and Pol Pot's brother-in-law, he was part of the inner circle which planned and executed the genocidal policies destroying around a fifth of Cambodia's population.
It is for this reason that he was sentenced to death for genocide and that his political rehabilitation is strongly opposed by King Norodom Sihanouk. However the king's son, the first Prime Minister Ranaridh Sihanouk, and the powerful second Prime Minister Hun Sen, seem determined to bring Ieng Sary back into the fold.
They see this as aiding the disintegration of the Khmer Rouge and hope that Ieng Sary and his followers will bring support and resources to the beleaguered regime and help defeat the democratic opposition forces.
In his Bangkok Post interview Ieng Sary spoke of a secret committee, of which he was not part, that was responsible for the arrest, torture and execution of so-called enemies of the regime. The Khmer Rouge says Ieng Sary is little more than a common criminal, having embezzled up to $25m (pounds 16.5m) from the party's coffers.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments