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Khmer Rouge Leader Nabbed

'Brother Number Two' of genocidal regime lived openly in jungle headquarters

By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 19, 2007 6:07 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The highest ranking Khmer Rouge official still alive was arrested early today in Cambodia as part of a UN-led genocide investigation. Nuon Chea, 82, was second only to Pol Pot in the regime that killed over a million Cambodians between 1975 and 1979. Chea has been living openly for decades in the former jungle headquarters of the Khmer Rouge, BBC reports.

"He was shaking. His legs looked like they would collapse," said a witness describing Chea's arrest. Chea now faces an international genocide tribunal. Observers worry that there is little time to bring many aging Khmer Rouge leaders to justice. Pol Pot died in 1998, and his notorious henchman Ta Mok died last year.

Nuon Chea listens to news broadcasts from the bedroom of his simple rural home near Pailin, Cambodia, in this March 10, 2005 file photo. Police surrounded the home of the top surviving leader of the Khmer Rouge, Nuon Chea, on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007, and prepared to arrest him over...
Nuon Chea listens to news broadcasts from the bedroom of his simple rural home near Pailin, Cambodia, in this March 10, 2005 file photo. Police surrounded the home of the top surviving leader of the Khmer...   (Associated Press)
A helicopter carrying former Khmer Rouge number two leader Nuon Chea past a Buddhist temple out Pailin, Cambodia Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. Police detained the top surviving leader of the Khmer Rouge, Chea, on Wednesday over his role in the notorious former Cambodian regime that caused the deaths of 1....
A helicopter carrying former Khmer Rouge number two leader Nuon Chea past a Buddhist temple out Pailin, Cambodia Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. Police detained the top surviving leader of the Khmer Rouge,...   (Associated Press)
Former Khmer Rouge number two leader Nuon Chea, center white hair, is helped board the helicopter in Pailin to Phnom Penh Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007 in Pailin, Cambodia. Police detained the top surviving leader of the Khmer Rouge, Nuon Chea, on Wednesday over his role in the notorious former Cambodian...
Former Khmer Rouge number two leader Nuon Chea, center white hair, is helped board the helicopter in Pailin to Phnom Penh Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007 in Pailin, Cambodia. Police detained the top surviving...   (Associated Press)
A police motorcade with former Khmer Rouge number two leader Nuon Chea on board heads to a helicopter in Pailin, Cambodia Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. Cambodian authorities on Wednesday flew Nuon Chea to Phnom Penh for a genocidal trial. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
A police motorcade with former Khmer Rouge number two leader Nuon Chea on board heads to a helicopter in Pailin, Cambodia Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. Cambodian authorities on Wednesday flew Nuon Chea...   (Associated Press)
Nuon Chea, the former No. 2 man with the Khmer Rouge, pauses in the doorway of his rural shack along the Thai-Cambodia border near Pailin, Cambodia, in this July 26, 2003, file photo. Noun Chea said Thursday July 19, 2007, he is ready to go to court if he is...
Nuon Chea, the former No. 2 man with the Khmer Rouge, pauses in the doorway of his rural shack along the Thai-Cambodia border near Pailin, Cambodia, in this July 26, 2003, file photo. Noun Chea said Thursday...   (Associated Press)
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Former Khmer Rouge leader arrested
Associated Press

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genocide • Cambodia • tribunal • Khmer Rouge • Pol Pot • Ta Mok • Nuon Chea

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