兩名前紅色高棉領導人被判終身監禁

Two aging Khmer Rouge leaders have been convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life in prison, three-and-a-half decades after the communist group's bloody rule left nearly a quarter of the Cambodian population dead.

A United Nations-backed tribunal ruled Thursday 83-year-old ex-head of state Khieu Samphan and 88-year-old former chief ideologue Nuon Chea were guilty of murder, political persecution and other inhumane acts.

Neither showed any emotion as chief judge Nil Nonn read the court's decision.

The men, who are the two most senior living Khmer Rouge ex-officials, denied any wrongdoing, saying they either did not know about the crimes or had no power to stop them.

The court rejected this argument. It said Khieu Samphan's position as head of state meant he was aware of the policy of the Communist Party of Kampuchea. It also found Nuon Chea exercised "ultimate decision-making" in the party."

Lawyers for both men say they will appeal the rulings. But judges say the two will remain jailed because of the gravity of the crimes.

The current case against the two leaders relates to the 1975 forced expulsion of millions of Cambodians from Phnom Penh to rural working camps. A second phase of the tribunal, which began last week, focuses on other charges, including genocide.兩名年邁的前紅色高棉領導人被判定反人類罪名成立，並被判處終身監禁。35年前，共產主義組織紅色高棉的血腥統治造成柬埔寨將近四分之一人口死亡。

聯合國支持的法庭星期四判定83歲的前紅色高棉國家元首喬森潘和88歲的前紅色高棉意識形態首腦農謝的謀殺、政治迫害以及其他非人道行爲罪名成立。

在首席法官尼嫩宣讀法庭判決時，喬森潘和農謝表情平靜。

喬森潘和農謝是目前還在世的前紅色高棉最高級官員。他們否認有任何不當行爲，聲稱他們或者對有關罪行並不瞭解，或者沒有權力加以阻止。

法庭駁回了他們的申辯。法庭指出，喬森潘身爲國家元首，意味着他了解柬共的政策。法庭還發現，農謝在柬共內部行使“最終決定權”。

喬森潘和農謝的律師說，他們將提出上訴。但法官們說，鑑於罪行嚴重，兩名被告將繼續收監。

喬森潘和農謝的案子與數百萬柬埔寨人1975年被迫離開金邊去農村勞動營有關。從上週開始的第二階段審判的重點是包括種族滅絕在內的其他指控。
在1975年至1979年紅色高棉統治期間，多達200萬柬埔寨人死於飢餓、過度工作和處決。紅色高棉試圖建立一個社會主義烏托邦。