PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – The Khmer Rouge Tribunal ruled statements made by Nuon Chea, after his arrest but without legal counsel, would not be invalidated because the statements were consensual. When Nuon Chea was arrested, he was fed, rested, and warned to wait for legal representation before he spoke to authorities. However, he made the statements irregardless.

In a statement to the press, the court explained, “In reality, it appears difficult to imagine a situation where the waiver could have been clearer and more deliberate than in this case, without questioning the intellectual capacity of Mr. Nuon Chea, which does not appear to be in question here.”

In the past Nuon Chea declared publicly that he did not trust lawyers and would want a person “who was there” in order defend the Khmer Rouge regime. Since his arrest, Nuon Chea has hired Cambodian lawyer Sun Aran, a Khmer Rouge survivor.

For more information, please see:

Earthtimes – Cambodian Court Declares Former Khmer Rouge Leader Statement Stands – 25 January 2008