Kaing Guek Eav, head of Tuol Sleng prison, where about 17 000 people were killed, was sentenced to 35 years, but likely to serve much less. He is one of the few Khmer Rouge to have converted to Christianity and to have acknowledged his responsibility. Four other former Khmer Rouge leaders awaiting trial. But the process is hampered by the current leadership and fears that it will reopen wounds and violence.

Phnom Penh (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The UN international tribunal delivered the first conviction against a leader of Khmer Rouge: "Comrade Duch”, was sentenced to 35 years in prison, but it is possible that there he could have his sentence reduced. Several people had demanded life imprisonment.

The court found that Kaing Guek Eav, whose nom de guerre was "Duch", is at least partly culpable for the deaths of about 17 thousand people detained in the prison of Tuol Sleng, near Phnom Penh.  Most inmates died from torture, beatings, electric shocks, all of which Duch kept meticulous records.

Duch, 67, is the first Khmer Rouge member to be convicted and to recognize - at least in part - his responsibilities. During the trial, which began in March, he admitted being responsible for the prison - now a museum of the horrors of the Khmer Rouge - but denied having ever personally killed any victim. Moreover, he defended himself by saying that he was obeying orders. It is possible that his sentence of 35 years may be reduced to 11 years - already served - and five others in which he was illegally imprisoned under Cambodian laws.

Duch, a mathematics teacher, joined the Khmer Rouge in the '60s. The Khmer Rouge is a Maoist group, influenced by Western Marxism of the Sorbonne in Paris, which spread during the Vietnam War and took power in Cambodia implementing its project to transform it into a new and totally agricultural and collectivist country, eliminating all the 'intelligentsia and destroying the previous religions. At least 2 million people were killed because enemies of the people or subjected to forced labour. Their government was then swept away by the Vietnamese army in 1979. Their historic leader, Pol Pot, died in '98.

Some former Khmer Rouge leaders are part of the current government (among them is Prime Minister Hun Sen), others are former ministers. This situation made the work of the court difficult, wanted for more than a decade, but always held back for fear that it will dig into the current leaders past, destroying the status quo and current social peace.

Duch, who after the fall of the Khmer Rouge lived for 20 years under false names, in recent years converted to Christianity and recognized his errors.

Four other Khmer Rouge leaders are awaiting trial. They are "brother number two" Nuon Chea, former head of state Khieu Samphan, former foreign minister Ieng Sary and his wife Ieng Thirith.

In general the people of Cambodia do not give much credit to the court and rulings, held back by the current leaders and fear that it could reopen wounds and violence. But at the court today Duch arrived in a car bomb-proof car and listened to the verdict being read from behind a bulletproof screed.

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