Cambodia to cremate Khmer Rouge co-founder
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Cambodians pray in front of the coffin of former Khmer Rouge foreign minister Ieng Sary at his house in Malai, near the Cambodian-Thai border, in Banteay Meanchey province, some 400km north-west of Phnom Penh on March 20, 2013. Hundreds of mourners gathered for a funeral ceremony at the rural stronghold of Khmer Rouge co-founder Ieng Sary who died while on trial for genocide and war crimes. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Tourists look at portraits of victims killed in the former Khmer Rouge regime's S-21 security prison, presently known as the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, in Phnom Penh on March 14, 2013. Ieng Sary, who was standing trial for crimes against humanity during his time as the Khmer Rouge's foreign minister in Cambodia in the 1970s, died on Thursday, the court said. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
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A Cambodian woman prays in front of a portrait of former Khmer Rouge foreign minister Ieng Sary at his house in Malai, near the Cambodian-Thai border, in Banteay Meanchey province, some 400km north-west of Phnom Penh on March 20, 2013. Hundreds of mourners gathered for a funeral ceremony at the rural stronghold of Khmer Rouge co-founder Ieng Sary who died while on trial for genocide and war crimes. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A Cambodian woman prays in front of the coffin of former Khmer Rouge foreign minister Ieng Sary at his house in Malai, near the Cambodian-Thai border, in Banteay Meanchey province, some 400km north-west of Phnom Penh on March 20, 2013. Hundreds of mourners gathered for a funeral ceremony at the rural stronghold of Khmer Rouge co-founder Ieng Sary who died while on trial for genocide and war crimes. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Cambodian people pray in front of the coffin of former Khmer Rouge foreign minister Ieng Sary at his house in Malai, near the Cambodian-Thai border, in Banteay Meanchey province, some 400km north-west of Phnom Penh on March 20, 2013. Hundreds of mourners gathered for a funeral ceremony at the rural stronghold of Khmer Rouge co-founder Ieng Sary who died while on trial for genocide and war crimes. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Cambodian Buddhist monks walk near the cremation site for former Khmer Rouge foreign minister Ieng Sary at his house in Malai, near the Cambodian-Thai border, in Banteay Meanchey province, some 400km north-west of Phnom Penh on March 20, 2013. Hundreds of relatives and former Khmer Rouge fighters are expected to gather for the cremation of Ieng Sary, who died last week while on trial for genocide. -- PHOTO: AFP
Cambodians pray in front of the coffin of former Khmer Rouge foreign minister Ieng Sary at his house in Malai, near the Cambodian-Thai border, in Banteay Meanchey province, some 400km north-west of Phnom Penh on March 20, 2013. Hundreds of mourners gathered for a funeral ceremony at the rural stronghold of Khmer Rouge co-founder Ieng Sary who died while on trial for genocide and war crimes. -- PHOTO: AFP
Tourists look at portraits of victims killed in the former Khmer Rouge regime's S-21 security prison, presently known as the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, in Phnom Penh on March 14, 2013. Ieng Sary, who was standing trial for crimes against humanity during his time as the Khmer Rouge's foreign minister in Cambodia in the 1970s, died on Thursday, the court said. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
A Cambodian woman prays in front of a portrait of former Khmer Rouge foreign minister Ieng Sary at his house in Malai, near the Cambodian-Thai border, in Banteay Meanchey province, some 400km north-west of Phnom Penh on March 20, 2013. Hundreds of mourners gathered for a funeral ceremony at the rural stronghold of Khmer Rouge co-founder Ieng Sary who died while on trial for genocide and war crimes. -- PHOTO: AFP
A Cambodian woman prays in front of the coffin of former Khmer Rouge foreign minister Ieng Sary at his house in Malai, near the Cambodian-Thai border, in Banteay Meanchey province, some 400km north-west of Phnom Penh on March 20, 2013. Hundreds of mourners gathered for a funeral ceremony at the rural stronghold of Khmer Rouge co-founder Ieng Sary who died while on trial for genocide and war crimes. -- PHOTO: AFP
Cambodian people pray in front of the coffin of former Khmer Rouge foreign minister Ieng Sary at his house in Malai, near the Cambodian-Thai border, in Banteay Meanchey province, some 400km north-west of Phnom Penh on March 20, 2013. Hundreds of mourners gathered for a funeral ceremony at the rural stronghold of Khmer Rouge co-founder Ieng Sary who died while on trial for genocide and war crimes. -- PHOTO: AFP
Cambodian Buddhist monks walk near the cremation site for former Khmer Rouge foreign minister Ieng Sary at his house in Malai, near the Cambodian-Thai border, in Banteay Meanchey province, some 400km north-west of Phnom Penh on March 20, 2013. Hundreds of relatives and former Khmer Rouge fighters are expected to gather for the cremation of Ieng Sary, who died last week while on trial for genocide. -- PHOTO: AFP
MALAI, Cambodia (AFP) - Hundreds of relatives and former Khmer Rouge fighters are expected to gather on Thursday for the cremation of regime co-founder Ieng Sary, who died last week while on trial for genocide.
The 87-year-old's death cheated Cambodians of a verdict over his role in the hardline communist regime's atrocities and handed another blow to the United Nations (UN)-backed tribunal, which has been blighted by delays and cash shortages.
Grieving in Ieng Sary's hometown of Malai close to the Thai border has illustrated the lingering divide between supporters of the former regime and those who survived its brutality.
"He is a hero for the people of Malai," said former Khmer Rouge fighter Long Run, 78, describing the Khmer Rouge's former foreign minister as a "patriot" who defended the country from Vietnamese invaders.
