IENG Thirith

Biography

Ieng Thirith graduated from the Lycée Sisowath in Phnom Penh then went to study in Paris, where she majored in Shakespeare studies at the Sorbonne. She became the first Cambodian to receive a degree in English Literature. Returning to Cambodia in 1957, she worked as a professor before founding a private English school in 1960. On 9 October 1975, at a meeting of the CPK Standing Committee, Ieng Thirith was allegedly appointed Minister of Social Affairs in Democratic Kampuchea. She allegedly remained with the Khmer Rouge until her husband Ieng Sary was granted a Royal amnesty and pardon in 1998. Thereafter, they lived together in Phnom Penh until being placed in pre-trial detention by the ECCC in November 2007.

Alias	Phea
Date of Birth	12 March 1932
Place of Birth	Phnom Penh
Arrested Date	12 November 2007
Defence counsel	Phat Pouv Seang (Cambodia) & Diana Ellis (United Kingdom)
Position in Democratic Kampuchea	Minister of Social Affairs
Status of case	Ieng Thirith has been found unfit to stand trial, and the Trial Chamber has stayed the proceedings against her. She was release from provisional detention on 16 September 2012. Ieng Thirth has been indicted and sent to trial for crimes against humanity, Grave Breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and genocide; offences which are defined and punishable under Articles 4,5, 6, 29 (New) and 39 (New) of the Law on theEstablishment of the Extraordinary Chambers as amended 27 October 2004. The Trial Chamber found Ieng Thirith unfit to stand trial and order her release On 17 November 2011. The order for release was overturned by the Supreme Court Chamber who ordered that an new assessment of her fitness to stand trial should be conducted within six months following medical treatment. In a decision issued on 13 September 2012, the Trial Chamber unanimously found that Ieng Thirith remains unfit to trial. The Chamber consequently ordered a stay of the proceedings and ordered the release of Ieng Thirith.
Key allegations	Ieng Thirith is alleged to be directly responsible for having planned, instigated, and aided and abetted: Crimes against humanity (murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation,imprisonment, torture, persecution on political and racial grounds, and otherinhumane acts) Genocide, by killing members of the Vietnamese community Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 (willful killing, torture orinhumane treatment, willfully causing great suffering or serious injury to bodyor health, willfully depriving a prisoner of war or civilian the rights of fair andregular trial, unlawful deportation or unlawful confinement of a civilian) Ieng Thirith is alleged to be directly responsible by virtue of superior responsibility or for having ordered: Crimes against humanity (other inhumane acts and persecution on racial grounds) Ieng Thirith is also alleged to be indirectly responsible, through her alleged participation in a Joint Criminal Enterprise, for the commission of Crimes against humanity, Genocide and Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions.
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