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Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

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A Villain Dies, Quietly

An old man from the Asian country of Cambodia died in his sleep last week. He was 73. But his death did not bring sadness. Instead, many of Cambodia's people were filled with anger. They were angry because the man, Pol Pot, died before he could be punished for his crimes.

Pol Pot's crimes are some of the most awful of the century. As leader of Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, he was responsible for the death of up to 2 million of his people.

Pol Pot and his political party did away with schools and forced people to work as slaves. Murder, disease and overwork killed 1 in 5 Cambodians during Pol Pot's reign.

Although that reign ended in 1979, Cambodia is still struggling to overcome its horrible past.

The U.S. government and many Cambodians wanted Pol Pot, who had been in hiding, to be put on trial for his crimes. Said Kim Saren, whose parents and nine brothers and sisters were murdered under Pol Pot's rule: "I am only sorry that he died so easily."

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