Khmer Rouge Leader Hospitalized

If there's one hard reality shared by the genocides of the 20th century, it's that time is running out to bring the perpetrators to justice. That's true of the relentless hunt for the most wanted Nazis, and true of the masterminds of Cambodia's Killing Fields.

Khieu Samphan, 76, the president of Cambodia during the deadly rule of the Khmer Rouge, has been behind bars since November, charged with crimes against humanity in a U.N. tribunal. Apparently, he had some problems with high blood pressure and was taken from his cell to a Phnom Penh hospital today:

"His condition was not considered extremely urgent 'but necessitated attention' given his medical history, a United Nations spokesman said.

...Stress from working on a book brought on Samphan's high blood pressure, the tribunal spokesman said.

His hospitalisation came as the tribunal was hearing an appeal by Ieng Thirith (sister-in-law of Pol Pot), another former senior Khmer Rouge leader, against her continued pre-trial detention."

I just find it pretty amazing that stress from writing a book would drive Samphan to health woes. He didn't suffer anything from killing two million Cambodians?

(Photo by David Greedy/Getty Images)