Ieng Thirith

Ieng Thirith: Served as Former Minister of Social Affairs of Democratic Kampuchea

Born: c. 1932 (birth day is unknown)

Charges: Crimes against humanity

Ieng Thirith, originally Khieu Thirith, was educated in France. There she met and married Ieng Sary, a man who would become foreign minister under the Khmer Rouge. Her sister married Pol Pot. She fled to the jungle along with her husband and Pol Pot when the Communist Party faced persecution in Phnom Penh. Upon the Khmer Rouge’s ascension to power, Thirith became Minister of Social Affairs and head of Democratic Kampuchea’s Red Cross. During the Khmer Rouge–instituted transition to an agrarian society, Thirith was assigned the duty to tour the country and evaluate health conditions. She noted the widespread health crisis that was developing and blamed it on “anti-revolutionary” forces throughout the country. This prompted a series of “purges” by Pol Pot resulting in numerous executions. Thirith allegedly helped orchestrate purges throughout the country as well as targeted for execution those within the Ministry of Social Affairs. Thirith and her husband were arrested on November 12, 2007. They both await trial. Thirith allegedly suffers from dementia.