Former Khmer Rouge's commander Ta Mok's illness remains very serious, and he was reported as might be dying very soon before the Khmer Rouge Tribunal begins, say his lawyer, his family, and as shown in his photo taken at the hospital.
Eighty-two-year old Ta Mok was taken from a detention center to Preah Ket Mealea hospital for treatment and he has been there for many days.
Ta Mok's lawyer and his family members say that he is in a coma, and he cannot speak, is on IV, and that he suffers from a spinal cord condition, hypertension and other medical conditions.
Ta Mok's condition is as shown in the photo at Preah Ket Mealea hospital which VOA has exclusively received before other media's reports which is posted on the VOA Khmer website, to show his condition and his treatment.
Ta Mok's family members allege that he is getting worse, and asking to have him treated abroad, but the Cambodian government has not answered this request.
Local and international Red Cross officials have gone to see him and observe his condition at the hospital Wednesday.
It is not known whether or not the Red Cross plans to help with Ta Mok's treatment, giving him medicines or other medical equipments.
Ta Mok's lawyer, Benson Samay alleges that his client's condition is the same, and that Ta Mok may die very soon.
Civil societies officials are concerned and afraid that Ta Mok's possible death might mean the loss of truth, important evidences for the Khmer Rouge Tribunal expected to take place in 2007, brokered by the U.N. with the Cambodian government, with a budget of more than 56 million U.S. dollars.
The former Khmer Rouge leaders are responsible for the death of one million 700,000 people during their regime from 1975-1979, through starvation, forced labor and mass killings.