LOS ANGELES - Jury selection is set to begin today in the trial of a Long Beach man who allegedly led the attempted overthrow of Cambodia's government in November 2000.
Yasith Chhun, the 51-year-old president of the Cambodian Freedom Fighters, is charged with conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, conspiracy to damage or destroy property in a foreign country, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction outside the United States, and engaging in a military expedition against a nation with which the United States is at peace.
Chhun has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
According to the prosecution's 31-page trial memorandum, Chhun met with former members of the Khmer Rouge military at the Cambodia-Thailand border in October 1998 to plan an overthrow of the Cambodian government of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
The Khmer Rouge and its leader, Pol Pot, ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. The Communist organization was blamed for the deaths of more than 1 million people through execution, forced labor and starvation in what became known as the country's "killing fields."
After raising money in the United States - including staging a May 2000 fundraiser at the Queen Mary - the CFF launched "Operation Volcano," a major assault on Cambodian government buildings and the Sen administration, prosecutors claim.
On Nov. 24, 2000, Chhun orchestrated attacks on buildings housing Cambodia's Ministry of Defense, the Council of Ministers and a military headquarters facility, prosecutors said.
The failed coup resulted in the deaths of at least three CFF members, prosecutors said. An unknown number of civilians, members of the Cambodian National Police and Cambodian military were injured during the attempted coup, prosecutors said.
Chhun and his wife, Sras Pech, 42, are also facing separate federal charges alleging they ran a fraudulent tax-preparation business in Long Beach. Trial in that case is scheduled to begin on July 1.
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