PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)--The U.S. ambassador to Cambodia on Tuesday defended holding genocide trials for the former Khmer Rouge, saying the multimillion dollar tribunal would help to heal the country's psychological and spiritual wounds.
His comment followed recent remarks by retired King Norodom Sihanouk, who questioned the value of spending $56.3 million on a U.N.-backed tribunal to try former Khmer Rouge leaders for crimes against humanity during their 1975-1979 rule.
Sihanouk said the money would be better spent alleviating poverty because the tribunal targets too few of those responsible for the Khmer Rouge's extremist policies that led to the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people.
Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli said he agreed that people's basic needs have to be met, but added that "man does not live by bread alone."
"Cambodians deserve to have their hunger for justice satisfied," he said during a meeting with some 500 Khmer Rouge survivors on Tuesday.
Nearly 30 years after the Khmer Rouge reign of terror, Cambodia "is still lost and broken," he said. This "brokenness is more than just political and economic," he said. "It is also psychological and spiritual."
He said the brokenness fosters a culture of impunity "rooted in the belief ... that no crime is so great that it must be punished, and that whatever any Cambodian does is fine because it cannot possibly be worse than what the Khmer Rouge did - and got away with doing."
Prosecutors are now gathering evidence for the Khmer Rouge trials, expected to begin in 2007.
Washington has not given any money to the tribunal, although it has provided some $7 million over the last decade to the Documentation Center of Cambodia, an independent group researching Khmer Rouge atrocities, according to an embassy statement.
Mussomeli urged the tribunal's investigators to move "as quickly as possible," noting the death last week of Ta Mok, the group's former military chief.
He said he is concerned that other Khmer Rouge leaders could die "within the next decade, perhaps in the next year or two."
"If these criminals all die peaceful deaths, then there'll be a loss for Cambodia that they will never be able to clarify what really happened. That would be a great frustration, I think," he said.
His comment followed recent remarks by retired King Norodom Sihanouk, who questioned the value of spending $56.3 million on a U.N.-backed tribunal to try former Khmer Rouge leaders for crimes against humanity during their 1975-1979 rule.
Sihanouk said the money would be better spent alleviating poverty because the tribunal targets too few of those responsible for the Khmer Rouge's extremist policies that led to the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people.
Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli said he agreed that people's basic needs have to be met, but added that "man does not live by bread alone."
"Cambodians deserve to have their hunger for justice satisfied," he said during a meeting with some 500 Khmer Rouge survivors on Tuesday.
Nearly 30 years after the Khmer Rouge reign of terror, Cambodia "is still lost and broken," he said. This "brokenness is more than just political and economic," he said. "It is also psychological and spiritual."
He said the brokenness fosters a culture of impunity "rooted in the belief ... that no crime is so great that it must be punished, and that whatever any Cambodian does is fine because it cannot possibly be worse than what the Khmer Rouge did - and got away with doing."
Prosecutors are now gathering evidence for the Khmer Rouge trials, expected to begin in 2007.
Washington has not given any money to the tribunal, although it has provided some $7 million over the last decade to the Documentation Center of Cambodia, an independent group researching Khmer Rouge atrocities, according to an embassy statement.
Mussomeli urged the tribunal's investigators to move "as quickly as possible," noting the death last week of Ta Mok, the group's former military chief.
He said he is concerned that other Khmer Rouge leaders could die "within the next decade, perhaps in the next year or two."
"If these criminals all die peaceful deaths, then there'll be a loss for Cambodia that they will never be able to clarify what really happened. That would be a great frustration, I think," he said.
13 comments:
So ashame to have a Foreigner telling this stupid stinky ass Kings that the world is doing to the right things for Cambodia in pursuing justice for those who parished under the KR regime. This Morron Kings need to bowe down and kisses Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli's feet to show some respect. Fucking kings got the nerve to tell us that the spending money for tibunal is a wast and that we need to burn all the skulls in Toul Sleng. He probably want us to burn down the whole Toul Sleng building to get rid of all the evidences he and his gangs had committed. I never hate anyone one than I hate this King..and he happened to be Khmer...Old Fucked
He said he is concerned that other Khmer Rouge leaders could die "within the next decade, perhaps in the next year or two."
Hes meant including Sihanouk as well.
I'm sorry Khmer People,, excuse my language...Message to King "Kaa Doeuw Meai a King. Pleau PLeau Joi Maai...aaa Sdait Ruit Joul Srook!!.
I notice on any subject matter that mention the Senior Kings or the King families,, people are so mad, fuel and outrage with them.. Why....Kings must have done something wrong?
Mr. Mussomeli had a good comement about speed up the tribunal afther the death of Ta Mouk. He and his government should be ashame of of what US did to bring Vietnam War to Cambodia. We Cambodian people should file a law sue against us for bringing this messes to our country and walked away like has nothing to do with. Seven Million Dollars??? Please let him know that Cambodian people do not need comment, we need actions.
I believe USA will got something to do with this tribunal too, because of the vietnam war and the bomb in Cambodia.
For the King:
Would someone shut this fucking king up? He talked too much or we should send him to hell like ta mok so he does not have to face the tribunal.
12:35 YOU GOT AN EXCELLENT POINT ABOUT THE KING AND THE US BRING OUT THE WAR TO CAMBODIA.
In 1960's Sihanouk hate USA and was friend with China. At the same time allowed Viet Cong to use Khmer land along Vietnam border to kill American soldiers in South Vietnam. His administrator secretly transported China weapons and food to VC. At the same time he jailed and killed many KR. Until now he plays innocience. What right did he have to allow VC using our land to attact others? Was it right that American invaded Cambodia via Lon Nol in 1970? The answer is NO. American is 50% responsible for took down Sihanouk consequently allowing KR won the war and killed 1.7 millions. Sihanouk after making serious mistake by support VC, he went into jungle supporting KR. He is 50% responsible for helping KR to kill 1.7 millions. Today he still think Mao and North Korea right.
This trial must prosecute US, China, and Sihanouk. I'm surprise there aren't any protests infront of the court building..... US is now slowly start building war in Cambodia again. This monster creates wars everywhere they go.
We have to understand American better than we use to be.
American like any other nationality wants love, respect, loyalty and honesty.
Look at Thailand, Their King was born in United States and he has American citizen. He speaks his own language Thai, but find the same meaning. He understands American better than us. Thai people understand American better than us. They was not in trouble. Their King lives to see his 60th years on the throne and beyond. Please don't tell me that this has nothing to do with his understanding of American and the world better than anyone else.
Look at Europe, except France. Did you ever wonder why did they see American better than us? Why did half of the European royal families survive until this day? Isn't because they denounced the Nazi? and helped American and her allied won THE WORLD WAR 2? Did you know why Italian's royalty failed to take the throne AFTER THE WAR? YOU MAY ASK THE THE SAM RAINSEY'S APRTY. I WISH THAT I'M SMART JUST LIKE MR. SAM RAINSEY.
We need to be SMARTER and do more study, because appearancely we are missing out a lot of pieces here.
I hope that we all will find our way soon. God help us!
Who would start the protest?
Most Cambodian understand the war that start taking over our country, except one or very few individual and they probably didn't have enough gut to do it. I doubt that it will ever happen. If it does, Aemrican know this was an act of defending men and their country and we'd better come up with some good answer to that.
I pray justice.
Shame to this stupid King. Indeed he is very scared that the trial will reveal to the world that he was the master of the killers. China has supported to him unconditionally to develop Cambodia not to kill people. If this revealation reach to China, then Sihanouk will run out of friend.
Mr. Mussomeli, please don't mind the old king. He is demented at his age. Norodumb is Khmer Rouge leader. We should try him in the KRT.
Hey people out there.,,
Do you know the REAL REASON that made that OILY OLD KING reacted that way!!???
Well, he deeply involved in the KILLINGS. He is one of the authors of the RED REGIME sponsored by Viet kong and Mao Setung of chiiiiiiinnnnnaaa... And simply, he does not want to see CHINA today to pay for the trutal regime.... this old king loves communists Chinese and N. Koreans than Khmers... He does not want to see Khmer people live in justice and be paid by those countries behind the stage....
BRING SIHANOUK to COURT!!
Hey people out there.,,
Do you know the REAL REASON that made that OILY OLD KING reacted that way!!???
Well, he deeply involved in the KILLINGS. He is one of the authors of the RED REGIME sponsored by Viet kong and Mao Setung of chiiiiiiinnnnnaaa... And simply, he does not want to see CHINA today to pay for the trutal regime.... this old king loves communists Chinese and N. Koreans than Khmers... He does not want to see Khmer people live in justice and be paid by those countries behind the stage....
BRING SIHANOUK to COURT!!
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