Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Cambodia Will Preserve Bones of Khmer Rouge Victims as Evidence of Genocide

Cambodian woman cries as she recites Buddhist prayers remembering the victims of the Khmer Rouge at the Cheung Ek Killing Fields memorial

Meas John and Chun Sakada
VOA News
Washington
26/02/2007


Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen says the bones of victims of the Khmer Rouge genocide must be preserved as evidence for coming trials.

Mr. Hun Sen rejected calls to burn the victims' remains, saying cremation would hamper efforts to try the former regime's leaders.

He spoke at a ceremony near the Choeung Ek killing fields, where thousands died during four years of Khmer Rouge rule, from 1975 to 1979.

Cambodia's former king, Norodom Sihanouk, wants the bones burned according to Buddhist tradition, rather than displayed for what he calls the pleasure of tourists.

Cambodia and the United Nations agreed in 2003 to create a tribunal to try former Khmer Rouge leaders for the atrocities. But no trials have been held.

The ultra-Maoist movement's campaign to establish a classless, agrarian society led to the deaths of nearly two million people, from execution, overwork, disease and starvation.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

FROM KHMENG WAT KHNONG SROK
TO PEOPLE ABOVE

WE ARE YUON-HANOI WHO WOULD IMPLEMENT HO CHI MINH'S DREAM UNTIL CAMBODIA BECOMES ONE OF OUR INDOCHINA'STATE.
WE KNOW THAT BEING A DOG ITSN'T A EASY LIFE AS YOU ALL SEE EVERYDAY
PRIME MINISTER HUN SEN WHO BARKS DAY & NIGHT TO PROTECT & DEFEND YOUN-HANOI.
PLEASE FORGIVE US WHO WERE BORN AS
A PEST OF KHMER NATION.

KHMENG WAT KHNONG SROK