Wednesday, September 12, 2007AFP
PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s former king said he would refuse to testify at the country’s Khmer Rouge genocide tribunal after being snubbed by court officials.
Norodom Sihanouk had requested a weekend meeting with officials to explain his conduct during the Khmer Rouge regime, which saw as many as two million people killed.
The 84-year-old former monarch said on his website Monday that he had been told that his invitation to a tribunal spokesman had been refused because the spokesman was not authorized to hold such a meeting.
Amid allegations questioning his allegiances at the time, he said he had told the officials that the meeting was the only chance for the court to get his input.
“I’ve already said everything as a witness. I don’t have anything to add,” he said.
Sihanouk said last year that he would go before the court, despite his criticism of the tribunal, which he previously branded a “comedy and a hypocrisy.”
The former king lost five children and 14 grandchildren during the Khmer Rouge regime, regarded as one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century.
Up to two million people died of starvation and overwork or were executed under the 1975-79 communist regime, which abolished religion, schools and currency, and exiled millions to vast collective farms.
Only one suspect, a Khmer Rouge jailor known as Duch, has been detained by the court. Four other suspects are under investigation, but their names have not been made public. Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot died in 1998.
Norodom Sihanouk had requested a weekend meeting with officials to explain his conduct during the Khmer Rouge regime, which saw as many as two million people killed.
The 84-year-old former monarch said on his website Monday that he had been told that his invitation to a tribunal spokesman had been refused because the spokesman was not authorized to hold such a meeting.
Amid allegations questioning his allegiances at the time, he said he had told the officials that the meeting was the only chance for the court to get his input.
“I’ve already said everything as a witness. I don’t have anything to add,” he said.
Sihanouk said last year that he would go before the court, despite his criticism of the tribunal, which he previously branded a “comedy and a hypocrisy.”
The former king lost five children and 14 grandchildren during the Khmer Rouge regime, regarded as one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century.
Up to two million people died of starvation and overwork or were executed under the 1975-79 communist regime, which abolished religion, schools and currency, and exiled millions to vast collective farms.
Only one suspect, a Khmer Rouge jailor known as Duch, has been detained by the court. Four other suspects are under investigation, but their names have not been made public. Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot died in 1998.
8 comments:
It sets very bad example for the king not to be testified if call by the court. He is such a revered king especially after having said that he would be willing to testify before court. Now he says he will not go, that highlight his hypocrisy and his unwillingness to face the truth, and that might even suggest he had something to do with the Khmer Rouge that can criminalize him.
My suggestion the king ought to go before court of justice, no matter what the implication will be, hopefull not. At least you set yourself clear with a great role model for Cambodia and the history will record that. Believe me, people will respect you more this way than trying to evade the truth by using your royal immunity. I,too, probably will not respect you if you don't face the court and will support the idea of dissolving the kingdom.
Sihanouk has been always known as a cowardly dictator.
A disgrace to the nation.
What a chicken clown=seihaknouk(former khmer king) who call him sdech ta I call him the chicken clown with the three years old brain.
Who knows about his five kid and 14 children die,they must getting Aids positive or HIV to cause them death,be cause the reason that I personally had,are Cambodian king or royal family they change their partners uncountable,example N Seihaknouk how many times he has married,his daughter how many time stealing the others people husband,Noranorith with it citizen 's daughters ,his servants' wives ,are they deserve to be our leader?
No wonder what is Lon Nol said are all perfectly right,<< Kdor tae mouy kon douy penh veang>>
Go to hell has never return Seihaknouk and family!
If Seihaknouk is not favor the communist and back the communist, hiding yiekcong out in Khmer land feed yiekcong in fact the yiekcong and the khmer rouge must not be strong and it turn to be killing field like what it was. Seihaknouk stupid himself ,he used our lives for his stupid game now the game is over, is he wrong and he still guilty with out show up at the Khmer rouge Court. All Cambodian folks the monarchy and Feudalism plus Hun Sen regime are the parasites and cancer in our social system, time to pull out all it routs and dumb them out .
Go to hell monarchy,feudalism and Hun Sen 's regime .
All true Khmer compatriots, ladies and gentlemen,
Cambodia has cancers that were embedded into her by China+YUONS+Vietminh-CPP-Hun Sen+all royal crooks through traitor Sihanouk's flesh and blood, also through his YUON wife Monique and Sihanouk’s clique.
To have true and lasting peace for Cambodia these cancers have to be removed once and for all, either by the law of ECCC-KRT or by any means, as long as the majority of true Khmers agree with it.
If these cancers remain inside Cambodia, without proper treatment, YUONS will continue to swallow us bit by bit every day and China will gobble the whole region without mercy toward Cambodian land and all Khmer people. They will achieve this with the continued assistance of NORODOM SIHANOUK and HUN SEN.
KULEN MONOROM
(the rice farmer's son)
mah choy euy, hah, mah sarapheep reuh min sarapheep, mah chet roy dotch xaneah teh hah. teh beuh sarapheep, hah, mah chet roy leun leun men ten, mah hanoi hah tam chaob chaob xaluon nhom.
The ex-king should give the testimorny to the Khmer rouge tribunal court at the time that the court needs,
If he couldn't provide the testifies it really mean that his power linked to the khmer rouge officials in purpose to kill khmer people at the khmer rouge regime,
However in the name of one suffered from this events i really didn't believed that the ex king is not involved to that genocide.
So please give justic to the spirit of dead persons that was killed in Pol Pot regime.
"The Viruses/Microbes are always afraid of Sun Light.... The Chors(Thief/Robber/Burgler like night times as easy to actvate their crimes..."
Excellency, Dr., Prof. ,Phd. Hon. Phd (from PehuChamroeurn University) General 7 Diamond Stars Oknha samdech Krom Pret Achar Knoy
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