Khieu Samphan, Public Face of Khmer Rouge: Arrests 'Have an Effect on Me'Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
11 October 2007
Click here to listen Heng Reaksmey reports in Khmer
The arrest of Brother No. 2 Nuon Chea has had a serious effect on another former cader, Khieu Samphan, the aging Khmer Rouge head of state said Thursday.
Nuon Chea faces tribunal charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
"He is very old now, and traditionally he is an elder," Khieu Samphan said of his fellow former comrade. "His arrest and detention have had an effect on me, even when [he has not been] sentenced."
In a telephone interview with VOA Khmer, Khieu Samphan defended the rise of the Khmer Rouge with the same justification Nuon Chea himself has used: "If there were no Khmer Rouge movement in 1970, Cambodia would now be in Vietnam's grip."
As the Khmer Rogue rose to power, its paranoia about Vietnamese and American infiltration in its ranks led to a series of purges, under which many people were tortured and executed. Others died from failed agrarian policies, overwork, malnutrition or disease.
Khieu Samphan is believed to be under investigation by the tribunal courts for possible indictment, and he has already hired a firebrand international lawyer.
"I did nothing wrong," he said Thursday. "In the name of Cambodia, I could not cross my arms and watch [Cambodia fall to Vietnam]. So I became involved with the Khmer Rouge."
"If there were no Khmer Rouge movement in 1970, Cambodia would be in Vietnam's grip, and if there were no Khmer Rouge struggling in 1979, there would be no Paris agreement and no present day Cambodia," he said.
"I don't know what [Nuon Chea's] duties were," he said. "But he is this old; from the bottom of my heart, I feel sorry for him."
Nuon Chea should not have been arrested in the way he was, when he was taken by helicopter from his home in Pailin to face the tribunal courts in Phnom Penh, Khieu Samphan said.
"I studied some law and see that it is not right," he said. "He should be invited first, be questioned first. There should be a summons, how many days, how much longer, when he should report [to the court]. He should know beforehand. He came and, bang, he was led away."
Were Khieu Samphan to be charged, he said he would not be worried.
"I did nothing wrong," he said.
"I was the head of state in April 1976," he said. "I had no power in Democratic Kampuchea's presidium. I had the rights, in that I represented the Cambodian people, all Cambodia, the communist Khmers, and the non-communist Khmers.
"I was an official, I did not embezzle even one penny," he continued. "This is a moral issue. For politics, I don't see I was wrong. I fulfilled my duty for my country. I have done this much, and I am not afraid of the court."
He did not have a leading role in the communist party, he said, but in the government. In his position he had no power, and will clarify this if the court summons him.
"I am not afraid, not worried," he said. "I am ready…. I knew nothing, I really knew nothing, it is true."
Nuon Chea faces tribunal charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
"He is very old now, and traditionally he is an elder," Khieu Samphan said of his fellow former comrade. "His arrest and detention have had an effect on me, even when [he has not been] sentenced."
In a telephone interview with VOA Khmer, Khieu Samphan defended the rise of the Khmer Rouge with the same justification Nuon Chea himself has used: "If there were no Khmer Rouge movement in 1970, Cambodia would now be in Vietnam's grip."
As the Khmer Rogue rose to power, its paranoia about Vietnamese and American infiltration in its ranks led to a series of purges, under which many people were tortured and executed. Others died from failed agrarian policies, overwork, malnutrition or disease.
Khieu Samphan is believed to be under investigation by the tribunal courts for possible indictment, and he has already hired a firebrand international lawyer.
"I did nothing wrong," he said Thursday. "In the name of Cambodia, I could not cross my arms and watch [Cambodia fall to Vietnam]. So I became involved with the Khmer Rouge."
"If there were no Khmer Rouge movement in 1970, Cambodia would be in Vietnam's grip, and if there were no Khmer Rouge struggling in 1979, there would be no Paris agreement and no present day Cambodia," he said.
"I don't know what [Nuon Chea's] duties were," he said. "But he is this old; from the bottom of my heart, I feel sorry for him."
Nuon Chea should not have been arrested in the way he was, when he was taken by helicopter from his home in Pailin to face the tribunal courts in Phnom Penh, Khieu Samphan said.
"I studied some law and see that it is not right," he said. "He should be invited first, be questioned first. There should be a summons, how many days, how much longer, when he should report [to the court]. He should know beforehand. He came and, bang, he was led away."
Were Khieu Samphan to be charged, he said he would not be worried.
"I did nothing wrong," he said.
"I was the head of state in April 1976," he said. "I had no power in Democratic Kampuchea's presidium. I had the rights, in that I represented the Cambodian people, all Cambodia, the communist Khmers, and the non-communist Khmers.
"I was an official, I did not embezzle even one penny," he continued. "This is a moral issue. For politics, I don't see I was wrong. I fulfilled my duty for my country. I have done this much, and I am not afraid of the court."
He did not have a leading role in the communist party, he said, but in the government. In his position he had no power, and will clarify this if the court summons him.
"I am not afraid, not worried," he said. "I am ready…. I knew nothing, I really knew nothing, it is true."
18 comments:
Khieu Samphan said one thing right,Viet Nam (both) established homes along border with the special assistance from Sihanouk.
If there was no movement either Khmer Republic or Khmer Rouge,probably Sihanouk had already worn ao vai to attend UN assmebly in 1979. That is true.
If Khieu Samphan is not afraid why the king Si-Hanuman (in his paternal tongue Siam is 4 macaques)is so petrified?
Usually macaque is highly hypocrite among beasts.
M. Khieu Samphan is right on the nail, At that time Cambodia was under Yuon Hanoi satellite since 1947, since June 15th 1955 thru- 60,66,69 and 70 Yuon Hanoi have Installation 230,000 Vietcongs, at the following areas:
Angkor, Baray, Tang kauk, Kampong Cham, Svay Reing, Prey Veng, Rattanakiri, Mondulkiri, Koh Thom, Kandal, Takeo, Kampot, Snoul, Kratie, Memot, Chop, Chamkar Loeu, Prey Tortung, Borkeom Borko, Phnom Del, Thnal Torteung, Ba kham Phom Penh..... I was the 1st Faced with Yuon Hanoi fighters at that times, all Yuon Hanoi thmich khmao, We called YeaK Cong. So, he's right for that!
I believe, they'll reveal the truth.
yep, i supported KS 100%...we need KR to distablize Vietcong from over cambodia...all these genocide stuffs all under one umbrella...The VC!!!
I cannot accepted any word from this Animal like Khiev Samphann for not taking any resposibility during his power as Leader of the Nation by kilions millions of his own citizen under his leadership. He must be an animal who has no feeling organ to smell all the death around him. If he was a human being, he must felt all the hardship when he made decision to expulse all citizens from their home and their residence. He should knew and agreed on all killings of all former Government servants just a few days after he got power. He has stayed to serve the regime not only until Vietnamese invasion in 1979 but until all his Khmer rouge machinese have completedly destroyed by Phnom Penh Government. Therefore he cannot make any excuse that he knew nothing about the killings. As a leader, he should be punished as at least a collaborator of the regime. As a victim of his barbaric mind, I wouldn't believe any of his word at all. He has continue to lie and lie all the time. We call all Khmer rouge leaders as all The big LIAR. Areak Prey
Khieu Samphan is quite right for what he's clearly told us about Yuon's One Million Dirty-Demonic Tricks, which they secretly used to kill our Khmer Brothers in Kampuchea Krom since 18th Century.
Those who were brutally murdered in the name of Ankgar Leu/ in Vietnamese "Cap Tren" from 1975-1979 terribly convulsed the world and Khmer children be aware of Yuon's endless ambition over Cambodia.
Yuon secret agents/spies, who are well-educated in Khmer culture, tradition, language, religion and custom...etc. can speak, read and write Khmer much better than about 80% of Khmer peasants and farmers do, had secretly impersonated themselves as KR soldiers who were unfairly accused of killing their own people, but the most of killers are Yuon spies/Secret agents are all behind killing fields like Trinh Ba Cam, a spokesman for the Vietnamese Embassy, who can speak Khmer fluently when we heard his voice on RFA at 2007/08/17 05:30
After all Khmer victims really hated Angkar Leu/Cap Tren. Suddenly Yuon troops pretended to rescue us from their comrade-at arms KR. In fact nearly murderers are Yuon/Yavana secret agents/spies! They didn't want themselves to get caught in International Law/UN so they had to use their Yuon citizens who used to live in Cambodia before 1970 by borrowing KR's hands to kill our family members. Aren't they cunning like a fox?
U believe me or not. It's up to you! But u look at Kampuchea Krom and Champa which are clearly erased on the World Map, already.
Khmer sralanh/love Khmer!
King Jayavarman VII was reincarnated as DR Joshua Cooper who cares for his Khmer people in the 21st century trying to free Cambodian victims from oppressors, human rights violators and brutal Yavana/Yuon colonialists and communists/Commo leaders who are the worst violators of human rights on earth.
Thank you so much to Dr Joshua Cooper!
King Chey Chetha II was Reincarnated as Hun Sen, who loves sex with Yuon/Yavana taxigirls, serves his Hanoi masters to keep him in power so that any Yavana can come to live in Cambodia freely and safely. So in 30/50 years' time, Cambodia will be overpopulated by Yuon parasites/leeches like Champa and Khmer Krom for sure.
When Hun Sen, dies one day, whose body is buried without salt. (=No Coffin for him.) But if he can change his mind by protecting all his Khmer people during KRT, he will be considered as a Khmer National Hero until the end of earth.
Khmer sralanh Khmer said...
If we Victims of Vietnamese Hidden Faces Behind Killing Fields use microscope to find out Yuon/Yavana secret agents/spies secretly have been hiding in Cambodia since the Murderous French Colonial Period, we still can't find out any of them killing Khmer innocent people from 1975-1979, but if we can speak, read and write Yuon then we must impersonate ourselves working with Yuon restaurant owners or any department in both Cambodia and Khmer Krom and then we know all One Million Super-Dirty Demonic tricks all Yuon Hanoian Commo leaders used to kill Cambodians secretly in the name of Angkar Leu/Cap Tren. That's why A Chinese Proverb goes like this: What you see is not a true sign; [but] what you can’t see is a true sign. (Yuon secret agents/spies secretly used in cunning killing and rescuing operation. It means to kill Cambodian innocent people by using Yuon citizens living in Cambodia as KR and then they started to rescue Cambodians from the killing fields. Nearly whether all educated and uneducated Cambodians who are terribly misled that KR brutally killed their country fellowmen by thanking Yuon troops as their rescuers.)
Murderous Hanoian Leaders' One Million Super-Dirty Demonic Tricks are used to round up all Khmer nationalists who have a real human gut to reclaim our lands from Yuon coconut shells.
Yuon/Yavana secret agents/spies everywhere in Cambodia stirring up all unrests in the country can arrest any Khmer nationalist/KK by blaming to undermine Cambodia's relationship with Vietnam.
All Khmer compatriots must wake up from your day-dreams that Yuon coconut shells came to rescue you and your family from Pol Pot. In fact, the real murderers are all but Yuon/Yavana secret agents/ spies who secretly had impersonated themselves as the KR.
English proverb: Truth will out. (The truth always becomes known.)
All Killing Fields were secretly created by Vietnamese/Yavana secret agents/spies in order to erase all Cambodian race on earth. They have secretly been killing Cambodian people since 18th Century up until now. Read Khmer History of Tae Ong.
Murderous Hanoian commo leaders who are so cunning didn't want themselves to get caught in action so they used their Yuon/Yavana citizens, who used to live in Cambodia before 1970, are well-educated in Khmer language, culture, tradition, custom, and religion...etc. to have impersonated themselves as the Khmer Rouge soldiers to brutally kill Cambodian innocent people.
Now there are more than 4000 000 illegal Yuon citizens living in Cambodia so far so worse, many of whom are former Khmer Rouge soldiers/killers.
Hanoi commo leaders from now on in a big trouble when all Khmer Rouge leaders are put on trial with the UN in Phnom Penh. My Khmer compatriots, you will take revengeful action against Yuon citizens living in Cambodia. And Murderous Hanoi leaders will secretly order their secret agents to kill Khmer Krom people in revengeful manner.
There will be a big turmoil on its way to be erupted like earthquake soon during the KR Trial! Khmer victims will take revengefulness against Yuon who will kill KK in KK in return.
Trust in Lord Buddha!
Khmer Sralanh Khmer/Khmer love Khmer!
Mr. 7.57
I would suggest to come forth in public with factual evidence of the presence of those Vietcong in the different areas you enumerated.
You need to
(1)state who you are, and who you were at the time you saw or witnessed the presence of those Vietcong;
(2)specify each area, the dates of their presence, the number of Vietcong in specific areas, the sex and age of those present there, whether they were living in family, their activities, the date of their presence, their relationships with local people and/or local authorities, etc...
(3) draw a map showing their presence in those different areas.
All these data and information are important factual evidence or proofs that could be incorporated in books and other documentation on the history of Cambodia. They could also be used to convince the national and international communties to win their support for our Khmer cause.
When I was working with the Khmer People's National Liberation Front, there were allegations of the presence of the Vietnamse in Cambodia. When UNTAC asked for hard facts showing their presence, none of us could come up with these facts and UNTAC threw out our allegations.
Your statement was good but it was still an allegation. This allegation cannot be turned into admissible evidence (in legal terms) until and unless it is backed by hard facts.
Without such admissible evidence we cannot win our case.
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
My name Thong William 2499S 9Th_St El Centro Ca 92243 was a witness with Monique and Ommanorin whom Cambodian treason supplied Yiekcong with the rice ,food and medicine from 68-70Location Veun Saiy Rattanakiri ,also the Vietcong black teeth Killed Cambodian people in LOmphat Highway to BanLong at least 10000 Cambodian lost that life at that times, In Andong Pich(RRN KIRI) All my close friends around 22PPL(by Vietcong Black Teeth) I saw Viet Black teeth's corp a round ten of them they can't take with them and the same in 1970 My family and I waiting to be evacuated from La Ban Siek to Phnom Penh every night the Yiekcong Black teeth came and kill our soldiers during scare to death between life and death I counted at least 2000 Cambodian killed the 13 years old boy which is me that have survived from killing field and resettle in California that left behind 33 family members in Taing Kok(kg Thom) in 1976 all killed by khmer rouge. There were in Neak Loeung That too many Cambodian got kill by Viet Cong in 1971 and the front line battle along Highway #5 along Sala Lek 5 in1972 there were sad memories unforgettable during my vacation from Lycee' Tuol Svay Prey to visit my father at that battle,so Vietnam it doesn't matter North or South they are not our friends ,they just a crook cheating USA ,China Russia for their country except Sihaknuk with his politic killing his citizen for youn, sad and sad who is can do that such thing like Sihaknuk???
Mr Lao,
I am Khmer Kampuchea Krom Fighter.
I am also 3B + 2B Com.
What's is your guarantee? and condition?
Thanks.
When the khmer rouge armies walked into Battambang City on the morning of 18th April 1975, I was there. I wouldn't blame to any foreigner troops at all in killing Cambodian because I was in the regime from the beginning until their fall. Every killing was done by Khmer rouge and their leaders.
Just a few days before the fall of Khmer Republic regime, Sihanouk and Penn Nouth have appealed to all people in all cities to come out and join his Khmer Rouge forces. They have threaded that if the khmer Rouge armies will walk into the City, they will kill everyone who has refused to participate their revolutionary rebellion. They have said that, KR people court will cut out the head of all citizen who were still supporting Lon Nol regime without considering that those people have no choice to live in their daiyly life and to support their family. What Penn Nouth and Sihanouk have accused all people who have lived in the cities as their ennemies and they wanted to revenge.
NOW SIHANOUK HAS SAID THAT HE KNEW NOTHING EXCEPT !$ OF HIS CHILDREN AND HIS GRANDCHILDREN WERE KILLED BY KHMER ROUGE !!!!! I just wonder what can he say now? If he make too much excuses, then, he may have fingers pointing to him by Khiev Samphann, Nuon Chea and Ieng Sary. Now he even thread to anyone saying he was a khmer rouge leader with a lawsuite !!! I think he can go to hell. He might have hundred of lawsuite already from all his victims. What can he benefite from his law suite? More humiliations? And more secreds will come out? I believed that those who tried to put blame on USA or China or Vietcong, were all Khmer Rouge background to complicate the Trial and then they can escape from justice. As USA Embassador has said Khmer Rouge crime was khmer rouge crimes. Khmer Rouge has killed their own people for their revenge, for eliminating their opposition, and for implementing their wild agenda. Areak Prey
Mr. Lao.
It may take times to binding and Mapping.
I'll be in contact when I'm ready.
I sure want all Khmer to know the Truth! and win this case, under the international witnesses.
I was sworn to fight and protect of our belove country.
Bless!
Oh plzzzz... don't do us any favor, will ya? You can't even protect shit in your own independent country in South Vietnam.
6:44Pm over,
Ah Yuon or Ah dog Yuon, You are not just the invader the Champa and Khmer, Ah yuon also invade this blogg too. Look how your barbarians to Khmer people. Ah Yuon is the most barbarians in the planet. The world is seeing Ah Yuon & its servants' tricks now. The neo-genocidal and atrocities that Ah Yuon and its servants have had committed to Khmer people, we are not going to stand still like you've thought dogs.
we will use all of the disposals to fight you back dogs.
This time you'll be skins.
You'll see. Phdam Mae ov eing oy huey tov!
Shut up spammers; I've seen your stupid post all over the places.
Dear Areak Prey @10:52 AM,
I never thought that you could be that naive or for the lack of a better word, that dumb.
Passer-by
Dear Dr. Lao Mong Hay,
You probably could write to Ambassador Dean asking him about tons of reports/documents written/produced by Pol-Mil section of the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia at that time. Had he ever seen/read or come accross any of them? Or had they been all shred away or disposed of?
Messrs. 10:50Am, 10:51Am, 12:36PM, 5:28AM, and others,
Thank you so much for your responses to my suggestion. Actually, our historians or students of history should collate all the facts given on these pages and look for others from other sources such as Ambassador Dean (US Achives ?). A systematic and meticulous historical work is required for instance on the episode Mr. 10:50AM has covered.
Mr. 5:28AM,
You have given a good lead. There should be somebody (a retired Cambodian amy officer or students of history in the US) living nearest to the Congress Library in Washington who could/ should endeavour to look for Ambassador Dean's archives to write a history of that perticular episode. At the moment, I'm living too far away from that place. Writing to Ambassador Dean wouldn't help. All documentation from his embassy in Phnom Penh should have become national archives and thus belonged to the US state, to my knowledge. We need to apply for permission to have access to those achives, perhaps. I simply can't have the resources to do that kind of work.
Mr. 10:51AM,
I cannot provide you any guarantee or protection, unfortunately. All citizens rely on law and the state to provide such guarantee and protection. We only can ask the state to make law for that protection and to enforce such law.
Mr. 12.36PM,
It will never be too late to have all that documentation I believe you're preparing at the moment. That documentation will be an important contribution to your nation and also an important item of your legacy to the generations to come. "To live and to leave a legacy!" I haven't done so myself, unfortunately, to be honest.
Good luck and best wishes to you all.
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
Thank you Dr. Lao Mong Hay. We'll do our part but you have given us a lot of hope.
Thank you and with best wish.
2L
Dr.Lo Mong Hay,
We wishing you good luck!
From 10:50 AM,California ,USA
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