Cambodian nuns march to the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), in Phnom Penh. More than 600 Buddhist monks and nuns, as well as Muslim leaders, marched to Cambodia's UN-backed genocide tribunal to demand speedier trials of Khmer Rouge cadre.(AFP/Sreng Meng)
Cambodian Buddhist nuns participate in a march heading to the Khmer Rouge Tribunal headquarters in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007. Some 600 hundred protesters, including Buddhist nuns and Cambodian Muslims, marched in the capital Tuesday to urge a speedier trial for former leaders of the murderous Khmer Rouge. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Cambodian Buddhist monks lead the march heading to the Khmer Rouge Tribunal headquarters in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007. Some 600 hundred protesters, including Buddhist nuns and Cambodian Muslims, marched in the capital Tuesday to urge a speedier trial for former leaders of the murderous Khmer Rouge. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Cambodian Buddhist nuns march to the Khmer Rouge Tribunal headquarters in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007. Some 600 hundred protesters, including Buddhist nuns and Cambodian Muslims, marched in the capital Tuesday to urge a speedier trial for former leaders of the murderous Khmer Rouge. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)PHNOM PENH (AFP) — More than 600 Buddhist monks and nuns, as well as Muslim leaders, marched to Cambodia's UN-backed genocide tribunal Tuesday to demand speedier trials of Khmer Rouge cadre.
The group marched silently to the courthouse, with the clergy in white robes, carrying banners that read "reconciliation" and "the tribunal is a remedy for the cycle of vengeance."
"We are marching because we want peace and justice to be rendered in the Khmer Rouge cases," Buddhist nun Chou Salean told AFP.
"We want the court to speed up the prosecutions because we have been waiting for nearly 30 years," said the 60-year-old woman, who said she lost seven relatives under the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s.
Many of the nuns said they had hoped to see the five suspects who have been arrested by the tribunal.
"The marchers support the court. The court will try its best to respond to the demands of the victims under the regime," said tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath, who greeted the march.
Up to two million people died of starvation and overwork, or were executed under the Khmer Rouge.
The Khmer Rouge emptied Cambodia's cities, exiling millions to vast collective farms in a bid to forge an agrarian utopia during its rule.
Established in July 2006 after nearly a decade of negotiations between Cambodia and the United Nations, the joint Cambodian-UN tribunal seeks to prosecute crimes committed by senior Khmer Rouge leaders.
Five top Khmer Rouge leaders have been detained to face charges for crimes committed by the regime's brutal 19975-79 rule. Trials are expected to begin in mid-2008.
All the defendants claim to be suffering from serious health ailments, causing concern among those hoping to find justice for Cambodia's genocide victims before the alleged perpetrators die.
The group marched silently to the courthouse, with the clergy in white robes, carrying banners that read "reconciliation" and "the tribunal is a remedy for the cycle of vengeance."
"We are marching because we want peace and justice to be rendered in the Khmer Rouge cases," Buddhist nun Chou Salean told AFP.
"We want the court to speed up the prosecutions because we have been waiting for nearly 30 years," said the 60-year-old woman, who said she lost seven relatives under the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s.
Many of the nuns said they had hoped to see the five suspects who have been arrested by the tribunal.
"The marchers support the court. The court will try its best to respond to the demands of the victims under the regime," said tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath, who greeted the march.
Up to two million people died of starvation and overwork, or were executed under the Khmer Rouge.
The Khmer Rouge emptied Cambodia's cities, exiling millions to vast collective farms in a bid to forge an agrarian utopia during its rule.
Established in July 2006 after nearly a decade of negotiations between Cambodia and the United Nations, the joint Cambodian-UN tribunal seeks to prosecute crimes committed by senior Khmer Rouge leaders.
Five top Khmer Rouge leaders have been detained to face charges for crimes committed by the regime's brutal 19975-79 rule. Trials are expected to begin in mid-2008.
All the defendants claim to be suffering from serious health ailments, causing concern among those hoping to find justice for Cambodia's genocide victims before the alleged perpetrators die.
7 comments:
Don’t forget the current killing field.
The country is in a better shape but the current execution of innocent Cambodians still exit.
The current government evacuates peoples from their homes, starve those who are not on their side, rob their wills, and kill their husband. These actions are still exist today. No one shall forget the today killing.
The KR or the Vietnamese puppets are the same but different faces.
Khbuon Yuon ning puok ah chkae yuon
kompong duer kar pear douy puok ah police bomrer yuon.
While I support the good intention of this KR Tribunal Support March, it is obvious that it was allowed to take place for political reasons. Otherwise, these marchers would be savagely beaten up like Khmer Krom Buddhist monks, who only wanted to deliver a petition to the Vietnamese Embassy, by the state police thugs.
The Viet-puppet government just wants more money for the tribunal, which is becoming more like a business venture for those Cambodian officials involved in the process. If they had really cared about the KR victims they would have agreed to the proposed international tribunal 10 years ago.
You can't change the past, because you don't dwel in the past,and therefore, leave the past behind and move on.
Why dig up the past?
There're suspicious match with old people such as nuns and monks. Who are behind this match organizer? Why they asked only old people? May be old Khmer people are easier to manipulate than the young ones. What are their intention? Why they asked for speedy trial? The UN missed manage the trial that causes too much money. The UN let Hun Sen and his regime steal money from the UN and now they ask for more money. The trial is not beginning yet.
Why 2:20PM asked to not dig the past and move on? May be he is one of the KR killer and try to erase the history of Khmer killed Khmer for 2 milliion people. Even American never forget the Vietnam and Pearl Harbor (WWII). They show histories to their people via TV all the time to remind their people about the Vietnamese and Japanese did to them and vise versa. The Viet plays game with the super power such as Soviet, China, and the US. This superpower should play game with the Viet and teach them a lesson especially China.
Gentleman
Please be assured that the trial is not simply digging the past, but to ensure the future safety for abused cambodians.
ECCC is not intended to cause the pain for any cambodian, but to put to rest of crimes against humanity.
As it has been noted, it appears that the march is for political gains.
1-To cut short the trial simply aimed at only those leaders, and yet the killing continued.
2-To protect those who actually committed crime and currently are hiding behind the government.
3-Not to contribute any cost shared to the UN, by the government.
4-These gentle elderly can be used for CPP political number as well.
Appearently, the scandal over the ECCC to shorten and restrict the proceeding is not achieveable.
Please be reminded that criminal faced the law always after the crime had been committed. To ask not to dig the past is simply to let the crime multiply. AND NO VICTIM WISH TO SEE THAT CRIME IS BURIED.
Neang SA
9:21 PM
The war between US and Vietnam lasted more than 30 years resulted thousands killed and injured, both guilty and innocent people.
What have we learned from this --shall I call "miscalculated war" --tragic war? NOTHING!
Also, I'm categorically flabbergasted with the fact that you're unabased of your ignorance.
What's your next equation?!
Post a Comment