Wednesday, April 16, 2008

‘Long-overdue’ justice necessary in Cambodia, says Secretary-General Ban

UN News Centre

15 April 2008 – Noting that today is the tenth anniversary of the death of the notorious Cambodian dictator Pol Pot, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on the United Nations-backed tribunal to “soon deliver long-overdue justice for the people” of the South-East Asian country.

I would like to remind the international community of the urgent importance of bringing to closure one of history’s darkest chapters,” Mr. Ban said in a statement.

“The United Nations and the Royal Government of Cambodia remain actively engaged in efforts to hold the Khmer Rouge senior leaders and those most responsible accountable for their horrific crimes.”

The Secretary-General said it was his hope that the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) – which has been operational since July 2006 – could soon deliver justice.

Under an agreement signed by the UN and Cambodia, the ECCC was set up as an independent court using a mixture of Cambodian judges and staff and foreign personnel. It is designated to try those deemed most responsible for crimes and serious violations of Cambodian and international law between April 1975 and January 1979.

Estimates vary but as many as three million people died during the rule of the Khmer Rouge, which was then followed by a protracted period of civil war in the impoverished country.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

some foreigners know that Pol Pot is
an atrocious dictator. It's sad that some Cambodians don't know that. And worst still that they choose to praise a dictator but insult the death in millions.

Anonymous said...

Yes, that's where education is needed, my friend. Only when the people are educated that the right and good leader can be chosen for the country. Now that cambodia still has a lot of people who can't get out poverty or afford to go school due to continued social illnesses caused by a small group of powerful and privileged politicians, I think education is a must.

Anonymous said...

9:07 AM its sad that some like yourself only know of this 'Pol Pot' the 'dictator' and relate him to genocide when there were many more players who were involved that share the same responsibility. Especially Hun Sen who during the Killing fields worked for the Vietnamese who must be on trial along with Heng Samrin and other Vietnamese-Khmer Rouge cadres who are now high officials in the Cambodian government. Evidently they are not working for the interest of the Khmer people and I believe that during the killing field they were also responsible for killing our Khmer nationalists and all real Khmers of the country side. I also believe education is a must, otherwise you'll always be stuck with the same 'Pol Pot Dictator' bullshit the Americans and the Vietnamese are feeding to you.

Anonymous said...

I have condemned all of of the Khmer Rougr leaders, including Hun Xen. This just one of my comment relating to the name of Pol Pot that appears in this article. Do not misjudge me!

Anonymous said...

I have condemned all of of the Khmer Rougr leaders, including Hun Xen. This just one of my comment relating to the name of Pol Pot that appears in this article. Do not misjudge me!

Anonymous said...

What we need not past justice as priority! what we need now is real freedom and democracy!

Stop today oppression in Cambodia! Stop today Killing in Cambodia!
Stop today unjustice imprisoning in Cambodia!
Stop elegal eviction in Cambodia!
Stop land grabing in Cambodia!
Stop the unjustice in Cambodia!

Please reforme the Army and Police forces and help secure our frontier as you promise in the Paris agreement UN!

Why you let a bunch of crook heads people conrole our life???

Anonymous said...

What can Cambidia do with the overdue justice ?
We are living in unjustice right now?

Tomorrow I might get imprisoned or killed with no reason so what past justice can do to help me and my children?

Good for your resumme UN!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh, good to see Cambodia is moving in the right direction by denying criminal like 12:55 their rights and freedom to abuse our law abiding citizens.