By KER MUNTHIT AP
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA: The United States will give US$1.8 million to Cambodia's genocide tribunal to aid its work in trying former Khmer Rouge leaders for their alleged crimes against humanity, a top U.S. official said Tuesday (16 Sept).
Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said the U.S. government believes "the conditions are both appropriate and opportune to make this contribution."
The U.N.-assisted tribunal has detained five former Khmer Rouge leaders on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes. The trial of the first suspect is planned for later this year.
"We want to help this tribunal succeed, and we think it definitely has a chance to succeed," Negroponte said at a press conference at the end of a three-day visit to Cambodia.
The money will be given to the tribunal's U.N. side, which is staffed by international personnel. The tribunal, which is seeking justice for atrocities committed in the 1970s under the Khmer Rouge's rule, is jointly run by Cambodian and U.N. officials under a pact both sides signed in 2003.
The radical policies of the ultra-communist Cambodian group, which ruled from 1975 to 1979, caused the death of some 1.9 million people from starvation, diseases, overwork and execution.
Negroponte also toured the S-21 prison, the largest Khmer Rouge torture center in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, to see what he called "a reminder of the holocaust."
It is now known as Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, and holds exhibits of prisoner's mug shots, skulls, and other traces of the crimes committed during the Khmer Rouge's brutal rule.
"It's a very moving experience to see this museum, to see the reminiscence of the holocaust," Negroponte told The Associated Press after touring the museum early Tuesday morning.
He said the site is "a reminder of the holocaust that took place, and I think it's important to document it."
Up to 16,000 men, women and children were held at the prison before being taken out for execution before the Khmer Rouge's regime was ousted from power by a Vietnam-led invasion in 1979.
Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said the U.S. government believes "the conditions are both appropriate and opportune to make this contribution."
The U.N.-assisted tribunal has detained five former Khmer Rouge leaders on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes. The trial of the first suspect is planned for later this year.
"We want to help this tribunal succeed, and we think it definitely has a chance to succeed," Negroponte said at a press conference at the end of a three-day visit to Cambodia.
The money will be given to the tribunal's U.N. side, which is staffed by international personnel. The tribunal, which is seeking justice for atrocities committed in the 1970s under the Khmer Rouge's rule, is jointly run by Cambodian and U.N. officials under a pact both sides signed in 2003.
The radical policies of the ultra-communist Cambodian group, which ruled from 1975 to 1979, caused the death of some 1.9 million people from starvation, diseases, overwork and execution.
Negroponte also toured the S-21 prison, the largest Khmer Rouge torture center in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, to see what he called "a reminder of the holocaust."
It is now known as Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, and holds exhibits of prisoner's mug shots, skulls, and other traces of the crimes committed during the Khmer Rouge's brutal rule.
"It's a very moving experience to see this museum, to see the reminiscence of the holocaust," Negroponte told The Associated Press after touring the museum early Tuesday morning.
He said the site is "a reminder of the holocaust that took place, and I think it's important to document it."
Up to 16,000 men, women and children were held at the prison before being taken out for execution before the Khmer Rouge's regime was ousted from power by a Vietnam-led invasion in 1979.
5 comments:
Thailand has been quietly colonized by the American imperium for more than 150 years, I have no doubt that the controversial fronteers are backed by the US (in favor for Thailand). That said, the recent meeting with the US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte is an effort to buy off the controversy by donating the fund to the Cambodian government.
Remember, keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.
Only 1.8 million dollars? That is nothing. Come on oh great U.S. of A, you can plegde more than that. Don't be so stingy!
1:55 PM
I think you've completely understood the US's pledge.
This money is to be used for the Cambodian high-ranking officials diner and night clubs (for a starter).
Let them enjoy while they can. What else can they do? Perhaps they can speak Siam or Youn unexpectedly fluently. And they don;t give a damn since they can shift their nationalities to one of them.
What a JOKE!
No real soldiers, commanders all over the karoke palors ...and when the last time they did military exercise? not to mention roads are in terribly poor conditions..very few soldiers along the border...sometimes don't really realize whether the temples exist!
That's khmer military's management under hun sen's rule? Concentration all around the lucrative $$$$dollar zones, say the development MY ASS!
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