Theary SengABC Radio Australia
Cambodia's UN-backed Khmer Rouge Tribunal has officially set February 17th as the start date for the long-awaited trials of former Khmer Rouge leaders accused of atrocities in the 1970s. Former prison chief Kaing Guek Eav - better known as Duch - will be the first person to appear on charges of crimes against humanity, breaches of the Geneva Convention and pre-meditated murder and torture. Aged 66, Duch was prison chief at the infamous Tuol Sleng jail, a former school transformed into a torture centre during Khmer Rouge rule between 1975 and 1979.
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speaker: Theary C. Seng, executive director of Center for Social Development
SENG: This is definitely a good starting point, justice must be seen to be done. We have been waiting for 30 years now where a trial has not been had, so this is the beginning of the justice process and it's a very, very visible beginning. As you know, a trial is a visible symbol of justice and the anticipation, the waiting, the expectations, are being merged and all eyes are being pointed to this trial that is set for February 17th.
LAM: I understand that Duch has also pleaded guilty, that there is much evidence weighed against him?
SENG: Yes, Duch is also a good starting point, because a trial is based on evidence. After 30 years, a lot of evidence has been lost, but with regards to Duch, he kept a very, very meticulous record of all the executions, at least 16,000 were believed to have been killed at his command. There are witnesses, there are piles and mounds of documentary evidence. So this is a clear cut case and so it makes it a better beginning and a more visible beginning, an easier case I think than the other four senior leaders who are also currently under detention at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.
LAM: And Theary, the tribunal of course as a symbolic reconciliation with Cambodia's painful past and yet despite the limited time and resources, many people feel that the hearing should be broadened to try more former perpetrators?
SENG: Millions died at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. To try to prosecute only five, beginning with Duch now, being the only one considered most responsible and the other being considered senior leaders is not enough. I understand that hundreds if not thousands could potentially be prosecuted for the mass crimes that occurred in the 1970s and taking into, and taking the lives of at least two million Cambodians, including those are my parents. But Duch should not be the only scapegoat. He should not be made a scapegoat. So if hundreds-and-thousands are not realistic, well five is not enough either. There is currently now a discussion to possibly prosecute another six. This is being forwarded by the international co-prosecutor. I think this is a very realistic number, and to have an additional six prosecutions. I think it will bring greater peace to the Cambodians have been waiting for peace and justice.
LAM: And yet I understand that there is some reluctance in certain quarters within Cambodia, to broaden the tribunal. Is there a political dimension to this reluctance?
SENG: So this is the problem, if evidence and justice is leading the prosecution, even if it is five or six or seven. I think Cambodians will be satisfied, but when there are other elements outside of evidence, outside of justice for the victims, factors such as political considerations, then it becomes really problematic and it's then it could potentially led to these trials to become shams, and this is sometimes better than not having a trial. So yes there are political considerations that should not be in this court. As you know the current government are comprised of former Khmer Rouge soldiers, so they don't want these issues to surface into the public arena, especially under the glare of international and national attention. So we believe that there are political considerations, that should not be in the vicinity of this Khmer Rouge Tribunal. It should be based on evidence, it should be based on justice for the victims.
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speaker: Theary C. Seng, executive director of Center for Social Development
SENG: This is definitely a good starting point, justice must be seen to be done. We have been waiting for 30 years now where a trial has not been had, so this is the beginning of the justice process and it's a very, very visible beginning. As you know, a trial is a visible symbol of justice and the anticipation, the waiting, the expectations, are being merged and all eyes are being pointed to this trial that is set for February 17th.
LAM: I understand that Duch has also pleaded guilty, that there is much evidence weighed against him?
SENG: Yes, Duch is also a good starting point, because a trial is based on evidence. After 30 years, a lot of evidence has been lost, but with regards to Duch, he kept a very, very meticulous record of all the executions, at least 16,000 were believed to have been killed at his command. There are witnesses, there are piles and mounds of documentary evidence. So this is a clear cut case and so it makes it a better beginning and a more visible beginning, an easier case I think than the other four senior leaders who are also currently under detention at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.
LAM: And Theary, the tribunal of course as a symbolic reconciliation with Cambodia's painful past and yet despite the limited time and resources, many people feel that the hearing should be broadened to try more former perpetrators?
SENG: Millions died at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. To try to prosecute only five, beginning with Duch now, being the only one considered most responsible and the other being considered senior leaders is not enough. I understand that hundreds if not thousands could potentially be prosecuted for the mass crimes that occurred in the 1970s and taking into, and taking the lives of at least two million Cambodians, including those are my parents. But Duch should not be the only scapegoat. He should not be made a scapegoat. So if hundreds-and-thousands are not realistic, well five is not enough either. There is currently now a discussion to possibly prosecute another six. This is being forwarded by the international co-prosecutor. I think this is a very realistic number, and to have an additional six prosecutions. I think it will bring greater peace to the Cambodians have been waiting for peace and justice.
LAM: And yet I understand that there is some reluctance in certain quarters within Cambodia, to broaden the tribunal. Is there a political dimension to this reluctance?
SENG: So this is the problem, if evidence and justice is leading the prosecution, even if it is five or six or seven. I think Cambodians will be satisfied, but when there are other elements outside of evidence, outside of justice for the victims, factors such as political considerations, then it becomes really problematic and it's then it could potentially led to these trials to become shams, and this is sometimes better than not having a trial. So yes there are political considerations that should not be in this court. As you know the current government are comprised of former Khmer Rouge soldiers, so they don't want these issues to surface into the public arena, especially under the glare of international and national attention. So we believe that there are political considerations, that should not be in the vicinity of this Khmer Rouge Tribunal. It should be based on evidence, it should be based on justice for the victims.
14 comments:
you are great, Ki-media
it really really hot news
If you need to get laid, just tell the French Hooker (Theary), or shut the fuck up. No one one to hear your stupid flattering, fool!
what?.....just set a date for trial.....what have they been doing in the last couple of years?....oh god.....just scrap this ECCC thing.....no use forget about justice you can't change what had happened, just concentrate on the abuse at the present day committed by ah Sen......it's more useful and in urgent need.
Showing hatred toward her or toward anyone does not solve the problems. Everyone is looking to earn a living and if you want to blame then blame the US, European, and Japanese for financing this fake KRT.
I don't blame this attorney Theary Seng or blame other attorneys from oversea or in Cambodia, I blame the US, European and Japan for continuing to suck taxe payers for these fake trial.
http://khmer-heroes.blogpsot.com
Just for 10:42 AM
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8PM4dm-Fr8I
Oh get a life, Ah potato digger (12:28).
1:08 PM lol sweet dream ah useless oversea wannabe lmao
More advocates need to echo what Ms.Theary Seng expressed here.
It's a grain of sand ,of course, but her views are important for the lost souls.
No doubt, Sihanouk is defenitely the root cause for Cambodia tragedy.Detain and put this criminal on trial too.
No, it is Ah Pleu-oversea who stabbed Sihanouk in the back is the root cause of the tragety.
937pm,
Sihanouk had lived in Beijing until now.
What do you say to that?
He who let Viet Cong in and ordered the killing and emptying Cambodia.
10:33PM. Vietnamese were already inside Cambodia since 1700's.
They live among your people.
Because of Beijing, you and your people still have Cambodia to call home.
Emptying cities, cutting communication with Vietnam and Thailand with million mines at the border, may be to act as a filter looking for the Viet Rouge and Thai Rouge, then build a strong army.
But like I said the Thai Rouge and Viet Rouge would not let Khmers to arm themselves, and since they were already inside, that's what happened. And the Khmer famers listened to the agent leftists since 1940's all over in country sides of Cambodia.
Your Cambodian people were lucky that Thai Rouge of Pradit Phanyomong did not kill all of you at the border.
Thai Rouge and Viet Rouge worked together to eliminate Khmers. So stop blaming the King who did all his best to save your million sorry azz.
This is no fake tales.
Did KGB kill King Mahidol inside his bedroom while he was sleeping?
Or did CIA kill King Mahidol?
Who had the power to walk into King's bedroom except the powerfull Pridi Phanyomong, the PM.
Pridi was a Communist well trained in Moscow, he and Ho Chi Minh wanted to eat Cambodia.
Khmer people are so ignorance and they continue to be ignorant people. Now Viet and Thai again are back, Viets are inside and Thais are all over at the border.
And their agents are Khmer speaking and living well in Cambodia.
Hey, if you did want foreigners to be in your country, you should not asked them to invest in your country. Who in their right mind would just send in the money and not being there to watch it?
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