Cambodian survivors of the infamous Tuol sleng prison: Bou Meng (C) and Chum Mey (L)
Former Khmer Rouge prison commander, 66-year-old Duch, whose real name is Kaing Guek EavTuesday, February 17, 2009
PHNOM PENH (AFP) — "I prayed for dawn as soon as possible so that I could see this trial start," said Cambodian Vann Nath, a rare survivor of the Khmer Rouge's main torture centre.
As a UN-backed tribunal opened the trial of the man who ran the notorious Tuol Sleng detention camp in the 1970s, Vann Nath was one of dozens of people who gathered outside.
The atmosphere was a mixture of elation and sadness as his fellow survivors Bou Meng and Chum Mey warmly shook hands at the entrance to the courthouse.
"I am very happy to participate in the trial," Bou Meng told AFP.
All three men are all too familiar with defendant Kaing Guek Eav -- better known as Duch -- who faces charges of overseeing the deaths of 15,000 people at the prison as it served the hardline communists' security apparatus.
Duch's appearance Tuesday at the court on the outskirts of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh marked the long-awaited opening of proceedings that many hope will help the country confront atrocities committed by the 1975-1979 regime.
"I am very happy to see the court start finding justice for Cambodian people," said Deou Chren, who travelled here from Duch's home province of Kampong Thom in central Cambodia.
"I have been waiting for so long for this day to come," he added.
That sentiment was echoed by many of the estimated 500, including monks in saffron robes, who queued in the early hours to file through the court's grassy compound.
"The Khmer Rouge were so brutal. They killed their own people," said Sen You Sos, who lost 18 relatives during the regime.
"Before, I never had any hope this trial would happen, but now hope is coming and justice is coming too," he added.
Many who watched the start of proceedings against the gaunt-looking Duch behind bulletproof glass in an auditorium said they believed it represented the last change to get Khmer Rouge leaders to answer for their crimes.
The court's second case -- against the regime's jailed former "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea, head of state Khieu Sampan, foreign minister Ieng Sary and his wife, social affairs minister Ieng Thirith -- is expected to begin after Duch's trial.
Oum Yon, who lost his father and two brothers, also said he never thought he would see a trial of a member of the regime which killed up to two million people through overwork, starvation, execution and torture.
"Today is very important for me. I will listen very clearly for the reasons that the Khmer Rouge killed people," Oum Yon said.
"I want the court to jail him forever, but I also want Duch to confess and to say who was behind him," he added.
If convicted on his charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture and premeditated murder, Duch, 66, could spend the rest of his life in prison.
As a UN-backed tribunal opened the trial of the man who ran the notorious Tuol Sleng detention camp in the 1970s, Vann Nath was one of dozens of people who gathered outside.
The atmosphere was a mixture of elation and sadness as his fellow survivors Bou Meng and Chum Mey warmly shook hands at the entrance to the courthouse.
"I am very happy to participate in the trial," Bou Meng told AFP.
All three men are all too familiar with defendant Kaing Guek Eav -- better known as Duch -- who faces charges of overseeing the deaths of 15,000 people at the prison as it served the hardline communists' security apparatus.
Duch's appearance Tuesday at the court on the outskirts of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh marked the long-awaited opening of proceedings that many hope will help the country confront atrocities committed by the 1975-1979 regime.
"I am very happy to see the court start finding justice for Cambodian people," said Deou Chren, who travelled here from Duch's home province of Kampong Thom in central Cambodia.
"I have been waiting for so long for this day to come," he added.
That sentiment was echoed by many of the estimated 500, including monks in saffron robes, who queued in the early hours to file through the court's grassy compound.
"The Khmer Rouge were so brutal. They killed their own people," said Sen You Sos, who lost 18 relatives during the regime.
"Before, I never had any hope this trial would happen, but now hope is coming and justice is coming too," he added.
Many who watched the start of proceedings against the gaunt-looking Duch behind bulletproof glass in an auditorium said they believed it represented the last change to get Khmer Rouge leaders to answer for their crimes.
The court's second case -- against the regime's jailed former "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea, head of state Khieu Sampan, foreign minister Ieng Sary and his wife, social affairs minister Ieng Thirith -- is expected to begin after Duch's trial.
Oum Yon, who lost his father and two brothers, also said he never thought he would see a trial of a member of the regime which killed up to two million people through overwork, starvation, execution and torture.
"Today is very important for me. I will listen very clearly for the reasons that the Khmer Rouge killed people," Oum Yon said.
"I want the court to jail him forever, but I also want Duch to confess and to say who was behind him," he added.
If convicted on his charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture and premeditated murder, Duch, 66, could spend the rest of his life in prison.
2 comments:
Put Sihanouk, Monique, Chea Sim, Heng Samrin, Hun Sen, Tea Banh... etc. on trail they are the Cambodian's crimes against Humanity and War Crimes too.
"NAK ATTAHETU- NAKPARASAYAK HETU- NAK BOTAK MITCHE- NAKTHANAING- NAKRACHANAING -NAK ITCHEYAK ATHAMENAK SAMITHI MATANOR- SALEYLAREA PAGNA RA -THOAMIKO LIYEAR"
"NEITHER FOR THE SAKE OF ONE'S SELF NOR FOR THE SAKE OF ANOTHER SHOULD ONE DESIRE SONS,WEALTH OR KINGDOM.ONE SHOULD NOT DESIRE ONE'S SUCCESS BY UNJUST MEANS.SUCH AS ONE IS INDEED,VIRTUOUS,WISE AND RIGHTEOUS"
...............................................................................
"Yak.sya sakra pakri.khina,aha vichak aknisitor,su.ngator aknimitor,chakvi mokor yak.syator ,aka sévak sakonda naing patoanta syak ,turunaktchak yaing"
He whose corruptions are destroyed,who cares naught for food,whose abode is emancipation trough voidness and unsubstantiality-his path cannot be traced,like that of birds in the air."
Il dont les corruptions sont détruites, qui se soucie le rien(zéro) pour l'alimentation, dont le domicile est le vide de cuvette d'émancipation et la nonsolidité - son chemin ne peut pas être tracé, comme celui d'oiseaux en air.
May Emarald Buddha save people khmer to live in peace!
http://www.bangkokmag.infothai.com/emeraldhistory.htm
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