By Youk Chhang
Director of Documentation Center of Cambodia
Phnom Penh - March 30, 2009
Today is a turning point for Cambodia. Today, after 30 years of waiting, Cambodians have taken a historical step. Through legal means, we are challenging impunity and moving ahead in our long journey for genocide justice. This journey is essential for us to come together as a nation. The Khmer Rouge trials are not only about justice; they are also about the Memory of Our Nation.
Duch's hearing today offers a chance for survivors and Cambodians born after the Khmer Rouge period to learn about that terrible period in our country’s history from those who were directly involved in it. There may be no single answer to what really happened. However, we all have the obligation to participate in the search for truth. Together, we can build a better understanding of our common past.
Cambodia is a deeply wounded nation after years of war and genocide. We have been a divided people for many decades, but we all share a common concern about the future of our country and the legacy we will leave our children. We need a credible legal process that will help us restore faith in justice. We also need a process that helps us feel that we are in charge of our own history.
Victims have an obligation to take responsibility and help this process be a successful one by confirming the brutality they suffered and by sharing their part of our history. This process is a crucial step forward for the healing of our nation. Reconciliation is not only about the victims or the winners but also the perpetrators. Former enemies can only reconcile in a genuine way if they are armed with the truth.
I hope the government will make it possible for all Cambodians to participate in the trial process by encouraging media throughout the country to televise the court hearing. I also hope that the government will declare a national holiday to allow everyone to spend a day to observe, reflect, and remember.
Director of Documentation Center of Cambodia
Phnom Penh - March 30, 2009
Today is a turning point for Cambodia. Today, after 30 years of waiting, Cambodians have taken a historical step. Through legal means, we are challenging impunity and moving ahead in our long journey for genocide justice. This journey is essential for us to come together as a nation. The Khmer Rouge trials are not only about justice; they are also about the Memory of Our Nation.
Duch's hearing today offers a chance for survivors and Cambodians born after the Khmer Rouge period to learn about that terrible period in our country’s history from those who were directly involved in it. There may be no single answer to what really happened. However, we all have the obligation to participate in the search for truth. Together, we can build a better understanding of our common past.
Cambodia is a deeply wounded nation after years of war and genocide. We have been a divided people for many decades, but we all share a common concern about the future of our country and the legacy we will leave our children. We need a credible legal process that will help us restore faith in justice. We also need a process that helps us feel that we are in charge of our own history.
Victims have an obligation to take responsibility and help this process be a successful one by confirming the brutality they suffered and by sharing their part of our history. This process is a crucial step forward for the healing of our nation. Reconciliation is not only about the victims or the winners but also the perpetrators. Former enemies can only reconcile in a genuine way if they are armed with the truth.
I hope the government will make it possible for all Cambodians to participate in the trial process by encouraging media throughout the country to televise the court hearing. I also hope that the government will declare a national holiday to allow everyone to spend a day to observe, reflect, and remember.
7 comments:
i think by him taking admitting and taking responsibility, which is unprecedented in the history of cambodia, perhaps, it will set a tone, a new era of peace and new thinking and mentality for the new cambodia. because in the past, when something happened or go wrong in cambodia, leaders and people in general often retorted to always blaming others for their mistakes. but now, i'm glad to see someone is taking own responsibility for change. whether god can forgive him or not, it is up to god and the court to decide, not the unruly population. cambodia needs to heals itself from this demonic forces that seems to hang on in our mentality. thank you and god bless cambodia.
I agreed with Mr. Youk Chhang that Cambodia has opened a new chapter to the history of our brutal past. We, as a nation, has come of age to put the bitter past behind us and move on to a future that will be based on healing and justice for all. We don't want to see Cambodia any longer a country of sad and sorrow rather a country of brights and braves where everyone is appreciated for their differences.
Thanks Lord for allowing Cambodia justice and strength to move on and to better our way of lives; and to once again working together as a nation to rebuild the future of ours and our children with respect her people and environment.
This is an example to others who will face trial soon, to admit their responsibility during that regime. The apology means a lot to khmers who survived that regime and to their loved ones who lost their life for unknown reason. Time to start healing our wound, and we know where to start now. UNITY, SOLIDARITY and TOLERANCE.
My gratitude to Mr Youk Chang, for your valuable work you have done tireless for our nation!
Why HUN SEN care other <195 MEKUK and MURDER> because his name inside MEKUK nus der>
kang chhlop khmer rouge
Without Hun Sen and N. Sihanouk included, the trial is always unfair.
Mr Youk Chhang
If we do really want to challenge impunity then we must do it right now in the present day not some thirty years ago. Those KR leaders should just be thrown in jail with minimum court procedures. Millions of dollars are wasted on needless spending and most goes into the salary of the judges. Remember this Mr. Youk Chhang and the International observers and others, Power and Money = Justice. .
Why? Because the KRT trials only what happened between1975-1979. It does not look beyond that and the causes. And you call this justice. There are thousands of killers out there and some even hold power. This is a mockery of justice. You and others may feel proud of this KRT. Just look around you at present day how many killings that were committed and the perpetrators were never brought to justice. A classic example is the grenade attack on the peaceful demonstrators in March 1997.
I'm a KR survivor too.
Congratulation Change for your effort and intellectual. This contribution is huge and important.
This trial can help leverage the incumbent government personnels who are full of impunity to understand the punity. So government has to support your good will and wise.
But if government doesn't support your good will and propose, the government is stuck in its ignorance.
The court is idealistic though we cannot expect its perfection.
Try your best and continue to advocate through this legal procedure.
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