Saturday, March 28, 2009

Sue me and I'll sue you back: Mith Neary Im Chaem, once-feared rebel and KR district chief

Im Chaem, a once-feared rebel and district chief, says she will protest if indicted by the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.

Once-Feared Rebel Says She Won’t Testify

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Cambodia
27 March 2009



A well-known former Khmer Rouge district chief says she’ll take legal action if she’s indicted by a broader list of suspects by tribunal prosecutors and won’t testify in the courts.

Yeay Chaem, known during the revolution as Im Chaem, told VOA Khmer in a rare interview that she had nothing to do with the killings that came to characterize the regime, despite numerous testimonies from the villagers in the area who said they learned to fear her name.

I can tell you frankly that I did not commit anything linked to [the loss of] human life,” the 65-year-old Yeay Chaem said, speaking from her home in the former Khmer Rouge sanctuary of Anlong Veng, located in a remote part of northwestern Cambodia. “I will not answer, and I will not accept, if my name is brought for indictment. I will protest, because [the tribunal] should find truth and solutions according to just means.”

Her words echo the sentiments of many former regime members, as the Khmer Rouge tribunal prepares to try five of its former leaders, including prison chief Duch, whose trial begins Monday. Prosecutors at the special court are at odds over whether to indict more regime cadre and are awaiting a decision by pre-trial judges.

Some observers, like Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, say an increase in indictments will not cause instability, one of the reasons given for limiting the number of leaders arrested. Those who could be brought to trial are many, he said. After all, there were 198 prison chiefs like Duch, who is facing atrocity crimes charges for his role in the alleged torture and execution of more than 12,000 Cambodians.

Like many former leaders of the regime, Yeay Chaem does not see herself among those who should be indicted. Now a deputy commune chief in Anglong Veng, she speaks with authority, and in a recent interview she was confident and smiling.

She said as a Khmer Rouge district chief, her role was to help people cultivate rice, and her position as a female leader in the government of Democratic Kampuchea was highlighted in a film that was shown nationwide. People have sometimes apologized to her for wrongly accusing her of killings, she said.

Villagers in the district of Preah Net Preah, Banteay Meanchey province, where Yeay Chaem was once in charge, tell a different story. Many said they were much afraid of her in the 1970s, when farmers in her area went missing for infractions against the revolution.

Even though she’s a woman, she ordered killings, that’s why there was death,” said one man in Phnom Leap village. (No villager was willing to be named, fearing reprisal.)

The man described being nearly killed himself by Yeay Chaem’s bodyguards, after he suggested farmers in the area be given more food. He was able to untie his bonds before he was killed, he said, and fled to Thailand.

Another villager said he was nearly killed too, for farming rice improperly.

“The one who supervised me to pull rice [seedlings] was killed with his family members in a nearby area, as she was angered at him pulling in an improper way,” the man said, referring to Yeay Chaem. “Whether they were killed or not, I didn’t see with my own eyes, but that family went missing forever.”

Villagers say they learned to fear the name of Im Chaem, but the former cadre now says that’s only because she was rumored to have magic that could stop bullets. That wasn’t true, she said.

People did die, she said, but not by her orders. “Some died on the battlefield, some died because there was no food, as we were a country at war.” She regretted there had not been enough food or shelter for people. “I’m not afraid, because I did nothing wrong.”

Even though she could be a suspect, Yeay Chaem said she supports the current tribunal efforts to try leaders of the regime.

“I’m very grateful for the discovery of justice for our brothers and sisters of that era,” she said. “But if they indict me, I don’t agree, and for myself, if they bring me to testify, they must contact me with clear proof. If not, it’s not my business; I will not go.”

Some villagers think Yeay Chaem should be prosecuted, even if they never directly saw her do any killing. Many people went missing in the area she controlled, they said.

“In Phnom Leap, here, there were a lot of graves,” said one. “One grave had 200 people; 50, 60, also have.”

Pointing to a mountain named Phnom Trayong, a monk said many killings had taken place there.

“To find this lady with your own eye, whether she herself did the killing, was impossible,” one villager said. “If we went near [an execution] they would kill us too.”

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't care this very low social classes Khmer rouge. I am most concerned is people like Sihanouk, Keat Chhon, Hor Nam Hong, Chea Sim , heng sam Rin, Hun Sen, and many other Khmer rouge intellectuals such as Tep Kunal, Chuan Mom, Chuan Cheurn and bloody Chuan Prasith etc.. they were the keys who have ordered for all the killings. Areak Prey

Anonymous said...

And at the present time Cambodia governed by Vietcong.

Anonymous said...

VOA can you give a biography each of them to the people khmer.
I knew some of them are VIETCONG.
.....................................
NONE OF THEM ARE COMMUNISTS

Non-Persons No Longer
Special to The New York Times
Published: Monday, January 8, 1990

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In the last year, the Phnom Penh Government has recruited increasing numbers of non-Communist professionals who were either students or public officials associated with the old Sihanouk and Lon Nol Governments.

Kung Sam Ol, a Deputy Prime Minister, worked at the Agriculture Ministry in the Lon Nol years from 1970 to 1975. Chheng Phon, the Minister of Information and Culture, was a fine arts professor then.

French-Trained Physicist

Taing Sarim, the Commerce Minister, was a student in Paris, and Chhay Tan, the Finance Minister, was a student in Phnom Penh in the 1970's. The Minister of Public Health, Yit Kim Seng, is a French-trained physician. None of them are Communists.

The United Front for the Construction and Defense of Cambodia plays a crucial role in the nation's politics, serving as an official bridge between the Government and the people. Ten of the 17 members of its standing committee are former officials from the Lon Nol years with no record as Communists.

Religious Figures

They include religious figures and pro-Western intellectuals like Venerable Um Sum, a Buddhist monk; My Samedi, a French-trained physician who is dean of the School of Medicine in Phnom Penh; Chan Ven, a writer; Venerable Tep Vong, the patriarch of the Buddhist clergy; Chem Snguon, a non-Communist diplomat; Khieu Kanharith, an outspoken journalist, and Lyda Sisowath, a cousin of Prince Norodom Sihanouk.

Many veterans of Mr. Lon Nol's army now serve in the Government of Prime Minister Hun Sen and as provincial governors

May Buddha Srey Aar Metrey save khmer!

Kooler said...

May Buddha Srey Aar Metrey save khmer!?????

I thought Buddha Se-ar-Metrey or Mettreyya.

pross pov said...

Lok Om Areak Prey,

Could you tell us how would you do if you were the leader instead of King Sihanouk or another Khmer leaders?

It seems that you and your generation claimed to know how to deal with the invaders Vietnamese.
I didn't see anything more than blaming each others while the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia for a long times ago.

Pross Pov

Anonymous said...

4:32 AM

Areak Prey, I agree with you.

Why don't you Kach Kor those people?

Unknown said...

Taing Sarim, the Commerce Minister, was a student in Paris.

May I add it,
Taing Sarim who was an ex Commerce Minister wasn't a student in Paris for sure.I met him and listened to him during 1979 after January 7th.He's unducated and married to the top of Apsara dancer,Kesany before 1970.He was drunk almost the time.

Anonymous said...

Dear Pross Pov,
The Vietnamese army has installed in Cambodia since 1960 with the permit from Sihanouk and his ally.
Cambodian people have under Marshall Lon Nol and all National army protested them to withdraw from Cambodian territory. But the Khmer rouge and Sihanouk were behind vienamese puppet. All Khmer Rouge were trained by Vietnam to destroy Cambodian people. Sihanouk has used Vietnamese to fight with Cambodian natinal army to get a position back for Sihanouk. Therefore the killings of millions of Cambodian were just for having SIhanouk to sit on his trone back. These idiot Khmer rouge leaders were the most thick animal on earth who care nothing more than to have their position as leaders of illeterated Cambodian. They have killed Khmer every day. Now they blamed their tutor ( vietnam ) to complicate the trial. First they should accept their role for killings and then they can tell us that their Boss Vietnam has tauch them to do because they were so stupid. Areak Prey

Anonymous said...

They should look into the US because there are Khmer Rouge living in the US. They were the first wave of Khmer refugees taken into the US under Cold War politics.

How many of you actually know that there are Khmer Rouge killers in the US that maybe you the killers of your family who now live among you and you don't even know.

Anonymous said...

Pross Pov,

Your Lok Om Pross did not answer your question, how he would do if he was the leaders. The bad thing is your Lok Om Pross has a short memory or he just chopped the film in the middle, he did not admit the truth that the Vietnamese were already inside Cambodia among us Khmers, even Lon Nol killed thousand of them still many more were already in our community since the French brought them back to govern our state affair.
Yep your Lok Om Pross is no difference than other extreme radical group his generation who refused to responsible when his generation joined Viet and or Chen Rouge. How he would do to avoid the powerful neighbors and powerful nations who could careless about our tiny nation, they could just bomb and let us all die, replace new people won't make any different to them.
Your Om Pross Areak Prey's generation sucks big time.

Anonymous said...

7:55 AM,
You are right, and also thousand and million of the Vietnamee spies are among them too.

Anonymous said...

Dear Poster 8:03AM, I am so sorry for not having answer to Psoss Pov question if I am a leader instead what should I will do?
Dear Pross Pov, having trusted to be a leader, I felt very honour to serve my country in good faith. I would value each life is as important as others. Therefore, I have to think of human life first before I make any decision to develop my country. All my development should have benefited to all the people in their areas. Eg, If I am going to develop Booeung Kak, first, I would like to think of the impact efftecting by filling up that Boeung Kak. I needs to make sure that each residence of Boeung kak would receive at least one house better what they have now so that their investment by staying a long times at that Boueng Kak won't waste. I will make sure each citizen will receive fair share of their contribution to the State. I won't let anyone behind at all. I will amke sure that Human life must come first. As a Leader, I won't need to save moneys for my children at all. I pass on to them my honour to the country. They will be proud to be my children for having a father as a good Leader.
One Leader of New Zealand has built all the houses for all his people in the 1930'. Until now he deserves his respected from all leaders of New Zealand. If after 1993 election, Rannarith had prepared to built houses to every Cambodian, the international community would pay all the moneys already. But he has stated with his own pleasure. Areak Prey

Anonymous said...

All of you her are just the mask dancing.

Anonymous said...

If all timbers are still left since 1993, all those timbers can make millions of good houses to donate to all Cambodians in countryside. Each family shouldn't have more than 10 ha of lands. we must legislate that all lands are not allowed to sell or exchange. Any land around the city should pay land tax so that each owner has their responsiblity to develop accordingly. All Public servants shouldn't allow to have farmlands otherwise they would steal land from farmers. But all public servants must receive a liveable level of income and live in dignity and pride. All public recruitments must have done through open recruitment and exam so that we can give our young students with good hope. Areak Prey

Anonymous said...

Ta Areak Prey didn't answer to the real questions to the guy who asked, he just bla bla bla...
Ta Areak Prey's generation SUCKS and idiot.

Anonymous said...

Here is another leading role.
From now on for another 4 hours, NZ will turn off all electrities in all towns and cities for one Hour to mark Earth Hour. NZ is a leading role in saving the earth, enviornment and endanger animal. Areak Prey

Anonymous said...

7:55 AM,
One of the xKR could be Hin Sithan.
He has tried to cover his past by writing a book blaming others.

Anonymous said...

To 7:55

There is one former Khmer Rouge on KI Media that's always said Hun Sen is Tevada from heaven.

He always proud of his leader that responsible for killing 1.7 million innocent Khmer peoples in Cambodia.

This stupid guy is sick and needs a lot of help.

Anonymous said...

Bang Hin Sithan was an army officer of Lon Nol regime. His group was almost killed by Khmer rouge. He fled Cambodia since 1974. We must give him his justice OK

Anonymous said...

Ta Hin Sithan should be calld to testify. Most teachers were KR in his generation.

Anonymous said...

10:21 AM,

You're a real liar, young kid from New Viet school in Phnom Penh, by refering to an ex-prostitute Reach Bun Ho who did kill her own husband, and an in-law with Ah Nuon Chea. Her son married Nuon Chea's niece in 1993. So she's 100%Khmer Rouge. And she did try to blame on somebody else. She did not keep her stinky mouth shut up while living under KR. She boasted that her husband was a major general. A prothean Neary named Rieab, in Wat Kor, reported that. And Moul Sam Bath,order her husband killed. OK.

Anonymous said...

Wow, very interesting shot.
Summond Noun Chea's niece, and Ta Hin Sithan to testify. Let them tell us what happened back then.

Anonymous said...

Hang this old bitch now.

Anonymous said...

10:17 AM

Hin Sithan never had been Commandoes or officer army of Lon Nol within a sigle day or an hour.

Hin Sithan, were one of the dumbest xschool teacher in Lycée Battambang who joined Khmer Rouge in 1968 after an incident in Samlaut in 1967. His Khmer Rouge Leader Number 2 Nuon Chea is related to his Siam’s wife according to a Lady in Tacoma's information they know who he really is.

Hin Sithan has proved again and again, that Hin Sithan devoted himself indoctinated by Marx, Engel, Lenin, Mao and Ho and joined with his Khmer Rouge leader number 2 Rat Samoeun alias Nuon Chea whose related to his Siam's wife. That's why Hin Sithan was harboring with khmer rouge for self-defense and for radical hatred.

For Hin Sithan, the whole people in Tacoma know him and his family very well, that he were one of the Khmer Rouge in Battambang.

Anonymous said...

Ta Hin Sithan is being brainwashed by the Vietnamese Spy Ly Ngoc Dinh who seduced him to fight Khmers.

Ly Ngoc Dinh is well known by too many KK and Khmers around the world as is one of the Vietnamese spies. He was sent from Vietnam at a young age to live at Northern part of Cambodia, and Ly Ngoc Dinh was not alone that Vietnamese sent to Cambodia.

Ta Hin Sithan should have stopped persecuting his own people following the Vienamese spy Ly Ngoc Dinh. He should be a good role model to us new generation, if he thinks he can be.

Taking an advise from the Vietnamese spies like Ly Ngoc Dinh is only hurting our own community more and hurting his own image.

More and more Kaun Khmers around the world know about Ly Ngoc Dinh, called Ly Diep and Ly Anthony one person is not real Khmer Krom.

Anonymous said...

My loving Khmer people.

We must observe and be careful how we commit ourselves. Let tyrants fear but we must behave ourselves as noble people of Khmer Varaman Kings, under God, and place our strengths and safeguard in the loyal hearts and goodwill of our good loving people.

We all together at this time not for our "disunity" but being resolved in the middle of our battle against our enemyy who have deeply invaded inside our Kingdom for centuries.

To live or die among us all, to lay down for our God for our Kingdom and for our people, our honors and our blood even in the dust, we must unite and leave the past behind.

We now have a small Kingdom left for us but we have the hearts and stomach of great warriors, and the tyrants should dare not to invade the borders of our Kingdom.

Multiple souls of Varaman Kings are in ours.