Im Chem in 2001 (Photo: LD, Cambodge Soir Hebdo archive)02 October 2009
By A.L.G.
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French
The French daily newspaper “Le Monde” claimed that the Trapaing Tav deputy commune chief is one of the suspects under investigation in “Case No. 3”.
The KR Tribunal office of public affairs did not want to confirm whether an investigation is being conducted on Im Chem, the former KR district chief between 1978 and 1979.
“The list of suspects included in the request made by the international co-prosecutor, was not made available to the public. All the names that are being circulated in Cambodia and in the international news media are based only on speculations,” Lars Olsen, the officer of the KRT public affairs office, indicated on Friday 02 October.
On Wednesday 30 September, the French daily newspaper “Le Monde” reported in its article titled: “Cambodia: An ex-KR claims the right to be forgotten”, and sub-titled “ Im Chem, a provincial cadre, is one of the accused in the trial for crimes committed by the Pol Pot regime.”
Last week, Voice of America also appears to indicate that an investigation was conducted against Im Chem.
On Wednesday 02 September, the KRT announced that the request made by former co-prosecutor Robert Petit to bring new charges was accepted. Chea Leang, the Cambodian co-prosecutor, opposed such request, but she did not succeed in finding a 4-voice majority to overrule Robert Petit’s request.
Five former KR leaders are currently brought in to face charges by the KRT: Duch who is involved in “Case No. 1” for crimes committed at S-21; Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith, Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan are involved in “Case No. 2”. Five other suspects are pursued for involvement in “Case No. 3”.
Im Chem was sent from Takeo to Preah Net Preah district, located near the Thai border, following the rise to power of the Democratic Kampuchea (KR) regime, to lead a group of about 1,000 families living there. Following the fall of Phnom Penh in 1979, she followed Ta Mok in the flight to Thailand where she was lodged in a refugee camp. In 1991, Ta Monk named her village chief when Anlong Veng was taken back by the KR, she remained in that position until 1998. She is still a respected VIP in Trapaing Tav where she is currently the commune’s deputy-chief.
The KR Tribunal office of public affairs did not want to confirm whether an investigation is being conducted on Im Chem, the former KR district chief between 1978 and 1979.
“The list of suspects included in the request made by the international co-prosecutor, was not made available to the public. All the names that are being circulated in Cambodia and in the international news media are based only on speculations,” Lars Olsen, the officer of the KRT public affairs office, indicated on Friday 02 October.
On Wednesday 30 September, the French daily newspaper “Le Monde” reported in its article titled: “Cambodia: An ex-KR claims the right to be forgotten”, and sub-titled “ Im Chem, a provincial cadre, is one of the accused in the trial for crimes committed by the Pol Pot regime.”
Last week, Voice of America also appears to indicate that an investigation was conducted against Im Chem.
On Wednesday 02 September, the KRT announced that the request made by former co-prosecutor Robert Petit to bring new charges was accepted. Chea Leang, the Cambodian co-prosecutor, opposed such request, but she did not succeed in finding a 4-voice majority to overrule Robert Petit’s request.
Five former KR leaders are currently brought in to face charges by the KRT: Duch who is involved in “Case No. 1” for crimes committed at S-21; Ieng Sary, Ieng Thirith, Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan are involved in “Case No. 2”. Five other suspects are pursued for involvement in “Case No. 3”.
Im Chem was sent from Takeo to Preah Net Preah district, located near the Thai border, following the rise to power of the Democratic Kampuchea (KR) regime, to lead a group of about 1,000 families living there. Following the fall of Phnom Penh in 1979, she followed Ta Mok in the flight to Thailand where she was lodged in a refugee camp. In 1991, Ta Monk named her village chief when Anlong Veng was taken back by the KR, she remained in that position until 1998. She is still a respected VIP in Trapaing Tav where she is currently the commune’s deputy-chief.
5 comments:
Will the ECCC has power to summon the other involved such as Hun Sen, Hor 5 Hong, Sar Kheng, Heng Samrin, Chea Sim and Sihanouk? There won't be justice for Khmer people If these people can get away freely.
Don't worry brothers and sisters, what is done is done, I don't think that they can get away from any criminal acts. The bible says the "righteous will live forever and the wicked will pay the price", so I'm sure our khmer innocence souls will live forever, but these criminals won't last that long. Their time is limited for them and I'm sure they will pay the price that mean they will be burnt in hell forever!
To 7:05AM
The short answer is NO
Stop dreaming and rest assured that sooner or later the KARMA will catch up with those lowlife people.
Let us turn our attention to more pressing matters such as: poverty, injustice, border conflict with Siam/Annam, etc...
good comment 7:43am but you probably one of those killers kid so why you try to change the subject to avoid the charge.
7:05 and 7:25 you fit to be the leaders in Cambodia ,you both think straight,but afters all those old clowns miserably death .
My thought that the trial is not worth it. The faster it finished the better for Cambodia as whole. The way it's going right now it would serve more damage to our country and our people.
Please keep in mind that those who are serving in front line at Phreah Vihear are ex-Khmer Rouge's soldiers and relatives. They are fighting to preserve our border. Can we replace them all? After all they have right and say as we are, also.
Just my .02 cents.
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