Chum Mey (Photo: The New York Times)By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
12 January 2010
A survivor of the Khmer Rouge’s Tuol Sleng prison considers the formation of the UN-backed tribunal a bit of good luck, and says even if the court doesn’t bring full justice, it may bring enough.
“Although the tribunal can’t get 100 percent justice, I would accept even 50 percent,” said Chum Mey, one of the few survivors of the prison run by Kaing Kek Iev, or Duch.
The trial for Duch in his role as administrator of Tuol Sleng and other facilities concluded in October, with a verdict expected soon. Duch and four senior regime leaders will go on trial for atrocity crimes as early as this year.
Speaking as a guest on “Hello VOA” Monday, Chum Mey said the court provided a historical lesson that could prevent other atrocities like those committed by the Khmer Rouge. However, he warned, people need to participate.
“How can we get 100 percent if there are those who do not open their mouths to speak, open their mouths to tell the truth?” asked Chum Mey, 78, who recently stared the Khmer Rouge Victims Association.
The association has 800 members who were victims of the regime, and he said he hopes to bring national healing and reconciliation to the country.
Around 7,000 victims have so far filed complaints and other briefs to the tribunal through its Victims Unit, but for the court to bring full justice for the atrocities of the regime would take years, Chum Mey said. “It’s impossible.”
“Just Duch so far, in how many years already?” he said. “It’s 30 years already.”
“Although the tribunal can’t get 100 percent justice, I would accept even 50 percent,” said Chum Mey, one of the few survivors of the prison run by Kaing Kek Iev, or Duch.
The trial for Duch in his role as administrator of Tuol Sleng and other facilities concluded in October, with a verdict expected soon. Duch and four senior regime leaders will go on trial for atrocity crimes as early as this year.
Speaking as a guest on “Hello VOA” Monday, Chum Mey said the court provided a historical lesson that could prevent other atrocities like those committed by the Khmer Rouge. However, he warned, people need to participate.
“How can we get 100 percent if there are those who do not open their mouths to speak, open their mouths to tell the truth?” asked Chum Mey, 78, who recently stared the Khmer Rouge Victims Association.
The association has 800 members who were victims of the regime, and he said he hopes to bring national healing and reconciliation to the country.
Around 7,000 victims have so far filed complaints and other briefs to the tribunal through its Victims Unit, but for the court to bring full justice for the atrocities of the regime would take years, Chum Mey said. “It’s impossible.”
“Just Duch so far, in how many years already?” he said. “It’s 30 years already.”
6 comments:
one the UN courte get done with the 3 musketeers: ieng sary, kieu sampeung and noun chhoy and ieng sary "the whore"'s wife. the next convicted criminal would be sihaknouk, that make it fair for all khmer victims and survivor of polpot's horror regime.
Sihanouk did nothing, he was used by everyone.
He is a man, he was a politician, every politician wants the yellow chair.
You should be able to understand be politician is not guilty.
You are bad, you are guilty when you kill, you betray your country..
that's calls, justice of assassins
The court isn't done at Sihanouk. NO NO. Not until Hun Sen and his entourages Kit Chon and Vietnam go to court as well.
You are not alone Chum Mey,
De la dictature des Khmers rouges à l'occupation vietnamienne (Broché)
de Khun Ken (Auteur)
thank M Bernard Hamel
I think Chum Mei was a revolutionary who was in the wrong side.
I want to know, how many Khmers Phnom Penh did Chum Mei had killed ?
I hope you understand how Khmers Phnom penh feel.
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