U.N. BACKED COURT CONVICTS KHMER ROUGE PRISON COMMANDANT7/27/2010
Originally Posted at: http://www.rfkcenter.org/node/530
The RFK Center for Justice & Human Rights recognizes the significance of the guilty verdict by the UN-backed court in Cambodia against Duch, the commandant of Toul Sleng prison. We consider it as one step closer to recovery and reconciliation of a society traumatized by the horrors of war. Duch was convicted of crimes against humanity for overseeing the killing and torture of more than 14,000 people at the notorious Khmer Rouge prison.
However, the sentence of 35 years and its subsequent reduction to 19 years for such unspeakable crimes may not adequately hold accountable someone who was most responsible for what has come to be known as "the killing fields." RFK Center's partner in Cambodia, Theary Seng, reacted to the decision with mixed emotions. Here is what she said:
On 26 July 2010, the Extraordinary Chambers (informally, the Khmer Rouge Tribunal) convicted the former director of the notorious Tuol Sleng torture center, Comrade Duch, for crimes against humanity in the sadistic murders of at least 14,000 Cambodians including a handful of foreigners and sentenced him to 35 years of imprisonment. The conviction marked a milestone for Cambodians after having waited some 30 years for some form of credible justice.
However, many Cambodian survivors, including myself, viewed the sentencing to be too lenient and incompehensible in light of the enormity of his crimes. After the Extraordinary Chambers deducted 5 years for his cooperation and 11 years for the illegal pre-Extraordinary Chambers detention in a military prison from the 35 years, the victims are left with Comrade Duch effectively receiving 11 hours of imprisonment for each live he brutally murdered.
Up until this puzzling verdict, we Cambodians have been viewing the Extraordinary Chambers as a very powerful catalyst in breaking the silence of our past 30 years and transitioning us into a culture of dialogue and memorializing. However, this lenient verdict has taken the air out of us and broken the momentum in our stride toward a more fuller justice of both legal accountability and just peace. We will need to regain our composure and faith very quickly from this setback in order to concentrate on the larger picture, which is the demand for the quick start of the "senior Khmer Rouge leaders" in Case 002. Case 001 regarding Comrade Duch is significant in familiarizing us Cambodians with the Extraordinary Chambers and in this regards, it was a test-run for the heart of the matter - the trial of the Senior Khmer Rouge leaders. Duch was only one director of one Khmer Rouge detention center. During the Khmer Rouge regime, there existed at least 200 other detention centers and thousands of "killiing fields"; he was not a "senior" Khmer Rouge leader and should not be the sole scapegoat of this murderous, genocidal regime.
His conviction on 26 July 2010 is a very good start, even if disappointing in terms of the light sentencing; but it is only a start in the legal process as well as the journey of healing. The heart of the Extraordinary Chambers is the anticipated trial of the Senior Khmer Rouge leaders in Case 002, which we must advocate for it to happen quickly before they die of old age, ill health and/or from more invidious political interests.
However, the sentence of 35 years and its subsequent reduction to 19 years for such unspeakable crimes may not adequately hold accountable someone who was most responsible for what has come to be known as "the killing fields." RFK Center's partner in Cambodia, Theary Seng, reacted to the decision with mixed emotions. Here is what she said:
On 26 July 2010, the Extraordinary Chambers (informally, the Khmer Rouge Tribunal) convicted the former director of the notorious Tuol Sleng torture center, Comrade Duch, for crimes against humanity in the sadistic murders of at least 14,000 Cambodians including a handful of foreigners and sentenced him to 35 years of imprisonment. The conviction marked a milestone for Cambodians after having waited some 30 years for some form of credible justice.
However, many Cambodian survivors, including myself, viewed the sentencing to be too lenient and incompehensible in light of the enormity of his crimes. After the Extraordinary Chambers deducted 5 years for his cooperation and 11 years for the illegal pre-Extraordinary Chambers detention in a military prison from the 35 years, the victims are left with Comrade Duch effectively receiving 11 hours of imprisonment for each live he brutally murdered.
Up until this puzzling verdict, we Cambodians have been viewing the Extraordinary Chambers as a very powerful catalyst in breaking the silence of our past 30 years and transitioning us into a culture of dialogue and memorializing. However, this lenient verdict has taken the air out of us and broken the momentum in our stride toward a more fuller justice of both legal accountability and just peace. We will need to regain our composure and faith very quickly from this setback in order to concentrate on the larger picture, which is the demand for the quick start of the "senior Khmer Rouge leaders" in Case 002. Case 001 regarding Comrade Duch is significant in familiarizing us Cambodians with the Extraordinary Chambers and in this regards, it was a test-run for the heart of the matter - the trial of the Senior Khmer Rouge leaders. Duch was only one director of one Khmer Rouge detention center. During the Khmer Rouge regime, there existed at least 200 other detention centers and thousands of "killiing fields"; he was not a "senior" Khmer Rouge leader and should not be the sole scapegoat of this murderous, genocidal regime.
His conviction on 26 July 2010 is a very good start, even if disappointing in terms of the light sentencing; but it is only a start in the legal process as well as the journey of healing. The heart of the Extraordinary Chambers is the anticipated trial of the Senior Khmer Rouge leaders in Case 002, which we must advocate for it to happen quickly before they die of old age, ill health and/or from more invidious political interests.
16 comments:
i agree. it's a step foward toward the much needed healing and reconciliation process, etc... don't hold your breath, yet; there's still ieng sary, khiev samphan and that she-devil KR head of social affair. they will be next, my dear! god bless cambodia.
Brilliant! I agree. Keep up the good work Theary. And many thanks for your hard work. God Bless.
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Effort to bring Khmer Rouges to justice appear to be useless when a verdict such as the one was just given. This verdict is an insulting message to all Khmer victims. When crimes is the norm of the culture and the result is the path on back...
I don't defend Duch but I want to understand,
Duch should kill himself or ask his boss to kill him at that time to be NOT guilty ?
How Duch could do to be not guilty ?
From 1975 to 1979, the word "NO" didn't exist at all, you do the job or I kill you.
Make ah chin ( China )and ah youn ( Vietnam )pay for their unspeakable crimes in Cambodia by denouncing their Communist Regime and pay $100 millions a year to all living Cambodian. Then the justice will be served.
In the US, you can't or it is impossible to prosecute high ranking Admin. official. But, that is the justic in the US.
Do you know the US is not a member of International Court ? Because they don't want their leaders to be prosecuted !!!!
I think therefore I undoubtedly believe Comrade Duch is not fairly deserved his sentence, because he is not Brother #1, #2, #3, so on, such as Noun Chea, Khiev Samphon, Ieng Sary..., alas! SihanoukVarman! And these high rank CPPers....SenVarman, Heng Samrin, Chea Sim, and many more. These former killers are walking laughly free.
In order to be justically fair, they must internationally bring into justice as Comrade Duch!
Theary Seng really is a good speaker for justice for the Cambodian people. She is also really a good fighter for what is right. I completely and totally agreed with her.
Good job, Theary! Keep going. There is lots of people behind you in the United States.
"I don't defend Duch but I want to understand,
Duch should kill himself or ask his boss to kill him at that time to be NOT guilty ?
How Duch could do to be not guilty ?
From 1975 to 1979, the word "NO" didn't exist at all, you do the job or I kill you.
6:14 PM"
6:14PM! in the norm of humanbeing in any religion and human traditional NO MAM HAVE THE RIGHT TO KILLE OTHER FOR THEIR OWN SURVIVAL! NO justify to take other live to save your own!
If we thing like you the hold world would open game for human hunting!!!!!
And we open up for EVILs to take over the world!
19years left. And there were 14000 people died by his hands.
So 19 X 14000=266000 years for his jail time.
Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime
Members:
Pol Pot
Nuon Chea
Ieng Sary
Ta Mok
Khieu Samphan
Son Sen
Ieng Thearith
Kang Guek Eav
Chea Sim
Heng Samrin
Hor Namhong
Keat Chhon
Ouk Bunchhoeun
Sim Ka
Hun Sen...
Committed:
Tortures
Brutality
Executions
Massacres
Mass Murder
Genocide
Atrocities
Crimes Against Humanity
Starvations
Slavery
Force Labour
Overwork to Death
Human Abuses
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime
Members:
Hun Sen
Chea Sim
Heng Samrin
Hor Namhong
Keat Chhon
Ouk Bunchhoeun
Sim Ka...
Committed:
Attempted Murders
Attempted Murder on Chea Vichea
Attempted Assassinations
Attempted Assassination on Sam Rainsy
Assassinations
Assassinated Journalists
Assassinated Political Opponents
Assassinated Leaders of the Free Trade Union
Assassinated over 80 members of Sam Rainsy Party.
Sam Rainsy LIC 31 October 2009 - Cairo, Egypt
"As of today, over eighty members of my party have been assassinated. Countless others have been injured, arrested, jailed, or forced to go into hiding or into exile."
Executions
Executed over 100 members of FUNCINPEC Party
Murders
Murdered 3 Leaders of the Free Trade Union
Murdered Chea Vichea
Murdered Ros Sovannareth
Murdered Hy Vuthy
Murdered 10 Journalists
Murdered Khim Sambo
Murdered Khim Sambo's son
Murdered members of Sam Rainsy Party.
Murdered activists of Sam Rainsy Party
Murdered Innocent Men
Murdered Innocent Women
Murdered Innocent Children
Killed Innocent Khmer Peoples.
Extrajudicial Execution
Grenade Attack
Terrorism
Drive by Shooting
Brutalities
Police Brutality Against Monks
Police Brutality Against Evictees
Tortures
Intimidations
Death Threats
Threatening
Human Abductions
Human Abuses
Human Rights Abuses
Human Trafficking
Drugs Trafficking
Under Age Child Sex
Corruptions
Bribery
Embezzlement
Treason
Border Encroachment, allow Vietnam to encroaching into Cambodia.
Signed away our territories to Vietnam; Koh Tral, almost half of our ocean territory oil field and others.
Illegal Arrest
Illegal Mass Evictions
Illegal Land Grabbing
Illegal Firearms
Illegal Logging
Illegal Deforestation
Illegally use of remote detonate bomb on Sokha Helicopter, while Hok Lundy and other military officials were on board.
Lightning strike many airplanes, but did not fall from the sky. Lightning strike out side of airplane and discharge electricity to ground.
Source: Lightning, Discovery Channel
Illegally Sold State Properties
Illegally Removed Parliamentary Immunity of Parliament Members
Plunder National Resources
Acid Attacks
Turn Cambodia into a Lawless Country.
Oppression
Injustice
Steal Votes
Bring Foreigners from Vietnam to vote in Cambodia for Cambodian People's Party.
Use Dead people's names to vote for Cambodian People's Party.
Disqualified potential Sam Rainsy Party's voters.
Abuse the Court as a tools for CPP to send political opponents and journalists to jail.
Abuse of Power
Abuse the Laws
Abuse the National Election Committee
Abuse the National Assembly
Violate the Laws
Violate the Constitution
Violate the Paris Accords
Impunity
Persecution
Unlawful Detention
Death in custody.
Under the Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime, no criminals that has been committed crimes against journalists, political opponents, leaders of the Free Trade Union, innocent men, women and children have ever been brought to justice.
Which one of these Khmer Rouge(s) list below is a prison chief of Boeung Trabek prison?
a) Pol Pot
b) Nuon Chea
c) Ta Mok
d) Khieu Samphan
e) Son Sen
f) Kang Guek Eav
g) Ieng Sary
h) Ieng Thearith
i) Chea Sim
j) Heng Samrin
k) HOR NAMHONG
l) Keat Chhon
m) Ouk Bunchhoeun
n) Sim Ka
o) Hun Sen
Source:
DC-CAM
Fact:
During the Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime;
There are 196 prisons.
There are 196 prison chiefs.
There are 1.7 million innocent Khmer peoples killed by the Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime.
Democratic Kampuchea Pol Pot Khmer Rouge Regime's leaders and members:
Pol Pot
Nuon Chea
Ieng Sary
Ta Mok
Khieu Samphan
Son Sen
Ieng Thearith
Kang Guek Eav
Chea Sim
Heng Samrin
Hor Namhong
Keat Chhon
Ouk Bunchhoeun
Sim Ka
Hun Sen...
Kang Guek Eav is a prison chief of Toul Sleng prison.
The UN back Khmer Rouge Tribunal court (EEEC) must indict 195 other prison chiefs.
"I will not allow the UN back Khmer Rouge Tribunal court (EEEC) to indict more Khmer Rouge Regime leaders, I rather let the court fail."
"Indict more Khmer Rouge Regime's leaders will lead the country into a civil war."
Sammaak Mirt Hun Sen
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime's leaders
Sammaak Mirt Hun Sen will no allow the UN back Khmer Rouge Tribunal court (EEEC) to indict more Khmer Rouge Regime leaders who is responsible for killing 1.7 million innocent Khmer peoples.
Sammaak Mirt Hun Sen threaten to turn Cambodia into the Killing Fields all over again.
War with whom?
War with innocent Khmer peoples without weapon?
Once a Khmer Rouge, always a Khmer Rouge.
Khmer Rouge(s) continue to kill innocent Khmer peoples.
Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen Khmer Rouge Regime's leaders and members:
Hun Sen
Chea Sim
Heng Samrin
Hor Namhong
Keat Chhon
Ouk Bunchhoeun
Sim Ka...
"Duch (Kang Guek Eav) 19 years sentence is too short and not fit his crimes."
Sammaak Mirt Hor Namhong
Prison Chief of Boeung Trabek prison
What's Hor Namhong trying to do is, he want the whole world to know that he is not a Khmer Rouge and a prison chief of Boeung Trabek prison.
Hor Namhong is a prison chief of Boeung Trabek prison.
Source: Phnom Penh Post
Hor Namhong said to the French judge that he is not a prison chief of Boeung Trabek prison, in fact members of his family was killed by Khmer Rouge(s).
Hor Namhong can lies all he want, at the end, he got summoned and will get indict, prosecute, convict and sentence.
Criminals likes to lies.
The place where criminals lies the most is inside the court room in front of the judge(s).
politic as usual! if you want real justice, bring on sihanouk! he had betrayed the country and the people he called "HIS"!
My question is why do they need a trial run anyway before putting the more senior leaders on the stand?
Or is it because Cambodian justice system is too primitive, ill equipped to handle multiple trials at once?
The old farts senior KR members are really getting away with muder the longer it takes to put them on trial.
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