NATALIE AKOORIE
Waikato Times (New Zealand)
A Te Pahu man whose brother was murdered by the Khmer Rouge is calling on expatriate Cambodians to file complaints in a civil court action over the case.
Olympic rower Rob Hamill's older brother Kerry was abducted by the Khmer Rouge in 1978 when his yacht strayed into Cambodian waters, and taken prisoner at Toul Sleng prison in Phnom Penh, where he was tortured and murdered.
Rob Hamill is a civil party to a case against five people thought to be under investigation by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for his killing, and other war crimes.
Though the names of those being investigated have not been made public, Mr Hamill believes two of them are military commanders Meas Muth and Sou Met, whom he has accused of crimes against humanity.
His claims against the pair include allegations of forced transfer, imprisonment (including severe deprivation of physical liberty), enslavement, torture, murder, and other inhumane acts.
Mr Hamill has called on expats who were victims of war crimes to file complaints with the court by May 18, after two investigating judges closed investigations into the civil case.
"Rather than ramp up the investigations on behalf of the millions of victims, and despite a mountain of evidence, it seems the (judges') response to our applications is to cease any further inquiries into the heinous crimes these people committed," Mr Hamill said.
"It makes me wonder how much political influence is being wielded in Cambodia, and what do the court's funders think of the situation."
Mr Hamill said with the deadline for applications to the court eight days away, he was concerned people were not aware of their rights.
"It should be the court's obligation to inform victims about the deadline from the date of closing investigations," he said.
"If ever there was a time for the expat Cambodian community to speak up, then this is it. Whether you live in Hamilton, New Zealand or London, England ... now is the time to make contact with the court in Cambodia and be heard."
The Victim Support Section (http://www.eccc.gov.kh/en/victims-support) is the body within the court that receives and processes victims' application forms.
For more information contact Mr Hamill at rob@wave.co.nz
3 comments:
Koh Tral Island must not be forgotten
By Ms. Rattana Keo
Why do Koh Tral Island, known in Vietnam as Phu Quoc, a sea and land area covering proximately over 30,000 km2 [Note: the actual land size of Koh Tral itself is 574 square kilometres (222 sq miles)] have been lost to Vietnam by whose treaty? Why don’t Cambodia government be transparent and explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 on the Thai border and what's about over 30,000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Koh Tral Island, the sea and land area of over 30,000 square kilometres have been lost to Vietnam by the 1979 to 1985 treaties. The Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protecting a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group but disguising as protecting the Khmer nation?
The Cambodian army at front lines suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition and their families have no health care assistance, no securities after they died but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning system with message from young girls, have first class medical care from oversea medical treatments, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make the Cambodian people suffer every day.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that resulted in the loss over 30,000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why they are not being transparent and brave enough to inform all Cambodians and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't they include Koh Tral (Koh Tral size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen and bigger than Singapore [Note: Singapore's present land size is 704 km2 (271.8 sq mi)]) with heap of great natural resources, in the Cambodian education system?
Look at Hun Sen's families, relatives and friends- they are billionaires, millionaires. Where did they get the money from when we all just got out of war with empty hands [in 1979]? Hun Sen always say in his speeches that Cambodia had just risen up from the ashes of war, just got up from Year Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% of innocent Cambodian people are so poor and struggling with their livelihood every day?
Koh Tral was a Cambodian island, and technically and legally, remained a Cambodian island until today.
Smart Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
The new policy of Hun Sen regime today is to kill all Ex Khmer Rouge because they are the true Khmer patriot that can be harmful to Hun Sen regime as Vietnam slave.
Hun Sen regime sends all Ex Khmer rouge soldiers to frontline fighting with Thai army without enough weapons and foods. Hun Sen ordered the front line army do not fire back to Thai Army while they bomb Ex Khmer Rouge over 50 000 shells. These actions are representing very clear that Hun Sen is trying to clear or kill all Ex Khmer Rouge army by using Thai hands.
The true and real Khmer patriots are the enemy of Hun Sen regime. Vietnam is scare of Ex Khmer Rouge Soldiers as they have been defeat Vietnam army (Over 100 000 Vietnam soldiers have been killed by EX Khmer Rouge Army in Cambodia. That is lead to Vietnam withdraw out of Cambodia) before 1993.
please help to make a real difference in cambodia. cambodia can use all the help we can get to find justice for all the KR victims, etc. god bless cambodia.
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