By Guy Taylor
World Politics Review
The start of a U.N.-backed war crimes trial for the four surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge may finally set the stage for Cambodia to bring real closure to the graphic horrors it suffered during the latter half of the 20th century.
"The trial is highly important in terms of Cambodian culture," says Luke Hunt, a World Politics Review contributor and freelance journalist who has covered Cambodia and greater Asia for the past three decades.
"I've spoken to many Khmers who believe in the total cathartic experience of seeing their tormentors put in the dock and their personalities laid bare along with their actions," Hunt told Trend Lines in an email interview this morning.
The Khmer Rouge caused the death of more than 2 million Cambodians during the late-1970s under the leadership of deceased leader Pol Pot, according to statements made to the war crimes court established in Phnom Penh.
The four on trial now are Khieu Samphan, who served as president under Pol Pot; Ieng Sary, who was foreign minister, and his wife Ieng Thirith, who was social action minister; and Nuon Chea, who was Pol Pot's deputy. The youngest of the accused is 79 years old, so convictions would probably be most meaningful to Cambodia's elderly.
But, said Hunt, the trial has global significance. Convictions after so many years would underscore the internationally backed message to "despotic fanatics who murder and maim by the thousands -- in the case of the Khmer Rouge it was actually millions -- that we will come after you," he said.
Efforts to punish war crimes elsewhere in the world have progressively reinforced that message. "Success may have been mixed, but from the Balkans to Rwanada and now, finally, Cambodia, the world is saying, You can't do this with impunity and simply think you will walk away and retire with your family and friends," said Hunt.
However, while the initial trial of Cambodia's tribunal last year resulted in a 35-year sentence for Khmer Rouge prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch, the road to convictions in the cases that opened yesterday is not without obstacles. All four on trial plan to plead not guilty, said Hunt, who noted that the gap of more than 30 years between the trial and the alleged crimes puts a burden on prosecutors trying to draw evidence from crime sites "scattered across the remote countryside and tainted by human intervention and decades of tropical weather."
"The number of crimes, victims and witnesses are also immense," he said. "More than 3,800 civil parties -- that's victims seeking reparations -- have been admitted to the court, and there are 450,000 pages of evidence that will attempt to connect crimes with the Khmer Rouge's policies."
Furthermore, some watch groups accuse Cambodia's present government of tampering with the court to prevent future charges against lesser Khmer Rouge figures. But Hunt called such allegations "overblown."
"The reality is that this tribunal could not have occurred, in fact no war crimes tribunal can proceed, without the government of the day being proactive," he said. "Ten years ago, few believed these tribunals would occur, and now they are up and running and have surpassed many expectations."
Luke Hunt has written several articles for World Politics Review on the Khmer Rouge tribunal and a variety of other topics in Southeast Asia.
2 comments:
yes, the KR tribunal will ignite a huge change in cambodia, believe it or not. i mean changes khmer people from all walks of life will trust in, will have confidence with, etc, for it will bring hope, healing, education, etc... it bring make people and gov't reform and think about what the good or bad thing they did to the country and our khmer people. i think it will bring in a positive, lasting change that will prevent such catastrophe from happening again in cambodia because it will create the rule of law society in cambodia and make all dishonest leaders responsible under their watch, etc...
Mr Sam Rainsy, Why don't you sue PM Hun Sen as you promise to us Cambodian people and your true supporters?
Are you tried to bargain or negotiate with PM Hun Sen again like 2005 lawsuit at America??? Why?? Why??
We want to see Mr Sam Rainsy act as he said to sue PM Hun Sen in every democracy Countries court of justice around the world.
We want the results as transparency, from your progress in suing PM Hun Sen in every court of justices!!!
We are Cambodian people afraid that you are just using the lawsuit to scare PM Hun Sen than when PM Hun Sen gives you (Mr Sam Rainsy) green light. You again, hang your Lawsuit like 2005.
Mr Sam Rainsy, You must do as you said, otherwise you the same as Mr Kim Soka.
Mr Sam Rainsy, where are your law suit VS Hun SEn in America Court of justice? We want to see and hear the stories transparency because we afraid that you are just try to bargain with Hun Sen like 2005 again.
We Cambodian people as well as your supporters are waiting to see your real action in suing PM Hun Sen (In America Court of justice, all countries’ court of justice in Europe, Japan Court of justice, Australia Court of justice, New Zealand court of justice, Canada court of Justice, UN court of justice, World Human Right court of justice, NATO court of justice…) as you Mr Sam Rainsy said.
Mr Sam Rainsy must do as you said OK. Don’t you dare to bargain with PM Hun Sen like 2005 again?
May be you can’t be Prime Minister of Cambodia because of unfair election as 5-6 million Vietnamese votes for Hun Sen and Hun Sen add up his cheating skill in every election but you can be a great Khmer Hero by suing PM Hun Sen about the facts that he has done to Cambodia and Cambodian people so far.
If you Can’t be Prime Miniter due unfair election all the times but Mr Sam Rainsy, you can gives a great stain to PM Hun Sen and CPP Vietnam slave about their crimes against Cambodian people since 1970 until today.
Mr Sam Rainsy What are you waiting for, sir ? PLease do it for the khmer victims and khmer nation ?
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