The World Today - Monday, 13 March , 2006 12:21:00
Reporter: Peter Lloyd
ELEANOR HALL: The Hague's main war crime trial may have come to an abrupt end with the death of Slobodan Milosevic, but half a world away the United Nations is about to embark on another major genocide prosecution.
During the 1970s, more than two million Cambodians died of torture, starvation and disease under the regime of Pol Pot, in what became known as the "Asian holocaust".
No member of the Khmer Rouge regime has ever been tried and many Pol Pot henchmen have been living as free citizens in Cambodia.
But now the Cambodian Government and the United Nations are about to set up a court that will attempt to bring some justice to ordinary Cambodians.
South East Asia Correspondent Peter Lloyd reports.
PETER LLOYD: After so many false dawns you'd be forgiven for thinking the Khmer Rouge war crimes trials would simply never happen. For years, Cambodia's current strongman leader, Prime Minister Hun Sen, dragged his feet, for fear of disturbing old wounds in what remains a desperately fragile society. But the victims of Pol Pot have refused to stay silent and their demand for justice, it seems, will finally be heard.
(sound of woman speaking)
This woman stood at the top of a mass grave, with tears streaming down her face, as she recounted her personal loss.
"I have nothing," she said. "No father, no mother, no brothers. I am alone."
The Khmer Rouge trials in Cambodia are a joint venture between the Cambodian Government and the United Nations. It will cost more than $70-million and run for three years.
Michelle Lee is from the UN side.
MICHELLE LEE: We are finally here to assist. A process will start soon. Truth, hopefully, will be established through the process. The certain measure of justice will be done. It will not be a perfect justice.
PETER LLOYD: Cambodia inherited its legal system from their French colonial masters. This means a lengthy investigation phase followed by a series of short, sharp court appearances.
Trials will be presided over by three Cambodian and two international judges sitting jointly. Verdicts must be unanimous or a so-called "super majority" of the Cambodians and at least one foreign judge.
Sean Visoth from the Cambodian side.
SEAN VISOTH: We are well aware about weaknesses of our legal and judiciary system. You see, that's why we seek international participation to meet international standard, and in this case it's the assistance from the United Nations.
(sound of music from old film)
PETER LLOYD: This mournful tune is from an old film about atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge. Almost every single Cambodian family lost a relative during their mad, bad days in power, yet not a single regime official has ever faced justice.
Pol Pot himself escaped prosecution when he died mysteriously in the jungle back in 1998. His surviving henchmen are now old and mostly living as free men.
Thirty years after they took the clock back to year zero, their days of liberty are finally coming to an end.
In Phnom Penh, this is Peter Lloyd reporting for The World Today.
During the 1970s, more than two million Cambodians died of torture, starvation and disease under the regime of Pol Pot, in what became known as the "Asian holocaust".
No member of the Khmer Rouge regime has ever been tried and many Pol Pot henchmen have been living as free citizens in Cambodia.
But now the Cambodian Government and the United Nations are about to set up a court that will attempt to bring some justice to ordinary Cambodians.
South East Asia Correspondent Peter Lloyd reports.
PETER LLOYD: After so many false dawns you'd be forgiven for thinking the Khmer Rouge war crimes trials would simply never happen. For years, Cambodia's current strongman leader, Prime Minister Hun Sen, dragged his feet, for fear of disturbing old wounds in what remains a desperately fragile society. But the victims of Pol Pot have refused to stay silent and their demand for justice, it seems, will finally be heard.
(sound of woman speaking)
This woman stood at the top of a mass grave, with tears streaming down her face, as she recounted her personal loss.
"I have nothing," she said. "No father, no mother, no brothers. I am alone."
The Khmer Rouge trials in Cambodia are a joint venture between the Cambodian Government and the United Nations. It will cost more than $70-million and run for three years.
Michelle Lee is from the UN side.
MICHELLE LEE: We are finally here to assist. A process will start soon. Truth, hopefully, will be established through the process. The certain measure of justice will be done. It will not be a perfect justice.
PETER LLOYD: Cambodia inherited its legal system from their French colonial masters. This means a lengthy investigation phase followed by a series of short, sharp court appearances.
Trials will be presided over by three Cambodian and two international judges sitting jointly. Verdicts must be unanimous or a so-called "super majority" of the Cambodians and at least one foreign judge.
Sean Visoth from the Cambodian side.
SEAN VISOTH: We are well aware about weaknesses of our legal and judiciary system. You see, that's why we seek international participation to meet international standard, and in this case it's the assistance from the United Nations.
(sound of music from old film)
PETER LLOYD: This mournful tune is from an old film about atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge. Almost every single Cambodian family lost a relative during their mad, bad days in power, yet not a single regime official has ever faced justice.
Pol Pot himself escaped prosecution when he died mysteriously in the jungle back in 1998. His surviving henchmen are now old and mostly living as free men.
Thirty years after they took the clock back to year zero, their days of liberty are finally coming to an end.
In Phnom Penh, this is Peter Lloyd reporting for The World Today.
No comments:
Post a Comment