Former monarch Norodom SihanoukCambodia's former king Norodom Sihanouk said in a statement released Monday that he was willing to testify before the UN-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal, despite his criticism of the court.
"I do not lack the courage to testify before the tribunal," he wrote in a statement dated Saturday that was published on his website.
"My family, my wife's family and many other people who supported me were tortured and killed by Khmer Rouge," he said.
Sihanouk, who quit the throne in 2004 but still wields considerable influence in his country, said last week that he opposed the tribunal because it would not prosecute all of those responsible for the Khmer Rouge atrocities.
The former monarch has in the past both supported and condemned the tribunal, saying in 2004 that he would testify at the proceedings, but a year later calling the legal efforts a "comedy and a hypocrisy".
The long-awaited tribunal to try former Khmer Rouge leaders finally got under way this month, 27 years after the fall of the ultra-Maoist regime blamed for the deaths of up to two million people.
Prosecutors began their investigations last week but the first trials are not expected until mid-2007.
Up to two million people were executed or died of starvation and overwork in Cambodia between 1975 and 1979, when Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge attempted to impose an agrarian utopia, forcing millions into the countryside.
Pol Pot died in 1998. Surviving members of the regime — including his top deputy Nuon Chea, former head of state Khieu Samphan and ex-foreign minister Ieng Sary — are in their 70s and 80s, prompting fears that they could die before facing justice.
AFP
"I do not lack the courage to testify before the tribunal," he wrote in a statement dated Saturday that was published on his website.
"My family, my wife's family and many other people who supported me were tortured and killed by Khmer Rouge," he said.
Sihanouk, who quit the throne in 2004 but still wields considerable influence in his country, said last week that he opposed the tribunal because it would not prosecute all of those responsible for the Khmer Rouge atrocities.
The former monarch has in the past both supported and condemned the tribunal, saying in 2004 that he would testify at the proceedings, but a year later calling the legal efforts a "comedy and a hypocrisy".
The long-awaited tribunal to try former Khmer Rouge leaders finally got under way this month, 27 years after the fall of the ultra-Maoist regime blamed for the deaths of up to two million people.
Prosecutors began their investigations last week but the first trials are not expected until mid-2007.
Up to two million people were executed or died of starvation and overwork in Cambodia between 1975 and 1979, when Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge attempted to impose an agrarian utopia, forcing millions into the countryside.
Pol Pot died in 1998. Surviving members of the regime — including his top deputy Nuon Chea, former head of state Khieu Samphan and ex-foreign minister Ieng Sary — are in their 70s and 80s, prompting fears that they could die before facing justice.
AFP
6 comments:
I do not think that you should be exampted from the trial. You was the great leader of this killing movement from 1070-1976. Even you have resigned 1976, but you were part of this movernment because they pay you, your retirement pension.
I felt so pain with you. Your leadership of killing field has made so misery with my whole family. I require you to shut up. You can only cause misery to your epople then help them for propsperity.
Ah KING FATHER kralej kraloj nas'
joeu vea keut te
proaus vea jea MEA KHEAD KOR somlap' pol road khmer 1.7 million naek pi chhnam 1975-1979
It's about time for him to confess from what he was done to our peoples. Sihanouk was and is the one whom has blood stain on his hand since before 1970 until now. He is Sadam Husein senior, he painted all the color to the everyone he did not like and arrested them killed them. He is Kim illjong puppet and Chinese pet and Vietnamese best friend. I love to see him go to jail in his age. Go to hell basted!!!.
Here comes the real star! Get a real good lawyer.You will be alright.
I'm just mighty glad that you quited in 1976. Our country's darkness just wasn't seemed to be under your leadership.
I told myself over and over, a great number of times when my family and I were told to leave our home. It couldn't be you. No!
Good luck & best wishes King!
Dear ALL,
i understand all your guy feels, but to me it is about the nature of human being.... if you are the father now.... you will understand..... there were son in your family does not listen to you........ he become gang.. he addict to drug.... then they all will not listen to your advise..... what will you do? torture them?
i believe, it is the same thing happen to him, as father of 11 million people..... his elder son does not listen to his advise.....what can he do? purnish them? no there were all with power.. they all not listen to him... at the end, you all should sit down and listen to his explanatio.... i think we all knew only 40% of the whole story.....i more than anyone else is interested about what went wrong after 1970?
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