Cambodian journalists take pictures of an ambulance carrying the body of former Khmer Rouge leader Ta Mok in Phnom Penh. Ta Mok's death has dimmed hopes that a tribunal established to try former regime leaders will find justice for the victims of Cambodia's genocide.(AFP/TANG CHHIN)By Seth Meixner
PHNOM PENH (AFP) - The death of Khmer Rouge commander Ta Mok has dimmed hopes that a tribunal established to try former regime leaders will find justice for the victims of Cambodia's genocide, analysts said.
Ta Mok, one of only two top Khmer Rouge cadre in custody, died aged 80 early Friday after being admitted to hospital late last month with respiratory problems.
He was likely to have been the first person indicted in the tribunal, which got under way this month after nine years of sometimes hostile negotiations between the United Nations and Cambodia over the joint proceedings.
But even with prosecutors having started their investigations, Ta Mok's death underscored the need for swift justice, analysts said, warning that the aging former regime leaders could all go to their graves without standing before the court.
"We lost a key witness," Kek Galabru of the Cambodian human rights group Licadho, said of Ta Mok's death.
"If this tribunal takes too long, one-by-one they (Khmer Rouge cadre) will die and the dead cannot talk. ... We appeal for the trial to be sped up -- just do it quickly," she told AFP.
Ta Mok's death leaves only Duch, the director the Khmer Rouge's Tuol Sleng torture center, in custody on genocide charges, and it is unclear who else might be summoned to the tribunal.
Up to two million people were executed or died of starvation and overwork between 1975 and 1979 when the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, forced millions into the countryside in their attempt to create an agrarian utopia.
Pol Pot died in 1998 and surviving members of the regime, including 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 too could die before facing justice.
Preliminary investigations in the 56-million-dollar tribunal are expected to wrap up later this year, with trials to start in mid-2007.
Tribunal officials acknowledge that they lost key evidence with the death of Ta Mok, who was likely to have testified against other regime members, but maintain the credibility of the tribunal will not be hurt.
But genocide researcher Youk Chhang, whose Documentation Center of Cambodia has worked for years compiling evidence of Khmer Rouge atrocities, said Ta Mok's passing will cause Cambodians to call the process into question.
"Imagine what is going to happen to all the victims who have waited for so long -- Ta Mok died in hospital without a clear explanation about (what happened during the regime)," he said.
"It impacts the victims' perception of how much hope there is (for justice) ... it's not a good beginning at all."
Youk Chhang blamed investigators for not moving fast enough to secure key evidence, including testimony from former leaders.
"We have been listening to the victims for 28 years now ... investigators really need to move," he said.
All the surviving leaders have denied responsibility for the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge and have vowed to speak out in court, but have so far refused to shed any light on their role in the apocalypse that engulfed Cambodia.
Thun Saray, director of the Cambodian rights group Adhoc, said the government must take better care of ailing Khmer Rouge leaders, addressing concerns that Ta Mok should have been given medical treatment.
"We appeal to the government not to be careless anymore with the other leaders, because we could lose a lot of information," he said.
Ta Mok, one of only two top Khmer Rouge cadre in custody, died aged 80 early Friday after being admitted to hospital late last month with respiratory problems.
He was likely to have been the first person indicted in the tribunal, which got under way this month after nine years of sometimes hostile negotiations between the United Nations and Cambodia over the joint proceedings.
But even with prosecutors having started their investigations, Ta Mok's death underscored the need for swift justice, analysts said, warning that the aging former regime leaders could all go to their graves without standing before the court.
"We lost a key witness," Kek Galabru of the Cambodian human rights group Licadho, said of Ta Mok's death.
"If this tribunal takes too long, one-by-one they (Khmer Rouge cadre) will die and the dead cannot talk. ... We appeal for the trial to be sped up -- just do it quickly," she told AFP.
Ta Mok's death leaves only Duch, the director the Khmer Rouge's Tuol Sleng torture center, in custody on genocide charges, and it is unclear who else might be summoned to the tribunal.
Up to two million people were executed or died of starvation and overwork between 1975 and 1979 when the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, forced millions into the countryside in their attempt to create an agrarian utopia.
Pol Pot died in 1998 and surviving members of the regime, including 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 too could die before facing justice.
Preliminary investigations in the 56-million-dollar tribunal are expected to wrap up later this year, with trials to start in mid-2007.
Tribunal officials acknowledge that they lost key evidence with the death of Ta Mok, who was likely to have testified against other regime members, but maintain the credibility of the tribunal will not be hurt.
But genocide researcher Youk Chhang, whose Documentation Center of Cambodia has worked for years compiling evidence of Khmer Rouge atrocities, said Ta Mok's passing will cause Cambodians to call the process into question.
"Imagine what is going to happen to all the victims who have waited for so long -- Ta Mok died in hospital without a clear explanation about (what happened during the regime)," he said.
"It impacts the victims' perception of how much hope there is (for justice) ... it's not a good beginning at all."
Youk Chhang blamed investigators for not moving fast enough to secure key evidence, including testimony from former leaders.
"We have been listening to the victims for 28 years now ... investigators really need to move," he said.
All the surviving leaders have denied responsibility for the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge and have vowed to speak out in court, but have so far refused to shed any light on their role in the apocalypse that engulfed Cambodia.
Thun Saray, director of the Cambodian rights group Adhoc, said the government must take better care of ailing Khmer Rouge leaders, addressing concerns that Ta Mok should have been given medical treatment.
"We appeal to the government not to be careless anymore with the other leaders, because we could lose a lot of information," he said.
3 comments:
this is how and the way Hun Sen wants to see...Those KR leaders are to die one by one...so by the times this stupid slowly ass Trial get on the way.. they'll all be dead.. and just a wast of time...Still no just for all... on TOP of that, now with this fucking Isreal and Middle East war going on, it take a way the internaltional attention from focusing on this got to no where Trial...I feel bad for Khmer... Doom as hell. People are claim to know all, but can't get shit done!!
Put Heng Samrin,Chea Sim,Pen Sovann,Hun Sen on witness stance on what motif for them to revolt against own DRK government? What motif of Hanoi to have rebellious DRK established then demolished it by own branch of rebellion prop.
This way,PRK founders can either be plaintiffs or defendants and witnesses for Tribunal investigation.
Start with them and Sihanouk. Remove one cornerstone,the castle crumbled
Timing is everything.
Point:
Hun Sen 1
Cambodia -1
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