King Sihanouk is widely revered by CambodiansMonday, January 4, 1999
BBC News
Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk has said he is ready to stand trial before any tribunal which hears charges against leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime.
In a statement faxed from Beijing, where he is receiving medical treatment, the King said he was willing to give up his royal and constitutional immunity and accept a prison term.
"Brother Number 1" Pol Pot died last April
His statement followed growing criticism from human rights groups over the government's failure to arrest two former Khmer Rouge leaders, Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea, who surrendered late last month.
It came in response to comments, both in Cambodia and elsewhere, that few Cambodian leaders can claim not to have been tainted by associations with the guerilla group and might wish to prevent any trials of its members taking place.
Head of state
Nearly two million are thought to have died in Cambodia's notorious killing fields
King Sihanouk was himself briefly head of state during the Khmer Rouge's period in power in which around 1.7 million people are thought to have died. Fourteen members of his own family were killed.
"Even if the judges of this tribunal do not summon me, I will present myself before this tribunal" the King said, adding he would act as his own lawyer. He said he would accept any decision of the court even he was sent to prison.
Later this month legal experts from the UN are due to decided whether there is sufficient evidence to prosecute Khmer Rouge leaders.
Khmer Rouge guests
Khieu Samphan: "Let bygones be bygones"
Meanwhile Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chena have been allowed to return to the former Khmer Rouge stronghold of Pailin, after touring the country as guests of the government. The area is nominally under government control but is run by ex-Khmer Rouge guerrillas.
The VIP treatment given to the two men has provoked mounting public anger.
The Cambodian Information Minister, Khieu Kannarith told the BBC that they allowed the two men to go to Pailin because government lawyers were still discussing procedures for setting up a court.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of many government members who are former Khmer Rouge members, says that he had not offered any guarantees of immunity from prosecution to the two men. He had been widely criticised for earlier comments that any trial would be divisive and that Cambodia should "bury its past".
In a statement faxed from Beijing, where he is receiving medical treatment, the King said he was willing to give up his royal and constitutional immunity and accept a prison term.
"Brother Number 1" Pol Pot died last AprilHis statement followed growing criticism from human rights groups over the government's failure to arrest two former Khmer Rouge leaders, Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea, who surrendered late last month.
It came in response to comments, both in Cambodia and elsewhere, that few Cambodian leaders can claim not to have been tainted by associations with the guerilla group and might wish to prevent any trials of its members taking place.
Head of state
Nearly two million are thought to have died in Cambodia's notorious killing fieldsKing Sihanouk was himself briefly head of state during the Khmer Rouge's period in power in which around 1.7 million people are thought to have died. Fourteen members of his own family were killed.
"Even if the judges of this tribunal do not summon me, I will present myself before this tribunal" the King said, adding he would act as his own lawyer. He said he would accept any decision of the court even he was sent to prison.
Later this month legal experts from the UN are due to decided whether there is sufficient evidence to prosecute Khmer Rouge leaders.
Khmer Rouge guests
Khieu Samphan: "Let bygones be bygones"Meanwhile Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chena have been allowed to return to the former Khmer Rouge stronghold of Pailin, after touring the country as guests of the government. The area is nominally under government control but is run by ex-Khmer Rouge guerrillas.
The VIP treatment given to the two men has provoked mounting public anger.
The Cambodian Information Minister, Khieu Kannarith told the BBC that they allowed the two men to go to Pailin because government lawyers were still discussing procedures for setting up a court.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, one of many government members who are former Khmer Rouge members, says that he had not offered any guarantees of immunity from prosecution to the two men. He had been widely criticised for earlier comments that any trial would be divisive and that Cambodia should "bury its past".
5 comments:
THis paper lion Sihanouk change his mind all the time. When, he knew that Hun Sen can control 100% with the Tribunal, he said was ready. But now when he saw that, Hun Sen may loose his control, this Sihanouk has hid himself with the protection of Vietnam. He may ran to China very soon.
Those who know a cambodian fable "ah kwak ah kwen" know that sihanouk is the king in that fable.
This man is coward and doesn't deserve to live on this earth.
It is sad that khmers population continued to revere him as king.
Let it be known that this king had sent and is sending khmers to the monster laird for food, even his own flash and blood daughter.
Dear all compatriots beloved Cambodian who are supporting Hun Sen Idea and Sei Haknouk not to go on
trial ,please look and read this article from 01/04/99
What kind of our king and Prime minister? Think it your self ,because our land getting smaller and will be wiped out from the map by youn soon. I do not want the world said you are supporting Flip-Flop person, it gonna be look bad and sad for under of your judgement. If they look like shit,they smell like sit,they are the shit, do not support them or we fool our selves like one of them.
All true Khmer compatriots, ladies and gentlemen,
Cambodia's had cancers that were embedded into her by China+YUONS+Vietminh-CPP-Hun Sen+all royal's crooks through traitor Sihanouk's flesh and blood, also through his YUON's wife Monique and Sihanouk’s clique.
To have a true and lasting peace for Cambodia these cancers have to be removed once for all, either by the law of ECCC-KRT or by any means, as long as the majority agree with.
If these cancers remain inside Cambodia without proper treatments YUONS will continue to swallow us bit by bit every day and China will gobble the whole region without mercy toward Cambodia land and all Khmer people, with the last assistance of NORODOM SIHANOUK-HUN SEN.
KULEN MONOROM
(the rice farmer's son)
"Khieu Samphan: "Let bygones be bygones""
I don't care about the Khmer Rouge leaders being tried. At least khmer rouge were patriotic men who were willing to die for their contry. They fought so khmer can have a better lifestyle. Sihanouk sold-out his own people for personal gain. I want Sihanouk prosecuted for his betrayal.
He created the monsters called Khmer Rouge.
Before he intervene pre-Khmer Rouge were radical students with ideas on improving Khmer social life. All they had were social meetings and red communist books.
How were they able to obtain billions of dollars worth of weapons overnight? Most were simple farmers. Who signed on the dotted line to obtain these weapons? what price did they pay for these weapons? how many tons of rice were shipped to China in exchange for these weapons? how many khmer were enlsaved and worked to death to pay for working these rice farms? This man has a lot to answer.
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