You Bunleng, a Cambodian judge, right, and Marcel Lemonde, left, a U.N.-appointed judge sit during a meetings with local officials and residents in Pailin, a former Khmer Rouge stronghold, Cambodia, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008. Forging ahead with its work of prosecuting former Khmer Rouge leaders, Cambodia's U.N.-backed genocide tribunal has embarked on an unusual mission to win the hearts and minds or at least the grudging cooperation of the group's old loyalists. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Original report from Pailin
15 January 2008
Khmer Rouge tribunal judges met for the first time with former rebels in the remote mountains of the northwest Monday, in an effort to curb fears of further arrests of low- and mid-level cadre.
In a three-hour, closed-door meeting in Pailin, the judges and former Khmer Rouge discussed the mandate of the tribunal, which is to prosecute only top leaders of the regime.
Pailin authorities, police, and military officials met with judges and about 150 former Khmer Rouge.
“There were many questions,” said Pailin Deputy Governor Keut Sothea, a former Khmer Rouge cadre, of the meeting. “The questions were meant to clear any doubt. Other participants said they were given enough explanations to trust” the judges.
Tribunal investigating judge You Bunleng said the meetings were aimed to allay fears of Pailin residents who live among former Khmer Rouge. Pailin was a Khmer Rouge stronghold, and many former supporters of the regime still live in the area.
Two top leaders, Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, who were both arrested in late 2007 and charged with atrocity crimes, lived in Pailin.
“We know that the ECCC can proceed because of a clear understanding and cooperation from local authorities,” You Bunleng said, referring to the tribunal by its official name, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. “And the people have to understand too.”
Pailin Governor Y Chhean, who is close to former leaders of the Khmer Rouge, told reporters in Pailin he was cooperating with tribunal officials.
Some former cadre in the area, however, expressed concern about the fate of their former leaders, all of whom await trials while detained at a tribunal center in Phnom Penh.
In a three-hour, closed-door meeting in Pailin, the judges and former Khmer Rouge discussed the mandate of the tribunal, which is to prosecute only top leaders of the regime.
Pailin authorities, police, and military officials met with judges and about 150 former Khmer Rouge.
“There were many questions,” said Pailin Deputy Governor Keut Sothea, a former Khmer Rouge cadre, of the meeting. “The questions were meant to clear any doubt. Other participants said they were given enough explanations to trust” the judges.
Tribunal investigating judge You Bunleng said the meetings were aimed to allay fears of Pailin residents who live among former Khmer Rouge. Pailin was a Khmer Rouge stronghold, and many former supporters of the regime still live in the area.
Two top leaders, Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, who were both arrested in late 2007 and charged with atrocity crimes, lived in Pailin.
“We know that the ECCC can proceed because of a clear understanding and cooperation from local authorities,” You Bunleng said, referring to the tribunal by its official name, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia. “And the people have to understand too.”
Pailin Governor Y Chhean, who is close to former leaders of the Khmer Rouge, told reporters in Pailin he was cooperating with tribunal officials.
Some former cadre in the area, however, expressed concern about the fate of their former leaders, all of whom await trials while detained at a tribunal center in Phnom Penh.
2 comments:
Yes!ECCC, you have been trusted by the Khmerrouge, because camarad Hun Xen is priminister of the country and Eing Vuth is deputy governor of Pailin!
Good job done in 1993!
But the victimes of killing Field do not trust you and we curssing you and the UN for our people that killed and suppressing by the Vietnamese slave every day!
I think this is a good thing that court officials held a town-hall meeting in Pailin. You know, everyone were victims under the Khmer Rouge regime - that was like 'walking on egg-shells', dam if you do, dam if you don't. I think the leaders, whether, they claim that they weren't awared of the atrocities going on or not, shall be held responsible for the cruelest regime to its own people in the history of the world, not to mention the history of Cambodia. Please educate the people of Cambodia and the world, never to let this kind of government to ever take place again in Cambodia or anywhere on earth. It was unspeakable the suffering of the Cambodian victims; they did not deserve to have to go through this, at all. We, the living, are their only voice they have. Let us condemn to hell the people who were responsible for allowing this to happen. There is no excuses, whatsoever!!!
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