By Lim Pisith
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
A number of relatives of the Khmer Rouge and former KR cadres living in Cambodia’s northwest, have expressed their support to the request made by a US-based organization to remove the immunity of the former monarch in order to allow the opportunity for the ECCC co-judges and prosecutors to perform their work with freedom and independence.
Mrs. Ven Dara, a niece of Ta Mok, the former Khmer Rouge army commander, who now lives in Pailin city, is one of the many people who told RFA that she supports the idea of inviting the former monarch to come to the ECCC tribunal to clarify to the public, this action will also provide justice for the other Khmer Rouge leaders whom Ven Dara thinks that they worked to serve the nation, just like the former king.
Ven Dara said: “Whoever tied the knot must undo it, therefore in this trial, the king must clearly clarify this issue.”
Pech Vannak, a former commander of the Army Unit 11, Battalion No. 2, in the special Khmer Rouge military zone, from 1972 to 1975, and who now lives in Malay district, Banteay Meanchey province, said that he and the former Khmer Rouge cadres and other former KR soldiers, also have the same idea.
Pech Vannak said: “Since the 18 March 1970 coup d’état, it was the king voice from Beijing who called his children and grandchildren to join the maquis (resistance).”
The demands made by the former Khmer Rouge cadres and soldiers were made a few days after the government and 3 major political parties have condemned the US-Based Cambodian Action Committee for Justice and Equity (CACJE) – which demanded the National Assembly to remove King Sihanouk’s immunity to allow the opportunity for the KR Tribunal (KRT) co-judges and prosecutors to seek justice for the victims and those charged – of being evil and was made with the intention of undermining the national unity by turning the criminals to victims, and turning the victims to criminals.
Nam Sara, CACJE spokesman in Cambodia, asked that, if during the course of the futre KRT questioning, it can be established that King-Father was indeed behind the KR leaders and the genocide regime, wouldn’t the KRT waste 3-year of work and $56 million in expense for nothing?
Reach Sambath, ECCC spokesman, replied to this question: “We should leave the opportunity to the co-prosecutors and co-judges of the KRT to fulfill their duty, based on the agreements which were planned. They will try all the leaders and those who bear the highest responsibility in the crimes committed during the Democratic Kampuchea regime.”
There is no reaction from the former monarch’s quarters yet regarding this request.
Mrs. Ven Dara, a niece of Ta Mok, the former Khmer Rouge army commander, who now lives in Pailin city, is one of the many people who told RFA that she supports the idea of inviting the former monarch to come to the ECCC tribunal to clarify to the public, this action will also provide justice for the other Khmer Rouge leaders whom Ven Dara thinks that they worked to serve the nation, just like the former king.
Ven Dara said: “Whoever tied the knot must undo it, therefore in this trial, the king must clearly clarify this issue.”
Pech Vannak, a former commander of the Army Unit 11, Battalion No. 2, in the special Khmer Rouge military zone, from 1972 to 1975, and who now lives in Malay district, Banteay Meanchey province, said that he and the former Khmer Rouge cadres and other former KR soldiers, also have the same idea.
Pech Vannak said: “Since the 18 March 1970 coup d’état, it was the king voice from Beijing who called his children and grandchildren to join the maquis (resistance).”
The demands made by the former Khmer Rouge cadres and soldiers were made a few days after the government and 3 major political parties have condemned the US-Based Cambodian Action Committee for Justice and Equity (CACJE) – which demanded the National Assembly to remove King Sihanouk’s immunity to allow the opportunity for the KR Tribunal (KRT) co-judges and prosecutors to seek justice for the victims and those charged – of being evil and was made with the intention of undermining the national unity by turning the criminals to victims, and turning the victims to criminals.
Nam Sara, CACJE spokesman in Cambodia, asked that, if during the course of the futre KRT questioning, it can be established that King-Father was indeed behind the KR leaders and the genocide regime, wouldn’t the KRT waste 3-year of work and $56 million in expense for nothing?
Reach Sambath, ECCC spokesman, replied to this question: “We should leave the opportunity to the co-prosecutors and co-judges of the KRT to fulfill their duty, based on the agreements which were planned. They will try all the leaders and those who bear the highest responsibility in the crimes committed during the Democratic Kampuchea regime.”
There is no reaction from the former monarch’s quarters yet regarding this request.
