Cambodia genocide trial to begin

[Coventina]

Source: International Herald-Tribune

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: The first trial of a Khmer Rouge leader was to begin Tuesday as part of efforts by a U.N.-assisted genocide tribunal to punish those responsible for the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians after more than three decades of delayed justice.

When the communist Khmer Rouge came to power in 1975 after five years of bitter civil war, many of their countrymen thought peace was at hand. But in their effort to remake society, they instituted a reign of terror that lasted nearly 4 years and ended only by an invasion by neighboring Vietnam.

To get even one of the Khmer Rouge leaders on trial is seen as a breakthrough, as many victims feared that the defendants, now aging and infirm, would die before facing justice. But there are real concerns that the process is being politically manipulated and that thousands of killers will escape unpunished.

(snip)

Kaing Guek Eav — better known as Duch, who headed the Khmer Rouge's largest torture center — is the first of five former Khmer Rouge leaders scheduled to stand trial. He is charged with crimes against humanity.



Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/02/16/asia/AS-Cambodia-Genocide-Trial.php

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Because Cambodia is so far ahead in the time zones, the beginning of the trial is mere hours away.

At long last, a pale shadow of justice will be served...

[Hulk]

1. Almost FORTY YEARS later???

This, my friends, is what we can expect from governments...our own included. We'll wait until all the guilty parties are dead or so old they have no memories of their horrors left. We won't see the last administration brought to justice, because we are afraid too much light will be shown in all the dark corners of government.

The pathetic excuse of a dunce and his darth vader of the evil empire will simply be protected by their supporters until they die and wither in the ground. All those who died and suffered will have done so in vain. But FORTY YEARS from now, someone will decide they are guilty for these high crimes, and they will never receive justice for their crimes. What a sad reality!

[underpants]

2. I was just about to post this. Wow 1.5 million dead in 4 years

that is just staggering to think about

it must have actually been a hell

[Odin2005]

3. Wasn't it Nixon's bombing of Cambodia what allowed those mosters to take power?

n/t

[Coventina]

4. Partially. It was a very complicated situation. The US bombing

was certainly part of it.

Next to the KR itself, and China, the US is next in line for the list of "guilty parties" in the atrocities.

[karynnj]

5. Here is a good link to information on how they resolved the international

problems and finally pushed this forward - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6142669&mesg_id=6147245 with help from Senator Kerry.