Khmer Rouge Tribunal Needed to Heal Wounds of All Cambodians
Opinion
The Cambodia Daily
Monday, January 17, 2005
Khmer Rouge Tribunal Needed to Heal Wounds of All Cambodians
Vannak Huy,
Rutgers University graduate student
New Jersey, USA
In response to the letter to the editor, “Ex-Khmer Rouge killer Has No Excuse for Past Crimes,” (Jan 12, Page 15), Nuon Sotheavy is absolutely right in the sense that “There is no one life that is more valuable than another.”
After former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein of Iraq was arrested and brought to justice for having committed genocide on thousands of Kurd minority people, the international community turned its focus on aiding the thousands of victims of the devastation tsunami. There is no proper compensation for victims and their suffering cannot be compared.
Unfortunately, the lives of millions of victims of the Khmer Rouge regime between 1975 and 1979 have been given low priority, again and again.
The Khmer Rouge regime ended more than 26 years ago, but it still affects the country and its people. Since 1979, Cambodia has moved forward slowly and has had difficulty integrating into the region and the globe.
The Khmer Rouge history remains a battleground for Cambodians. It is important for Cambodians and the international community to view this history and find ways to deal with it.
During my research between 2000 and 2002 for my book, “The Khmer Rouge Division 703: From Victory to Self-destruction,” I interviewed numerous surviving Khmer Rouge perpetrators and victims. Most of the perpetrators had the same feelings and story as Suy Vith. They were recruited to join the revolution when they were young and had low education. They were indoctrinated to become nationalists with little consciousness.
During the regime, Suy Vith lost his dear parents as well. In this case, Suy Vith should be viewed as not only a killer, but also as a tool of the revolution and a victim of the Khmer Rouge.
Survivors from the Khmer Rouge regime returned home, suffering or traumatized by the regime.
The delay of the Khmer Rouge tribunal will continue to make Cambodians view each other and their history in different ways.
Cambodians need their value and dignity as equal human beings.
Two of my uncles joined the Khmer Rouge revolution in 1973 in the hope that they could help their family and country. Unfortunately, my uncles disappeared. During the Khmer Regime, I lost my elder bother, my grandfather and more than 30 relatives. My mother always sheds tears when she recalls this bitter past.
Although Suy Vith was involved in the Khmer Rouge regime, he is now making the right decision to testify in the future Khmer Rouge tribunal. The tribunal will not only clear his past and accountability, but also give justice to the victims.
I hope that the international community will open their hearts and take all efforts to find justice for the victims and those who have been victimized.
It is the wish and dream of the Cambodian people. Our hope is that the Khmer Rouge tribunal will bring not only justice, but also new thoughts, peace, reconciliation, and development to the country.
One alone cannot achieve real justice. But together we shall make a difference.
-End-
The Cambodia Daily
Monday, January 17, 2005
Khmer Rouge Tribunal Needed to Heal Wounds of All Cambodians
Vannak Huy,
Rutgers University graduate student
New Jersey, USA
In response to the letter to the editor, “Ex-Khmer Rouge killer Has No Excuse for Past Crimes,” (Jan 12, Page 15), Nuon Sotheavy is absolutely right in the sense that “There is no one life that is more valuable than another.”
After former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein of Iraq was arrested and brought to justice for having committed genocide on thousands of Kurd minority people, the international community turned its focus on aiding the thousands of victims of the devastation tsunami. There is no proper compensation for victims and their suffering cannot be compared.
Unfortunately, the lives of millions of victims of the Khmer Rouge regime between 1975 and 1979 have been given low priority, again and again.
The Khmer Rouge regime ended more than 26 years ago, but it still affects the country and its people. Since 1979, Cambodia has moved forward slowly and has had difficulty integrating into the region and the globe.
The Khmer Rouge history remains a battleground for Cambodians. It is important for Cambodians and the international community to view this history and find ways to deal with it.
During my research between 2000 and 2002 for my book, “The Khmer Rouge Division 703: From Victory to Self-destruction,” I interviewed numerous surviving Khmer Rouge perpetrators and victims. Most of the perpetrators had the same feelings and story as Suy Vith. They were recruited to join the revolution when they were young and had low education. They were indoctrinated to become nationalists with little consciousness.
During the regime, Suy Vith lost his dear parents as well. In this case, Suy Vith should be viewed as not only a killer, but also as a tool of the revolution and a victim of the Khmer Rouge.
Survivors from the Khmer Rouge regime returned home, suffering or traumatized by the regime.
The delay of the Khmer Rouge tribunal will continue to make Cambodians view each other and their history in different ways.
Cambodians need their value and dignity as equal human beings.
Two of my uncles joined the Khmer Rouge revolution in 1973 in the hope that they could help their family and country. Unfortunately, my uncles disappeared. During the Khmer Regime, I lost my elder bother, my grandfather and more than 30 relatives. My mother always sheds tears when she recalls this bitter past.
Although Suy Vith was involved in the Khmer Rouge regime, he is now making the right decision to testify in the future Khmer Rouge tribunal. The tribunal will not only clear his past and accountability, but also give justice to the victims.
I hope that the international community will open their hearts and take all efforts to find justice for the victims and those who have been victimized.
It is the wish and dream of the Cambodian people. Our hope is that the Khmer Rouge tribunal will bring not only justice, but also new thoughts, peace, reconciliation, and development to the country.
One alone cannot achieve real justice. But together we shall make a difference.
-End-
posted by Vannvinida @ 8:49 AM
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