Comments on: Cambodia: Bloggers still skeptical of Khmer Rouge tribunal after agreement http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/06/10/cambodia-bloggers-still-skeptical-of-khmer-rouge-tribunal-after-agreement/ The world is talking. Are you listening? Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:19:23 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: John Hanson http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/06/10/cambodia-bloggers-still-skeptical-of-khmer-rouge-tribunal-after-agreement/comment-page-1/#comment-1186080 John Hanson Sat, 23 Jun 2007 00:59:33 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/06/10/cambodia-bloggers-still-skeptical-of-khmer-rouge-tribunal-after-agreement/#comment-1186080 The healing process is important, of course. Understanding why is also, and important today as we face the Irag situation. The trial of the Khmer Rouge needs to include the question why; motive is essential in the judicial process. What was the condition of Cambodia in 1975: food supply, damage to transportation networks, how many lives lost, families disrupted, and business and productive land spoiled between 1969 and 1975; and what role did international organizations play in relief? Can the trial be judicious and what do we learn if it is confined to the period after 1975? The healing process is important, of course. Understanding why is also, and important today as we face the Irag situation.
The trial of the Khmer Rouge needs to include the question why; motive is essential in the judicial process. What was the condition of Cambodia in 1975: food supply, damage to transportation networks, how many lives lost, families disrupted, and business and productive land spoiled between 1969 and 1975; and what role did international organizations play in relief? Can the trial be judicious and what do we learn if it is confined to the period after 1975?

]]> By: DAS http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/06/10/cambodia-bloggers-still-skeptical-of-khmer-rouge-tribunal-after-agreement/comment-page-1/#comment-1184670 DAS Mon, 11 Jun 2007 05:20:52 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/06/10/cambodia-bloggers-still-skeptical-of-khmer-rouge-tribunal-after-agreement/#comment-1184670 I probably wasn't sufficiently clear in what I meant by that: While I don't think the trials will _completely_ heal Cambodia, I do think that the trials are mandatory for any true healing process. I probably wasn’t sufficiently clear in what I meant by that: While I don’t think the trials will _completely_ heal Cambodia, I do think that the trials are mandatory for any true healing process.

]]> By: Savath Pou (Mr) http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/06/10/cambodia-bloggers-still-skeptical-of-khmer-rouge-tribunal-after-agreement/comment-page-1/#comment-1184635 Savath Pou (Mr) Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:39:28 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/06/10/cambodia-bloggers-still-skeptical-of-khmer-rouge-tribunal-after-agreement/#comment-1184635 To some extent, I agree with the comment made by Details are Sketchy which saiys "Can a trial at this late stage ever hope to ease such venomous hatred? Probably not. For all the KRT hopes to contribute, it will never be able to completely slay the demons of Cambodia’s past". However, I wish to add that if the current CPP cadres are not tried (or at least summoned to testify at the witness stand), there will never be a real national reconciliation. Millions of Khmer Rouge victims' surviving familes will never fully understand the meaning as well as the objective of this Khmer Rouge trial process, nor will they be prepared to accommodate all communist cadres, i.e. Khmer Rouge and CPP elements, in their communities as innocent and trustworthy people. They will never let go this so destructive apprehensive mentality, not at any decade in this 21st century, not even at any decade in the next. Therefore, the Khmer Rouge Trial will never be accepted by Khmer people as a genuine one no matter how hard historians, scholars, jurists and the like try to explain. To some extent, I agree with the comment made by Details are Sketchy which saiys “Can a trial at this late stage ever hope to ease such venomous hatred? Probably not. For all the KRT hopes to contribute, it will never be able to completely slay the demons of Cambodia’s past”.

However, I wish to add that if the current CPP cadres are not tried (or at least summoned to testify at the witness stand), there will never be a real national reconciliation. Millions of Khmer Rouge victims’ surviving familes will never fully understand the meaning as well as the objective of this Khmer Rouge trial process, nor will they be prepared to accommodate all communist cadres, i.e. Khmer Rouge and CPP elements, in their communities as innocent and trustworthy people. They will never let go this so destructive apprehensive mentality, not at any decade in this 21st century, not even at any decade in the next. Therefore, the Khmer Rouge Trial will never be accepted by Khmer people as a genuine one no matter how hard historians, scholars, jurists and the like try to explain.

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