27 Years Later, a Formal Inquiry Begins Into Khmer Rouge Atrocities

NY Times ^ | August 6, 2006 | SETH MYDANS

[Pharmboy]

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, Aug. 1 — More than 27 years after the mass killings and after nearly a decade of wrangling between Cambodia and the United Nations, formal proceedings have begun against surviving leaders of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime.

On July 10, a special prosecutor’s office opened its investigation into one of the last century’s most sustained atrocities, in which 1.7 million people died from 1975 to 1979 through torture, systematic killings, overwork, starvation and disease.

A first shipment of 383,149 pages of evidence, contained on 524 reels of microfilm, was delivered to the prosecutors on July 17.

snip... Because of limits on time, space and money, few are likely to face trial on charges of complicity in the deaths of as much as one-fourth of the country’s citizens.

snip...The United Nations has given the tribunal a budget of $56.3 million for a three-year process that began with the investigation. But it may last longer. There is also a race against mortality as aging suspects die off and those who survive grow sicker and more frail. The Khmer Rouge leader, Pol Pot, died in 1998 at 73. The military commander Ta Mok died July 21. He was believed to be 80.

Of the four most prominent figures remaining, three are in their late 70’s and report having medical problems. Some diplomats are concerned that one or two might have highly placed patrons who could help them disappear before any arrest.

Only one, Kaing Khek Iev, also known as Duch, the commander of the torture chamber Tuol Sleng, is in custody. He has become an evangelical Christian. An interview several years ago suggests that he may be as enthusiastic now about repentance as he was then about slaughter.

[Pharmboy]

It is frightening to think that we came within 3.5 million votes of that treasonous Lurchoid, gold-digging, lying weasel in the White House. A bit too close for comfort.

[null and void]

Even more frightening that there are soooooo many who still mourn his loss.