Cambodian minister stalls on genocide tribunal

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Cambodia's foreign minister says he first wants to check his schedule before deciding whether to testify at a tribunal for Khmer Rouge leaders accused of genocide.

Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong is one of the six senior members of Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party summoned before the U.N.-backed court.

All of them also exercised some authority during the Khmer Rouge reign of terror in the mid-1970s and appear reluctant to become involved with the tribunal.

The tribunal is seeking justice for the estimated 1.7 million people who died in Cambodia from execution, overwork, disease and malnutrition as a result of the communist Khmer Rouge's radical policies.

Khmer Rouge tribunal summons gov't party officials

By SOPHENG CHEANG
Associated Press
2009-10-07
(Post by CAAI News Media)
The tribunal trying former leaders of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge announced Wednesday that it has summoned six leading members of Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party to give testimony.
The action is likely to irk Hun Sen, who has repeatedly expressed his sharp dissatisfaction with any efforts by the U.N.-assisted tribunal to expand its scope and possibly include his political allies as suspects in grave human rights abuses committed when the communist Khmer Rouge held power from 1975-79.
The tribunal is seeking justice for the estimated 1.7 million people who died in Cambodia from execution, overwork, disease and malnutrition as a result of the communist Khmer Rouge's radical policies.
The tribunal released copies of letters summoning the six to testify to the investigating judges of the court. They are top members of Hun Sen's Cambodian People's party: Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Finance Minister Keat Chhon, National Assembly president Heng Samrin, Senate president Chea Sim and two other senators, Ouk Bunchhoeun and Sim Ka.
All are also former members of the Khmer Rouge, or exercised some authority when the group was in power.
The documents were released late in the day, and those named could not immediately be reached for comment.
The letters did not say specifically what information was sought, but said it was in connection with the cases of Nuon Chea, the group's ideologist; Khieu Samphan, its former head of state; Ieng Sary, its foreign minister; and "others." The three, along with Ieng Sary's wife, Ieng Thirith, who was minister for social affairs, are expected to be tried next year.
The tribunal is currently trying its first defendant, Kaing Guek Eav _ also known as Duch _ who commanded S-21 prison in Phnom Penh, where up to 16,000 people were tortured and then taken away to be killed. He is charged with crimes against humanity, war crimes, murder and torture.
Testimony in the his trial concluded last month, and closing arguments will be held late next month.
Critics accuse Hun Sen of trying to limit the tribunal's scope to prevent his political allies from being indicted. Hun Sen himself once served as a Khmer Rouge officer and many of his main allies are also former members of the group.
Hun Sen has claimed that expanding the list of defendants could lead to civil war, a claim doubted by his critics. The Khmer Rouge took control after a bitter 1970-75 civil war, and after being ousted from power in 1979, fought an insurgency from the jungles until 1999, when they ceased to exist as an organized force.
Last month, a tribunal prosecutor formally recommended that five more suspects be investigated for crimes against humanity and other offenses.
at 7:57 AM 0 comments Links to this post

Khmer Rouge tribunal summons gov't party officials

The tribunal trying former leaders of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge announced Wednesday that it has summoned six leading members of Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party to give testimony.
The action is likely to irk Hun Sen, who has repeatedly expressed his sharp dissatisfaction with any efforts by the U.N.-assisted tribunal to expand its scope and possibly include his political allies as suspects in grave human rights abuses committed when the communist Khmer Rouge held power from 1975-79.
The tribunal is seeking justice for the estimated 1.7 million people who died in Cambodia from execution, overwork, disease and malnutrition as a result of the communist Khmer Rouge's radical policies.
The tribunal released copies of letters summoning the six to testify to the investigating judges of the court. They are top members of Hun Sen's Cambodian People's party: Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Finance Minister Keat Chhon, National Assembly president Heng Samrin, Senate president Chea Sim and two other senators, Ouk Bunchhoeun and Sim Ka.
All are also former members of the Khmer Rouge, or exercised some authority when the group was in power.
The documents were released late in the day, and those named could not immediately be reached for comment.
The letters did not say specifically what information was sought, but said it was in connection with the cases of Nuon Chea, the group's ideologist; Khieu Samphan, its former head of state; Ieng Sary, its foreign minister; and "others." The three, along with Ieng Sary's wife, Ieng Thirith, who was minister for social affairs, are expected to be tried next year.
The tribunal is currently trying its first defendant, Kaing Guek Eav _ also known as Duch _ who commanded S-21 prison in Phnom Penh, where up to 16,000 people were tortured and then taken away to be killed. He is charged with crimes against humanity, war crimes, murder and torture.
Testimony in the his trial concluded last month, and closing arguments will be held late next month.
Critics accuse Hun Sen of trying to limit the tribunal's scope to prevent his political allies from being indicted. Hun Sen himself once served as a Khmer Rouge officer and many of his main allies are also former members of the group.
Hun Sen has claimed that expanding the list of defendants could lead to civil war, a claim doubted by his critics. The Khmer Rouge took control after a bitter 1970-75 civil war, and after being ousted from power in 1979, fought an insurgency from the jungles until 1999, when they ceased to exist as an organized force.
Last month, a tribunal prosecutor formally recommended that five more suspects be investigated for crimes against humanity and other offenses.
at 7:57 AM 0 comments Links to this post
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Mr. Kem Sokha Encourages Merger between the Human Rights Party and the Sam Rainsy Party – Wednesday, 7.10.2009
Posted on 7 October 2009
The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 633
http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com/
(Post by CAAI News Media)
“Again, the president of the Human Rights Party, Mr. Kem Sokha, encouraged speeding up the merging of the two opposition parties, the Human Rights Party and the Sam Rainsy Party. The president of the Human Rights Party said that the merger should be made as soon as possible, because Khmer people in the country and abroad want to see these two opposition parties of Cambodia to merge to become one strong party to defeat the party with communist tendencies which is ruling the country.
“Mr. Kem Sokha told reporters during a press conference Tuesday evening [6 October 2009] that within half a year (of National Assembly vacations), he had visited Canada, the United States, and Europe. At every place he went to he met Khmer people, and they always asked one most important question: whether democrats can unite or not, and why not. The Human Rights Party responded by telling what this party has done so far.
“Mr. Kem Sokha added that Khmer people in the country and abroad answered instead of him that if we do not unite, we will lose, but if we unite we will win. ‘This is the answer from people for us, for democrats and patriots, to consider.’ Mr. Kem Sokha added, ‘The Human Rights Party and the Sam Rainsy Party made a joint statement on 15 January 2009 at the Sam Rainsy Party headquarters, but we see that so far, we have not achieved anything, while people are waiting to see the creation of a movement, a democratic movement for change, where two parties come together.’ But when people asked what progress was made, he could not tell them anything. He said, ‘But we established a working team for discussion, where each party has four members. The members from the Sam Rainsy Party are Mr. Son Chhay, Mr. Yim Sovann, Mr. Kim Suophirith, and Ms. Mu Sochua, and the members from the Human Rights Party are Mr. Nhem Bonharith, Mr. Ou Chanrith, Mr. Keat Sokun, and Mr. Chour Chung. There have been eight meetings already, but no progress has been made. That is why people are concerned, and they encourage that there should be significant progress made, in order to provide them hope. He went on to say, ‘The Human Rights Party calls on all political parties and patriots to join, to sit down and discuss to organize the conditions and political policies to create a new party, to participate in the next elections. We think that we have to sit down together to discuss, and if all of us claim that we are democrats and want change, we need to win the elections. We cannot win the elections unless we merge. If not, we will not win. If we do not merge, we do it to lose. And if we want to win, we have to merge.’
“Mr. Kem Sokha said that there is no official response yet. The meeting has not received a response: which points are acceptable and which points are not. He said, ‘We still maintain the same stance. And we make another appeal to other parties to continue to negotiate. The Sam Rainsy Party did not respond anything to us. We want to merge to create a new party or an ally for others. We want the new party to be created based on democracy, but not based on any individuals, and want to stop individual power; we also suggest to limit some terms, but this is not a condition set by the Human Rights Party.’
“Yesterday, the Human Rights Party released a statement to express its position to create alliances with other political parties finally towards a merger.
“The statement said that the Human Rights Party thinks that it is the right time for democrats to meet and to discuss transparently, prioritizing the fate of the nation, to consider creating a new party following requests of Khmer citizens, after we have created a democratic movement for change on 15 January 2009. About one year after the fourth term elections, there have been concerns over the political situation, about integrity, freedom of expression, the economy, and social problems in the Kingdom of Cambodia which are problematic. Based on direct visits by Human Rights Party leaders in many communes in the country and abroad, many Khmer compatriots who love democracy, ask the Khmer political parties and the politicians who claim that they are patriots and democrats, to unite to create a new party to win the next elections.
“‘The Human Rights Party would like to stress again its position to inform the public that the Human Rights Party is already prepared to merge with other politicians, parties, and patriots to create a new political party with democracy as its basis.’”

One ex-slave fights for a brighter day for victims of human trafficking

Published: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009

Of all the voiceless people on Earth, I can think of few more unfortunate than the multitudes - mostly women and children - who toil as modern-day slaves. They typically suffer cruelty, deprivation of their rights and unspeakable living conditions. And they face only two certainties, both unpleasant: that they will wake up tomorrow to more of the same or die.
Along the way, some - such as Somaly Mam (http://www.somaly.org/), a Cambodian human-rights activist who was sold into brothel slavery as a child - essentially die inside. Mam is one of the lucky ones, however, for she managed to escape her tormentors and move to another continent. Others like her who are orphaned as children and shunned easily slip into slavery's shadowy grip and accept their fate. In a perverse sort of way, they have a place, are welcome and find companionship. But their place is grim, their welcome good only so long as they obey and their companionship for sale to customers from around the world.
For a while, Mam reveled in her new, safe life. But she could not ignore a nagging impulse deep inside her being. It quickly crescendoed, pulling her back to the land where she had experienced no peace, privacy or personal dignity. She knew how many thousands of Cambodians - and millions of others around the world - lived in misery, whether in brothels or in similar conditions of forced servitude. Her hapless compatriots needed a voice. They needed an inspiration. They needed a champion.
It was no easy task. Mam found herself confronting both tradition and the indifference of too many, thereby guaranteeing opposition and danger. Still, she proceeded with her work, rescuing women and girls, offering shelter, and providing training and other assistance. Her former abusers, angered and indignant that someone - especially a former victim - would dare stand against them, struck back with all the nastiness that craven minds can muster. They issued insults and death threats, burned Mam's home and, worst of all, kidnapped and brutalized her teenage daughter.
Yet Mam was unfazed. When you have already died inside, she says, there is nothing left to kill. Thus, she and her supporters have persisted, rescuing hundreds of Cambodians from slavery each year - for a total of more than 6,000 to date.
Some critics question such tactics, pointing out that recovery is difficult for many freed slaves. Besides, they argue, the results are at best mixed because of the absence of reliable systems of law enforcement and criminal justice, which is part of the problem. Further, there is a large and easily accessible supply of replacements; for every woman or girl who breaks free, another can be taken.
Mam acknowledges that not all of the rescued slaves recover and reenter the mainstream. Some cannot cope and take their own lives. Others return to the brothels. But most revel in and take full advantage of their freedom, as Mam herself did.
Of course, activists such as Mam and her kindred spirits in other countries operate at a severe disadvantage. They are still building their anti-slavery campaigns and have modest resources, whereas the traffickers are well-organized and amply financed. The global recession, which has helped drive the average price of a slave well below $100, also rises against them.
Thankfully, the abolitionists are not discouraged. They need and deserve armies of supporters and sympathizers, as well as the help of governments and international organizations. If the effort were global, persistent and decisive - with the goal of eradicating human trafficking within a generation - then the slaves of Cambodia and other countries would finally wake up to a less-desperate reality.