Source: Radio Free Asia
Reported in English by Khmerization
Prime Minister Hun Sen demanded Mr. Chhang Youk (pictured), director of Cambodian Documentation Centre, to clarify his comments published in the Reaksmei Kampuchea newspaper last weekend in relation to his views on the widening of the scope of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.
In recent weeks, prosecutors from the Khmer Rouge Tribunal have called for the widening of the tribunal by calling for more charges, which draw strong rebuke from Prime Minister Hun Sen who said that the widening of the KR trial will cause political instability in Cambodia.
Under the UN-Cambodian agreement, the tribunal has jurisdiction to try only five top Khmer Rouge leaders.
On Sunday the 6th, Mr. Chhang Youk was quoted by the Reaksmei Kampuchea daily as saying that "if the tribunal wants to lay more charges it should show its reason to Prime Minister Hun Sen."
Speaking in a conference at Chaktomoukh Theatre on 7th September, Mr. Hun Sen strongly warned Chhang Youk not to cause further problems. "Now, no one can cause any further troubles. You won't be allowed, I'm very sorry to say this. And please do not hold too many seminars and any other things (trials) please leave them to the court. There is someone saying that 'if the court wants to lay more charges, it has to make a request to Mr. Hun Sen'. I want Mr. Chhayng Youk to explain about his comments to me right today. You must write to me whether there is a tape recording and video (of the seminar as reported by the Reaksmei Kampuchea Daily)?"
Mr. Chhang Youk immediately sent a letter of explanation to Mr. Hun Sen. "I have clarified my comments (to Mr. Hun Sen), now there is no problem. It is an article which is ambiguous (in its meaning), it is a misunderstanding", he said.
Mr. Chhang Youk also denied that he held a seminar on the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. "In short, I did not organise any seminars, the newspaper has used an old photo (of the seminar), this is the first point. The photo was from a seminar about a Vietnamese documentary film (about the Khmer Rouge) since a long time ago. So when they published it with the article, it makes it looked like that I have held another seminar. And the words from the second paragraph in the article, they are not my words, it is a paragraph that has been paraphrased by the writer. So, the Reaksmei Kampuchea has already apologised to me as well as to Samdech Hun Sen."
Mr. Chhang Youk said after reading his letter, Mr. Hun Sen has expressed his appreciation for the explanation given.
Reported in English by Khmerization
Prime Minister Hun Sen demanded Mr. Chhang Youk (pictured), director of Cambodian Documentation Centre, to clarify his comments published in the Reaksmei Kampuchea newspaper last weekend in relation to his views on the widening of the scope of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.
In recent weeks, prosecutors from the Khmer Rouge Tribunal have called for the widening of the tribunal by calling for more charges, which draw strong rebuke from Prime Minister Hun Sen who said that the widening of the KR trial will cause political instability in Cambodia.
Under the UN-Cambodian agreement, the tribunal has jurisdiction to try only five top Khmer Rouge leaders.
On Sunday the 6th, Mr. Chhang Youk was quoted by the Reaksmei Kampuchea daily as saying that "if the tribunal wants to lay more charges it should show its reason to Prime Minister Hun Sen."
Speaking in a conference at Chaktomoukh Theatre on 7th September, Mr. Hun Sen strongly warned Chhang Youk not to cause further problems. "Now, no one can cause any further troubles. You won't be allowed, I'm very sorry to say this. And please do not hold too many seminars and any other things (trials) please leave them to the court. There is someone saying that 'if the court wants to lay more charges, it has to make a request to Mr. Hun Sen'. I want Mr. Chhayng Youk to explain about his comments to me right today. You must write to me whether there is a tape recording and video (of the seminar as reported by the Reaksmei Kampuchea Daily)?"
Mr. Chhang Youk immediately sent a letter of explanation to Mr. Hun Sen. "I have clarified my comments (to Mr. Hun Sen), now there is no problem. It is an article which is ambiguous (in its meaning), it is a misunderstanding", he said.
Mr. Chhang Youk also denied that he held a seminar on the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. "In short, I did not organise any seminars, the newspaper has used an old photo (of the seminar), this is the first point. The photo was from a seminar about a Vietnamese documentary film (about the Khmer Rouge) since a long time ago. So when they published it with the article, it makes it looked like that I have held another seminar. And the words from the second paragraph in the article, they are not my words, it is a paragraph that has been paraphrased by the writer. So, the Reaksmei Kampuchea has already apologised to me as well as to Samdech Hun Sen."
Mr. Chhang Youk said after reading his letter, Mr. Hun Sen has expressed his appreciation for the explanation given.
3 comments:
The UN has invested billions of dollars to return Cambodia to a democracy, but how come no one can express their views freely without threats from the prime minister. Chhang Youk's comments were very simple, it is a just a view, but how come this prime minister gave him a strong warning?
So, Mr. Hun Sen is worth than a dictator. Regarding the KR trial, the court should charge Hun Sen too because he was a key KR leader who has committed crimes along with Heng Samrin in Prey veng in 1974.
Hun Sen was a Khmer Rouge, of course he is fearful of being called upon to testify in the Tribunal. I can't say if he had put bullets in someone head or slit anyone throat, but he sure hell ain't innocent. The only way Hun Sen and his "got-away" gangs can get away with murder is for Hun Sen is to scare and threat Cambodia and the Tribunal with civil war. If there is a civil war, only Hun Sen would be the one that started. If he did, he would be charged for killing his own citizens and it will be Crime Against Humanity. Such charges can be set forth by the UN charter. Hell...this could be a blessing in disguise to wipe out Hun Sen and his gangs.
True, only Hun Sen can start a civil war. He controls the army, the police and the government. So, how can anyone dare to start a war against him, only himself can.
The KR Tribunal was created to seek justice for the KR victims. Without the whole truth and without charging/indicting all the perpetrators of crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity, how can we achieve justice? The reason why Hun Sen opposed more charges of more KR leaders is because he is afraid that one day it might be his turn to face crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity because he was one of the important KR leaders who had committed crimes during the KR time.
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