Friday, 4th September 2009
Phnom Penh — This week Canadian lawyer Robert Petit's three-year stint as co-prosecutor for Cambodia's war-crimes tribunal officially came to an end. He cited “personal and family reasons” for his departure, but it's widely believed that political pressure is really to blame.
Co-sponsored by the United Nations and Cambodia, the tribunal has cost $150-million but so far just five aging Khmer Rouge leaders have been charged, with only one brought to trial.
Mr. Petit, a 48-year-old veteran of conflict remediation in Rwanda, Bosnia, East Timor and Sierra Leone, says he has solid cases against another six veterans of the regime.
Cambodia's prime minister, himself a former Khmer Rouge officer as are many of his political allies, has said he'd rather see the court fail than expand its caseload because another civil war could result. But on Wednesday, a day after Mr. Petit's resignation took effect, the tribunal's Cambodian judges failed to persuade their international counterparts to block any new investigations.
Just before he left Cambodia, the usually tight-lipped Mr. Petit spoke candidly with Jared Ferrie, a Canadian writer based in Phnom Penh, about the challenges he faced.
On political interference
“It's obvious that some people in the government from the Prime Minister downward think they have a right to tell the courts what to do here. … It certainly speaks volumes about the work that remains to be done in this country …”
During a public meeting, “one older gentleman got up and asked me, ‘How is it possible that you want some more suspects when the government said there shouldn't be?' He was genuinely puzzled. As long as people believe this is a fair question, this country has a long way to go.”
What about fears that too many trials will rekindle the civil war?
“I think that's hogwash. Cambodians have paid such a high price for their peace and current stability that nobody's going to take to the bush for a few old geriatric mass murderers. It's not going to happen … To a certain extent, people who oppose that are probably still profiting one way or another from it, from impunity.
“It's always the red herring that's raised by politicians whenever accountability threatens the status quo. I think it's been proven time and time again – at least in terms of accountability for mass crimes – that on the contrary, accountability is one of the essential steps toward reconciliation and stability.
Does it matter if suspects die before their trials?
“That's one of the things that keeps me awake at night … Without these people, these events would not have happened. Their story holds the key for the Cambodian people to understand why it happened and hopefully learn from that. So I think it's fundamental that these remaining individuals face trial.”
Will other cases be like Duch's?
“It's going to be much different because, as far as I know, none of the other accused have admitted any kind of responsibility. …
“As far as I'm aware, only people kill people. A system itself is nothing without people that either create it, run it, or implement it.”
What motivates him
“One of the greatest things we have living in Canada is to be able to count on the rule of law … I've never wanted to be anything but a prosecutor. And being able to prosecute these types of individuals for these types of crimes and bringing some justice to the victims of the worst possible violations – I think there's no better deal.”
But there are limitations“My neighbour in Ottawa was a Cambodian family. Both were refugees, both made it through the Khmer Rouge, both lost members of their family. The lady was supportive, saying, ‘You're going to do your best; whatever happens it will be at least that.'
“The husband was furious with me for even taking the job: ‘Where were you and where was the UN when my family was getting killed? Where are you now with all the millions you're going to spend when my current family members are eating grass?'
“And both of these opinions are legitimate. Both of these feelings you have to respect. … A lot of people come to the court and go away disappointed. These courts generally speaking will prosecute people who never got their hands dirty, the architects or the high-level commanders, which is one of the things that I'm trying to achieve with these additional prosecutions. You can always find killers.”
On leaving Cambodia
“Of all the places I've dragged my family to, this has certainly been the best, and it's with great reluctance and great sadness that we are leaving.
“It's been a wonderful personal experience living here. My wife and kids have been very happy living here and unfortunately it has to end at this point.”
Co-sponsored by the United Nations and Cambodia, the tribunal has cost $150-million but so far just five aging Khmer Rouge leaders have been charged, with only one brought to trial.
Mr. Petit, a 48-year-old veteran of conflict remediation in Rwanda, Bosnia, East Timor and Sierra Leone, says he has solid cases against another six veterans of the regime.
Cambodia's prime minister, himself a former Khmer Rouge officer as are many of his political allies, has said he'd rather see the court fail than expand its caseload because another civil war could result. But on Wednesday, a day after Mr. Petit's resignation took effect, the tribunal's Cambodian judges failed to persuade their international counterparts to block any new investigations.
Just before he left Cambodia, the usually tight-lipped Mr. Petit spoke candidly with Jared Ferrie, a Canadian writer based in Phnom Penh, about the challenges he faced.
On political interference
“It's obvious that some people in the government from the Prime Minister downward think they have a right to tell the courts what to do here. … It certainly speaks volumes about the work that remains to be done in this country …”
During a public meeting, “one older gentleman got up and asked me, ‘How is it possible that you want some more suspects when the government said there shouldn't be?' He was genuinely puzzled. As long as people believe this is a fair question, this country has a long way to go.”
What about fears that too many trials will rekindle the civil war?
“I think that's hogwash. Cambodians have paid such a high price for their peace and current stability that nobody's going to take to the bush for a few old geriatric mass murderers. It's not going to happen … To a certain extent, people who oppose that are probably still profiting one way or another from it, from impunity.
“It's always the red herring that's raised by politicians whenever accountability threatens the status quo. I think it's been proven time and time again – at least in terms of accountability for mass crimes – that on the contrary, accountability is one of the essential steps toward reconciliation and stability.
Does it matter if suspects die before their trials?
“That's one of the things that keeps me awake at night … Without these people, these events would not have happened. Their story holds the key for the Cambodian people to understand why it happened and hopefully learn from that. So I think it's fundamental that these remaining individuals face trial.”
Will other cases be like Duch's?
“It's going to be much different because, as far as I know, none of the other accused have admitted any kind of responsibility. …
“As far as I'm aware, only people kill people. A system itself is nothing without people that either create it, run it, or implement it.”
What motivates him
“One of the greatest things we have living in Canada is to be able to count on the rule of law … I've never wanted to be anything but a prosecutor. And being able to prosecute these types of individuals for these types of crimes and bringing some justice to the victims of the worst possible violations – I think there's no better deal.”
But there are limitations“My neighbour in Ottawa was a Cambodian family. Both were refugees, both made it through the Khmer Rouge, both lost members of their family. The lady was supportive, saying, ‘You're going to do your best; whatever happens it will be at least that.'
“The husband was furious with me for even taking the job: ‘Where were you and where was the UN when my family was getting killed? Where are you now with all the millions you're going to spend when my current family members are eating grass?'
“And both of these opinions are legitimate. Both of these feelings you have to respect. … A lot of people come to the court and go away disappointed. These courts generally speaking will prosecute people who never got their hands dirty, the architects or the high-level commanders, which is one of the things that I'm trying to achieve with these additional prosecutions. You can always find killers.”
On leaving Cambodia
“Of all the places I've dragged my family to, this has certainly been the best, and it's with great reluctance and great sadness that we are leaving.
“It's been a wonderful personal experience living here. My wife and kids have been very happy living here and unfortunately it has to end at this point.”
12 comments:
don't forget the bombs by American to justice to!!!!!!!!dumbass!!!!!!!that will bring more justice!!!!!!
every body know that during KR every one must obey the order if not so they will get kill, and remember this Khmer killed Khmer are not because of Cambodian but because of the east and the west put pressure on them to do so and not all KR are bad but Patriot The Thai killed a lot of Khmer Refugee they're ever go to court American also killed a lot Cambodian they're go to court too KR defend the country they did killing because they obey the order from Pol Pot and now they the real defender and did all wonderful job to fight the invader(Siamese)because they obey the order from Samdach Hun Sen
Please all Khmer inside and oversea should sign petition not to bring more lower ranking KR to court because It's will make Cambodia unstable and break Khmer culture which said all way forgot and forgive and let see this The lower ranking obey the order from the higher ranking whose benefit and pressure from the east and the west that why a lot Khmer get killed Note KR court doesn't benefit Khmer but stirring Cambodia so the Thai can invade Cambodia more easier as the Thai always did to Cambodia in past
There were 2 entities in the Khmer Rouge regime. One entity is pro-China and other entity is pro-Hanio. At the early stage, the relationship between China and the Soviet Unions(supported Hanoi)were great. KR commanders and lesser members were educated and trained by its sponsors, mainly by Hanoi in fighting tactics. China supported KR with weapons. Pol Pot was educated of his communist ideology in Hanoi. He had much earlier start when he joined Viet Minh in 1950's to fight the French colonial ruler.
The first phase of KR ruling was not as brutal. Some parts of provinces or sectors under KR were getting fairly treated, people had enough to eat. When the relationship broke-up with China and the Soviet Unions, the pro-China KR and pro-Hanoi(supported by the U.S.S.R) began accusing and killing each others off over treasons. Guilts were impose on even an average innocent mem and women as disloyal to Angka Leur. Most were killed. This is the stage where most killing were done. It had gotten so bad that a group of pro-Hanoi sought help from a neighbor communist Vietnam, which lead to Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia. The Vietnamese invasion devided up the Cambodian, another civil war lasted 10 more years. Pro-China KR were considered as a true fighter to free Cambodia from Vietnamese invasion, while pro-Hanoi KR were considered to be heroes for liberating the opposition KR. By then, the relationship between U.S. and China had improve. With the help of American trained pro-China KR, they were able to push back the KR/Vietnamese forces and lead to the U.N intervention that lead to the signing of a treaty.
Could it be that it was one man's misery is another man opportunity for Vietnam or Vietnam was being a good simaritan to its neighbors, Cambodia. Vietnam, China, U.S. and now Russia were very involve in Cambodia's tragedy, yet not an ounce of their involement were mention to the world. It was all done by Cambodian against Cambodia, at least that what's the world know.
Mr. Robert Petit, you are one of the best Canadian war crime prosecutors. Thanks for the great jobs you have done for all the KR victims and their families. I am extremely sad to see you have to leave. We wish you and your family all the best in future. We hope you would encourage your succeeder to bring full justice to all Cambodian people and the next generation to come. Noene must be above the laws.
go fuck your mom to 641!!!!!
Robert petit should be commended for daring to stand up against the powers of the current regime which is staffed with ex-KR leaders. But unfortunately he has paid a heavy price for his principle. The losers would be justice and the victims of the Khmer Rouge crimes.
12 on 12, com' on now. you can rebut and object in a better way than this. We are all Khmers. So soon we all seem to forget......for heaven sake, we are not even done with one yet. The tribunal is going on!
i am tired of this bs about trialing khmer leaders. how about the American, the yuon ,etc...... can you stubid people see that our land and people were deprived from all corners.where are the justice in that???????why the fuck now when we are at peace and stabilities. let the past be bygone and control what needed now.and move forward and learn from the past.we have more to lose if we take away these high ranks.they are not like DUCH anyway.
Akaing, youn, chine, are all culprits and may be siem too, all in it. but don't forget khmers ourselves also. believe me, i have the same frustration too. but on the other hand, don't you think that we ought to come of this with a clear and clean conscience? we don't later on say, why didn't we do this or that? Or the next generation starts questioning this generation's wisdom on this matter. I don't knowwwwwwww!!!!(&(*&(*&. Been through hell and want to see some justice served but yet want peace. because i don't to see another hell for cambodian people. We have had enough.
i missed some verbs there above. you can fill them in as you read.
yes, we had enough.but this trial just drag us to no where.but make our country look like we are the evil people and bad ancestors.
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