Khmer Rouge

Is it time up for the Khmer Rouge?

Sophie Team Observers — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:07:19 +0100

A cell in Phnom Penh's infamous Tuol Sleng or S-21 prison. Photo by Tristan Clements.

After thirty years of waiting, the Cambodian people are finally facing their brutal past under the murderous Khmer Rouge regime. While the country's youth are happy to forget this dark period, those who lived through the genocide are eager to see it revisited. One of them, who was seven years old when she was jailed and orphaned, tells us why the tribunal will help modern Cambodia.

Although leader Pol Pot died untried in 1998, his chief torturer Kaing Guek Eav, better known as "Comrade Duch", was the first of the regime's remaining leaders to face trial in Phnom Pehn on Tuesday. The Khmer Rouge killed up to two million Cambodians when they took power of the country in 1975 and forced the country's middle classes into labour camps. Yet since they were toppled by Vietnamese forces in 1979, none of the oppressors have been tried for war crimes.

The real reasons behind the clash between Cambodia and Thailand

Sophie Team Observers — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:21:53 +0200

Photo taken on the Preah Vihear temple site by "Pixellent".

Cambodia and Thailand are verging on war. It's thought that the bordering countries are fighting over a lost temple in the deep forest. Our Observer in Phnom Penh tells us what's really at stake.

Around the ancient Preah Vihear temple today, gunshots between Cambodian and Thai soldiers can be heard. Tensions between the countries have grown steadily worse over the past few months, until Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened on Monday to turn the area into "a life and death battle zone".

Trial of Khmer Rouge judge met with indifference

Julien — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:07:45 +0100

Former Khmer Rouge number two Nuon Chea was finally brought to the Cambodian Genocide Tribunal yesterday. But not for long. He only spoke to say that one of his lawyers was unable to attend and therefore it would be unfair to go ahead with the trial until a later date. We asked our Cambodian Observers to describe the atmosphere in Phnom Penh as this momentous trial, followed worldwide, commences. To our great surprise their responses were identical: the Cambodians are not interested.

History of a genocide

Posted by Dean on Cambotube. 20-10-07