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Together, we can ensure that justice is done.
Youk Chhang
Director of Documentation Center of
Cambodia
dccam@online.com.kh
June 3, 2003
For many years, Cambodians have awaited justice for the crimes
committed by the Khmer Rouge (KR), whose Democratic Kampuchea (DK) regime
governed the country between April 17, 1975 and January 6, 1979. Their abuses
have hung like a dark shadow over the lives of the victims and their families,
and hindered our nation’s development.
Since the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam) was founded in
January 1995, we have been deeply engaged in the search for truth and
accountability with respect to the Khmer Rouge period. That process has often been very
challenging. However, concerted
efforts by Cambodians and concerned members of the international community have
resulted in significant strides toward justice in Cambodia. At last, the
prospect of a legal accounting is clearly in sight.
On March 17, 2003, representatives from the United Nations and
Cambodian government initialed a draft agreement that would establish
extraordinary chambers to hear cases against senior leaders of Democratic
Kampuchea and those who were most responsible for the crimes and serious
violations while the regime held power. On May 2, the Third Committee of the
United Nations adopted the draft agreement by consensus. On May 13, the UN’s 191-member General
Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution containing the draft agreement.
The US still would provide diplomatic
support for the tribunal regardless of when it is set up. The Cambodian
National Assembly is widely expected to approve the draft in the very near
future.
These developments mark a major step forward in the long and
difficult process of coping with Cambodia’s tragic past. They reflect the international and
domestic will to put an end to impunity and help Cambodians move toward a
brighter and more prosperous future.
I welcome the progress achieved in recent months and encourages continued
cooperation between Cambodian and international authorities.
I wish to thank the many individuals and organizations that have
made this progress possible. Overcoming impunity requires courage, dedication,
and resources. Many governments and private individuals have pushed for justice
in Cambodia, and their efforts are coming to fruition.
Many have chosen to support truth and accountability by assisting
DC-Cam as well, and we are profoundly grateful. Since 1995, DC-Cam has profited from a
community of concerned volunteers, expert advisors, and international donors. We
have also reaped the benefits of collaboration with like-minded governmental,
non-governmental organizations and villagers in Cambodia’s 22 provinces that
share our goal of achieving justice in Cambodia. Without their generous
financial, legal, historical, and technical support, the success of our work
would have been imperiled.
The same will be true of the upcoming Khmer Rouge tribunal. The agreement adopted by the United
Nations Third Committee is an important start, but it cannot guarantee the
success of the tribunal in delivering the credible justice that Cambodians
deserve. Significant concerns remain about the political will needed to ensure
the tribunal’s credibility. A successful tribunal will therefore require the
continued engagement of local and international citizens and groups, via both
direct participation and constructive criticism.
The same friends of justice who have helped the process reach its
current point must stay involved in the search for justice and see it through to
its conclusion. Financial, legal and technical support will be imperative, as
will dissemination of the tribunal’s activities to a national and worldwide
audience. Governments, NGOs, and individuals each have important skills to
contribute. Together, we can ensure that justice is done and that a Khmer Rouge
tribunal serves to advance reconciliation and the rule of law, in Cambodia and
abroad.
Finally, while a Khmer Rouge tribunal is an extremely important
step in the search for justice, memory, and national reconciliation, it can
never be sufficient. Dealing with
the legacy of the Khmer Rouge period is a long-term process in Cambodia. It
involves reconstructing the economy, strengthening the organs of democracy, and
educating the younger generations. It also entails psychological healing and
forgiveness in local communities. A
tribunal will support these processes, but it will not eliminate the need for
them.
I wish to thank the many individuals who every day works to bring
about these aspects of reconciliation in Cambodia. We are hopeful that concerned Cambodians
and members of the international community will help the country heal and
develop well into the future.
Ends.
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