Prospects dim for Khmer Rouge tribunal<\/p>\n
By Robert Birsel<\/p>\n
PHNOM PENH (Reuters): Prospects for a tribunal for leaders of
\nCambodia's Khmer Rouge have dimmed in recent days but political
\nanalysts on Thursday predicted much hard bargaining on the thorny
\nissue still to come.<\/p>\n
Since the capture of Khmer Rouge military chief Ta Mok on the
\nweekend, the government has appeared more reluctant to back an
\ninternational tribunal for leaders of the group held responsible
\nfor the death of some 1.7 million during their 1975-1979 rule.<\/p>\n
But analysts said it would be premature to say Prime Minister
\nHun Sen's stand on a tribunal was final.<\/p>\n
The United States, which supported a UN-recognized, Khmer
\nRouge-dominated opposition alliance in the 1980s, is now leading
\nthe drive to see its leaders face an international tribunal.<\/p>\n
"The Americans are lobbying hard but I don't think they're
\nwinning much support," said a Southeast Asian diplomat.<\/p>\n
Said Kao Kim Hourn, head of the Institute for Cooperation and
\nPeace think tank: "I don't think the government's position is
\nfixed. The whole thing is not over. The fact is our foreign
\nminister is in New York, he's in a process of dialogue, of
\nnegotiation."<\/p>\n
Foreign Minister Hor Namhong was due to meet UN Secretary
\nGeneral Kofi Annan in New York on Friday to discuss a proposal
\nfrom a team of UN legal experts for an international tribunal for
\n20-30 Khmer Rouge leaders.<\/p>\n
The team's proposals have yet to be officially released,
\nthough their report was leaked in Phnom Penh earlier this month.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Hun Sen said this week Ta Mok would be tried in
\nCambodia under Cambodian law. He said he does not want the Khmer
\nRouge problem internationalized.<\/p>\n
The government has said other Khmer Rouge leaders are
\ndifferent from Ta Mok, but investigators say they are equally as
\nguilty of crimes against humanity as Ta Mok.<\/p>\n
Khmer Rouge political leaders such as Khieu Samphan, Nuon Chea
\nand former foreign minister Ieng Sary surrendered while Ta Mok
\nwas captured, the government says, raising the possibility of the
\npolitical leaders being allowed to escape justice.<\/p>\n
Hun Sen says he is worried former rebels who surrendered might
\ntake up arms again if their leaders are brought to trial, and
\nCambodia can not afford to jeopardize its new-found peace.<\/p>\n
Diplomats say he is also worried he will not be able to
\ncontrol an international investigation and the issue could be
\nwhipped up to create problems for his new ruling coalition.<\/p>\n
"The inclinations of the government are fairly clear. They're
\nnervous of an international tribunal and keen to demonstrate they
\ncan bring justice themselves," said a Phnom Penh-based diplomat.<\/p>\n
"But nothing is carved in stone. Until the UN report is
\nofficially released, and until they've stated their position vis
\na vis the report, I don't think we can say any positions are
\nfixed."<\/p>\n
Kao Kim Hourn said there were three schools of thought on how
\nto deal with the Khmer Rouge.<\/p>\n
"Some want to see the truth of the Khmer Rouge issue revealed
\nand others want it buried," he said. "There's a third group which
\nsays it wants a trial but it must be done in a Cambodian way, in
\na way that will not jeopardize stability."<\/p>\n
Complicating the issue is that foreign powers were involved
\nwith the Khmer Rouge, including China and Thailand, who supported
\nthe Khmer Rouge through the 1980s when they battled a Vietnamese
\narmy of occupation.<\/p>\n
Southeast Asian countries, some of which backed the Khmer
\nRouge-dominated coalition in the 1980s, say the question of a
\ntrial is a matter for Cambodia. But they are generally seen as
\nopposed to an international tribunal.<\/p>\n
But the issue is not going to go away for ordinary Cambodians,
\nvirtually all of whom lost family members during Khmer Rouge rule
\nand many of whom are still longing to know why.<\/p>\n
"How can the Khmer Rouge issue be over? It will be with us for
\nmuch more time to come," said Kao Kim Hourn.<\/p>",
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