Leaving the killing fields

Khmer Rouge strongman Pol Pot, hiding on the historical sidelines of a country that he had plunged into murderous chaos, gave a stark reminder of the radical movement's mindset and methods when he murdered his defense chief Son Sen and 11 of his family members last week. It was a nasty end for a man who had been allied closely with the movement's "killing fields" reign of terror between 1975 and 1979, when countless Cambodians perished from execution, starvation, disease or hard labor. More important is what the dramatic episode means for Pol Pot and the remnants of the guerrilla force who are still loyal to him, the bulk having decided to make peace with the Phnom Penh government. "This is the end of the Khmer Rouge," Cambodian First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh said.

The beginning of the end for the Khmer Rouge, while good in itself, may not help Cambodia's hobbled attempts at national reconciliation, however. The rivalry between Prince Ranariddh and Second Prime Minister Hun Sen is common knowledge, and the political situation will be complicated even more over the question of accepting several defecting Khmer Rouge leaders into the government.

The signs are ominous. It would be a supreme irony if Khmer Rouge leaders, who have been a problem outside the political process, were to become one inside as well. That said, it is also true that their presence in the government will help to stabilize the situation and integrate the guerrillas into the mainstream of Cambodian life. A force like their party, for all its horrendous past, cannot be wished away from the present, and, if handled correctly, may help to make Cambodia's future more secure. The problem at this moment is not so much the defectors as how they will contribute to the balance of power in the coalition government. That is something which ultimately only the two prime ministers can decide, keeping in view the country's overwhelming need for peace, especially as it prepares to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

-- The Straits Times, Singapore