Cambodians protest tribunal delays on 'Anger Day'

Every year it looks more and more likely that the leaders of perhaps the sickest genocidal regime in history will totally escape justice for their crimes, the facts of which are basically uncontested.

Up to 2 million people died of overwork and starvation or were executed under the 1975-1979 rule of the Khmer Rouge, which abolished religion, property rights, currency and schools. The endless delays that have thus far hampered the trial process usually focus on rules and procedures, about which most Cambodians couldn’t care less.

More than 1,000 Cambodians gathered at the Khmer Rouge’s notorious Choeung Ek killing fields yesterday and called for the swift trial of the regime’s surviving leaders.

Buddhist monks chanted prayers for victims of the brutal regime, as somber crowds gathered at the execution site to mark “Memorial Day,” when the kingdom remembers those killed.

“I want the tribunal to start as soon as possible — I want to get justice before I die,” said 76-year-old Koun Thol, who lost four children under the Khmer Rouge.

The start of a joint UN-Cambodian tribunal has been pushed back to early next year after years of delays and wrangling. But many Cambodians fear it will not be soon enough, and are concerned that ageing Khmer Rouge leaders will die before being brought to justice.

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