Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Minister Hun Sen made several public statements objecting to the continuation of Case
003 and the subsequent impasse has led to criticism from many quarters including Human
Rights Watch. Many independent observers have called for the replacement of at least two
Cambodian judges for their lack of political impartiality, and German judge Siegfried
Blunk resigned under pressure for failing to conduct full investigations into Case 003. It
remains to be seen who will prevail in this battle of wills, but to many observers the entire
credibility of the trial continues to remain under threat.
To learn more about the origins of the Khmer Rouge and the Democratic Kampuchea regime,
read
How Pol Pot Came to Power
(1985) and
The Pol Pot Regime
(1996), both written by Yale
University academic Ben Kiernan.
Cost
In the meantime, the budget for the trial just keeps on rising. A total of US$100 million
was spent in the first five years, against a backdrop of allegations of corruption and mis-
management on the Cambodian side. Some Cambodians feel the trial will send a message
about accountability that may resonate with some of the Cambodian leadership today.
However, others argue that the trial is a major waste of money given the overwhelming
evidence against surviving senior leaders and that a truth and reconciliation commission
may have provided more compelling answers for Cambodians who want to understand
what motivated the average Khmer Rouge cadre.
Brother Number One
(2011) is a feature-length documentary that follows New Zealand rower Rob
Hamill on a personal journey to discover who was responsible for the murder of his brother
Kerry Hamill in S-21 prison in 1978.
