Almost every Cambodian family was emotionally scarred by Khmer Rouge rule between 1975 and 1979. The Documentation Centre of Cambodia, a genocide-research institute, estimated that at least 1.7m people died from execution, starvation and other unnatural causes under the Khmer Rouge - more than 20% of the population at the time.
In 2004, a special Khmer Rouge tribunal backed by the UN was finally established. In early 2005, despite the death of several key Khmer Rouge figures, including Pol Pot, at least six surviving senior leaders were expected to be put on trial in the capital Phnom Penh.
In Jul 2007, Kang Kek Ieu, also known as Duch, aged 66, was finally in charge of the notorious S21 jail in the country's capital, Phnom Penh. He was the first Khmer Rouge leader being charged in Cambodia. By charging Duch, the judges were sending out a clear message that the special courts were operational and moving more quickly than many people expected.
In Sept 2007, Nuon Chea, known as 'Brother Number Two" as he was second in command to Pol Pot, was arrested and charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ieng Sary, aged 74, known as "Brother Number Three", was the third person to be arrested by the tribunal in Nov 2007.
It seems that things are going on track. But the progress has been very slow. These leaders are getting old, how long can they wait? Pol Pot, the founder and leader of the Khmer Rouge, died in a camp along the border with Thailand in 1998. Other key figures have also died. Ta Mok - the regime's military commander and one of Pol Pot's most ruthless henchmen - died in July 2006.
As time goes on, some people are beginning to question whether it is too late to achieve a proper sense of justice for the Cambodian people.
Will it be too late?
In 2004, a special Khmer Rouge tribunal backed by the UN was finally established. In early 2005, despite the death of several key Khmer Rouge figures, including Pol Pot, at least six surviving senior leaders were expected to be put on trial in the capital Phnom Penh.
In Jul 2007, Kang Kek Ieu, also known as Duch, aged 66, was finally in charge of the notorious S21 jail in the country's capital, Phnom Penh. He was the first Khmer Rouge leader being charged in Cambodia. By charging Duch, the judges were sending out a clear message that the special courts were operational and moving more quickly than many people expected.
In Sept 2007, Nuon Chea, known as 'Brother Number Two" as he was second in command to Pol Pot, was arrested and charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ieng Sary, aged 74, known as "Brother Number Three", was the third person to be arrested by the tribunal in Nov 2007.
It seems that things are going on track. But the progress has been very slow. These leaders are getting old, how long can they wait? Pol Pot, the founder and leader of the Khmer Rouge, died in a camp along the border with Thailand in 1998. Other key figures have also died. Ta Mok - the regime's military commander and one of Pol Pot's most ruthless henchmen - died in July 2006.
As time goes on, some people are beginning to question whether it is too late to achieve a proper sense of justice for the Cambodian people.
Will it be too late?
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