The 3 main political party members Wednesday are concerned that the U.N. sponsored Khmer Rouge Tribunal cannot bring justice to the 1975-1979 genocidal victims and their families, after the regime commander Ta Mok, called the butcher, died last Friday, and other remaining living leaders are aging.
These living leaders are Nuon Chea, former Khmer Rouge important ideologist, deputy premier and foreign minister Ieng Sary, and Democratic Kampuchea's chief of state Khieu Samphan.
The Cambodian People's Party (CPP) senator Chiem Yiep says that he is concerned about the possible living leaders' deaths or the brutal regime participants, who are aging now, and that he wants to push the tribunal to proceed speedily.
Opposition Sam Rainsy party (SRP) legislator Eng Chhay Eang says that while the tribunal is being delayed, these aging leaders might die one after another.
Royalist FUNCINPEC party lawmaker Khieu Sarn says that he is concerned about these leaders who can give accounts about the genocide, and that they might die soon before the trial begins.
He says that these former Khmer Rouge leaders are our witnesses to accounts of killings, and atrocities committed during their regime, and that they are awaiting to face the charges and the tribunal. He does not put the blame on Ta Mok's death however. In 1997, Ta Mok captured Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot, charging him of treason.
Pol Pot died in 1998 in Khmer Rouge stronghold Anlong Veng.
Documentation Center of Cambodia Yuk Chhang says that Ta Mok's death makes the Khmer Rouge Tribunal face difficulties in bringing justice to the victims and their families.
Khmer Rouge Tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath says that the tribunal will still be proceeding as scheduled.
