A taste of things to come

A former KR leader now living in the states had a few things to say to Radio Free Asia this weekend about the Tribunal. First that the 'accused' Pol Pot is not the most responsible, and then declaring that he plans to be a witness where he will reveal that two other former KR leaders should be the first to take the stand. He also claims that the notorious Ieng Sary saved the people of Phnom Penh. The court was never going to bring Pol Pot up on changes anyway so that is a moot point- but his description of the 'real' leaders (including the former King!) up to 1976 makes for interesting reading;

Pol Pot is not the main responsible official?

27 Oct 2006
By Mayarith
Radio Free Asia

A former Khmer Rouge (KR) who asks that his position within the KR regime is not revealed yet and who took refuge in the USA, and he is also planning to become a witness during the KR trial, declared that the main responsible person for the genocide during the KR regime is not the accused Pol Pot.

Sieng Sak, a close confidant of the former KR leader, who currently lives in Lowell, Massachusetts, and who entered Phnom Penh for the first time on 17 April 1975, is accusing two personalities as the responsible persons [in the genocide]: Former Cambodian Monarch Norodom Sihanouk and Khieu Samphan.

....He said that between 1975 and the beginning of April 1976, the Democratic Kampuchea (DK) regime was not yet formed. During that period, it was still the under GRUNC (French acronym for “Gouvernement Royal d’Union National du Cambodge,” Royal Government of the National Union of Cambodia) regime with Samdech Sihanouk as its leader.

Sieng Sak said: “One share of responsibility must go first to Samdech Sihanouk [for the period] between 17 April 1975 and 2 April 1976. Next, Khieu Samphan must bear the responsibility for the period between 3 April 1976 and 6 January 1979. On 17 April [1975], we worked and I worked with Samdech Sihanouk, and we already obtained the proof that they were the days he is responsible for.”

....Sieng Sak, the former KR chief, indicated that soon after the occupation of Phnom Penh by the KR, the mass killing started on 20-21-23 April following the trick announce made on 20 April 1975 asking the population to evacuate from Phnom Penh, the announce also asked that those who hold the rank of second lieutenant and up are invited to return to Phnom Penh to receive Samdech Sihanouk. They were in fact killed near Tuol Kok, they were stabbed and dumped into wells.

Sieng Sak recounted: “On 20 [April 1975] they were called to return back, and on 21-22-23 [April], those who hold a rank of second-lieutenant and lieutenant were killed, the killing did not stop until the 24th. We must ask why the killing was stopped? It was because Ieng Sary prevented it, if it were not for Ieng Sary stopping it on time, everybody in Phnom Penh will be killed, the killing would last 3 days. The majority of them were led to their killings in the evening, they were killed in Tuol Kok … they were smashed and dumped into a well, they were not shot.”

Sieng Sak also said that the responsibility of the killing rest on Samdech Sihanouk because the DK was not announced until 3 April 1976, following the return of Samdech Sihanouk from the UN and he handed the power over to the KR leaders to take over.”......

In response, the Tribunal spokesperson stuck to the standard line. The investigation is still underway, no one has been charged and they don't know who will be called as witnesses. Hard to believe the Defense has not picked up on this however, and may be making plans to spring for a flight for this potential witness if and when Ieng Sary has to face a judge. That would make for an interesting few days in the court.