The United Nations-backed court has the mandate to try only the most senior Khmer Rouge leaders. While the mandate only allows the court to try the most senior members, many of the lower-ranking cadres suspect that they could too be prosecuted and tried for the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge regime that seized control of Cambodia in 1975.
“We hope our meeting will help clear up any misunderstanding about our mission in order to convince them to give evidence in future trials,” said You Bunleng, one of the judges of the tribunal.
“The court cannot implement its task without their support and involvement,” Bunleng added before meeting with both government and security officials. Most of them were members of the Khmer Rouge in the Pailin region in the western part of Cambodia.
Both judges and tribunal officials will meet villagers on Wednesday. Many of the villagers they will meet were also part of the Khmer Rouge movement.
During the regime, up to two million people died of starvation, disease, overwork, or execution.
The Khmer Rouge outlawed schools, religion, and currency. The educated were targets for extermination.
Five heads of the former regime have been detained on war crimes against humanity charges. The tribunal said that more arrests are probably on the way. The trials should begin in the middle of 2008.
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