Khmer Rouge

The Khmer Rouge (Khmer: , pronounced Khmaey Krahom or {{IPA|/kʰmaːe kɾɒːhɒːm/}}; French: Khmer Rouge in the masculine singular, Khmers Rouges in the plural) was a Communist organization which ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. The term "Khmer Rouge," meaning "Red Khmer" in French, was coined by francophone former king, later prime minister Norodom Sihanouk and was adopted in English. The official name of the Khmer Rouge was the Communist Party of Cambodia, later the Party of Democratic Kampuchea. It was also known as the Communist Party of Kampuchea, the Khmer Communist Party and the National Army of Democratic Kampuchea.

Recovery and trials

Since 1990 Cambodia has gradually recovered, demographically and economically, from the Khmer Rouge regime, although the psychological scars affect many Cambodian families and emigre communities. Although the current government teaches about Khmer Rouge atrocities in the schools, Cambodia has a very young population and by 2005 three-quarters of Cambodians were too young (less than 20 years old) to remember the Khmer Rouge years. The younger generations would only know the Khmer Rouge through word-of-mouth from parents and elders.

Related Topics:
1990 - 2005

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When the Vietnamese defeated the Khmer Rouge, Duch attempted to destroy the documents at Tuol Sleng. However, he left over 100,000 pages of documentation of Tuol Sleng. Another 100,000 pages of documents were left behind at Son Sen's (presumed) residence. Most of the remaining Khmer Rouge leaders live in the Pailin area or are hidden in Phnom Penh.

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In 1997, Cambodia established a Khmer Rouge Trial Task Force consisting of 300 people, to create a legal and judicial structure to try the remaining leaders for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. However, a shortage of funds has halted the operation. The total cost of the tribunal has been estimated at US $54 million. As of March 2005, pledges for the US $43 million that is supposed to come from the Group of Interested States and the United Nations have been secured. Japan is the largest donor at $21.6 million. The United States has yet to provide financial support due to complications with the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act of 2005, which disallowed funding for a Cambodian tribunal. Additionally, the UN has agreed to provide logistical support to the tribunal. Under the terms of the agreement to hold the trial the Cambodian government agreed to provide the remaining US $11 million, but in several statements have said that they can only afford to devote US $1.5 million and has gone to the international community requesting that the remainder of the Cambodian share be made up through donations. The location of the proposed tribunal has also been a source of contention, sites considered included the Chaktomuk Theater in downtown Phnom Penh, but the decision was ultimately made to hold it at the newly constructed Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) High Command headquarters in Kandal province just on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

Related Topics:
1997 - Group of Interested States - Royal Cambodian Armed Forces - Kandal

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Critics, however, continue to doubt that any of the Khmer Rouge leaders will be brought to justice. Some observers attributed the slow progress to the presence of former Khmer Rouge members in the current government, and fears of renewed violence by Khmer Rouge supporters.

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