Cambodian Prayer Ceremony Remembers Khmer Rouge Victims

Two survivors of the Khmer Rouge regime led a prayer ceremony on Saturday to remember those who died during that brutal regime.

This came two days before four senior Khmer Rouge leaders were to stand trial.

Both Tuol Sleng prison survivors, Bou Meng and Chum Mei, walked up steps to the Killing Fields monument where they offered prayers and promised justice for the regime victims.

[Bou Meng, Tuol Sleng Prison Survivor]:

„Duch and the other four top leaders, I will challenge them in order to find justice for all of you who died here. May you accept my assistance to find justice for you.“

Eighty-year-old Chum Mei asked those who had passed for their assistance in ensuring the leaders stood trial.

A United Nations-backed court on Monday will try those „most responsible“ for the deaths of over one million Cambodians under the 1970s Khmer Rogue regime.

Standing trial are „Brother Number Two“ Nuon Chea, former President Khieu Samphan, ex-Foreign Minister Ieng Sary and his wife, Ieng Thirith, a former Social Affairs minister.

They are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, among other charges.

An estimated 1.7 million people died during the Khmer Rouge’s 1975-1979 ultra-Maoist revolution.

Many in Cambodia fear the four defendants, who are elderly and in poor health, will die before a verdict is delivered.

Foto: NTD