Скачать или смотреть CAMBODIA: PRIME MINISTER HUN SEN INTERVIEWED

(5 Nov 1999) Khmer/Natsound

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has given an exclusive interview with the Associated Press, during which he said he was open to the possibility of a trial of all top Khmer Rouge leaders.

Hun Sen reasoned that trying just those who are under detention would not satisfy the Cambodian people's thirst for justice.

In an exclusive interview, Hun Sen talked about the planning of the trial of the Khmer Rouge leaders, who are responsible for the deaths of an estimated 1-point-7 (m) million people during the three years of their rule.

He declined to pinpoint which leaders should be put on trial, but suggested that trying just those who are under detention will not satisfy the justice.

Key Khmer Rouge leaders like Khieu Samphan and Noun Chea, who defected to the government in exchange for the pardon since last year, are likely to indicted by the Cambodian court.

SOUNDBITE : (Khmer)
"That's my idea. If we just blame Pol Pot and Son Senn, who died already, or just blame Ta Mok or Duch who are at the custody. That would not be enough to find justice for the Cambodian people."
SUPERCAPTION: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen

Negotiations among the United Nations, Cambodia and the United States about the shape of the tribunal has dragged on, and the Prime Minister said he is not too keen to spend more time on it.

SOUNDBITE: (Khmer)
"You see, I have dismantled the Khmer Rouge political and military organisation already. What is remained is the trial of Khmer Rouge. I'd like to push it beyond my hands, put it in the hands of the court of Law."
SUPERCAPTION: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen

U-N representatives had talks with the Cambodian government, suggesting a court with foreigners making up the majority of judges as it was believed that Cambodian court system was underdeveloped and too politicised to hold a fair trial.

But Hun Sen said he'd rather have a Cambodia-controlled tribunal with the possible addition of UN-supported judge.

SOUNDBITE: (Khmer)
"We'd like to take this draft law for the considerations of the council of Ministers by the month of December. Hopefully, we can start the proceedings for trial during the first quarter of 2000."
SUPERCAPTION: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen

The French magazine L'Express and some local newspapers claim Hun Sen's wife Bun Rany was behind the slaying of the popular actress Piseth Peaklica in July.

Her alleged diary, and a love poem to her supposedly penned by Hun Sen have both ben published.

SOUNDBITE: (Khmer)
"What's important is that bad people invented the stories. There are people would believe in the invented stories."
SUPERCAPTION: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen

Hun Sen said his rival had been behind a string of other manufactured accusations, including one charging that he had ordered a 1997 grenade attack against a Sam Rainsy political rally that killed 17 persons.

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