Hoofnagle.org

Listening to NPR on the way to work this morning, they were talking about the fact that the UN has walked away in disgust and frustration from the 20 year long negotiations to try the Khmer Rouge in an international tribunal. The commentator's position was that it's possible the current Prime Minister of Cambodia is afraid that he, too, might be tried if the court really got going in full swing and is being difficult to save himself.

Couple this with the fact that I recently watched Spalding Grey's Swimming to Cambodia which admittedly is as much about Hollywood international set politics as about Cambodia and its history, but something in the way the news cast talked about the passage of time here really made me ill.

Here's the thing. Pol Pot took power in 1975. I was 5. He slaughtered people for 4 years. I was 9. I seem to recall he personally lived in the jungle and died of old age just a year or three ago. But for the past 20 years people associated with that regime have continued to live and work in Cambodia. People who were responsible for the Killing Fields and the murders have just gone back to being neighbors and parents. What the hell does that do to a culture? I mean, I know it happened some in Germany, but the worst offenders were tried or fled. In Bosnia, they're trying to round up the thugs. In Africa where the killing is still hot and heavy, it's not clear the situation has gotten peaceful enough and *everyeone* seems to be an offender. I am woefully ignorant of modern history, but has ANY culture just allowed ALL of its butchers such amnesty before? And why?

As usual, I don't really have time for this ramble. Not sure where it's going anyway. I just feel sick. And I still want to see Angor Wat someday. But that culture isn't one I want to support.

Posted by karen at February 19, 2002 12:00 AM