Panel on lingering effects of genocide urges people to tell their story.
By Pamela Hale-Burns Staff Writer
03/29/2008
LONG BEACH - The memory of the crimes against them may never go away, but there just may be a light of justice at the end of the tunnel for the many Cambodians who suffered at the hand of the Khmer Rouge during the 1970s.
About 50 people on Saturday attended the afternoon session of a daylong panel discussion and workshop at Cal State Long Beach on the effects of the Cambodian genocide.
The event focused on the effects of the Khmer Rouge, but attendees were told that they could be a part of a war crimes tribunal taking place in their native country by providing testimony of their experiences.
Tracey Gurd, associate legal officer for International Justice, said courts in Cambodia have arrested five people said to be a part of the Khmer Rouge. All but one have been charged with crimes against humanity.
"The trial is set to begin in October," she said. "But there are some challenges since this all began, one being the cost."
Projected to cost around $56.3 million, the trial expenses have gone up to about $170 million, she said.
The panel discussed the legal aspects, psychological effects of the time and the continuous hazard of the land mines that are still there.
"People were forced to be silent witnesses," said Dr. Wendy Freed, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at USC. "People sometimes experience survival guilt, feeling guilty that they survived and others did not."
Freed said there are several psychological signs of distress in the Cambodian community that show the effects of the time, like nightmares, depression and violence.
According to one of the event organizers, Brian Gilmore of Golden West Humanitarian Foundation, which focuses mainly on the land mine issue, farming can be a life-threatening occupation in Cambodia, because bombs planted during the Khmer Rouge reign are still there.
Some families hunt bombs to trade the metal for money to help support their families.
"They hunt bombs to make a living there," he said. "The conditions can be changed. We wanted to start up a dialogue with the community of Long Beach so people would realize there's a certain condition in Cambodia, there are problems, but there are tangible things they can do."
Forum organizers hope to encourage local Cambodians to get involved in the tribunal proceedings and speak out against those who have wronged them and/or their family.
"Long Beach Cambodian communities can get involved in the justice system in this case," Gurd said. "File complaints and they will be delivered to the prosecutors."
About 700 complaints worldwide have been submitted and are being reviewed now, she said.
"Just because you are a world away from where the trials are taking place your voices can still count and your opinions do matter," Gurd said.
Any and all information is welcomed.
"Part of the hope is that we get some evidence that can be used, but we're happy we're starting a dialogue," Gilmore said.
By Pamela Hale-Burns Staff Writer
03/29/2008
LONG BEACH - The memory of the crimes against them may never go away, but there just may be a light of justice at the end of the tunnel for the many Cambodians who suffered at the hand of the Khmer Rouge during the 1970s.
About 50 people on Saturday attended the afternoon session of a daylong panel discussion and workshop at Cal State Long Beach on the effects of the Cambodian genocide.
The event focused on the effects of the Khmer Rouge, but attendees were told that they could be a part of a war crimes tribunal taking place in their native country by providing testimony of their experiences.
Tracey Gurd, associate legal officer for International Justice, said courts in Cambodia have arrested five people said to be a part of the Khmer Rouge. All but one have been charged with crimes against humanity.
"The trial is set to begin in October," she said. "But there are some challenges since this all began, one being the cost."
Projected to cost around $56.3 million, the trial expenses have gone up to about $170 million, she said.
The panel discussed the legal aspects, psychological effects of the time and the continuous hazard of the land mines that are still there.
"People were forced to be silent witnesses," said Dr. Wendy Freed, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at USC. "People sometimes experience survival guilt, feeling guilty that they survived and others did not."
Freed said there are several psychological signs of distress in the Cambodian community that show the effects of the time, like nightmares, depression and violence.
According to one of the event organizers, Brian Gilmore of Golden West Humanitarian Foundation, which focuses mainly on the land mine issue, farming can be a life-threatening occupation in Cambodia, because bombs planted during the Khmer Rouge reign are still there.
Some families hunt bombs to trade the metal for money to help support their families.
"They hunt bombs to make a living there," he said. "The conditions can be changed. We wanted to start up a dialogue with the community of Long Beach so people would realize there's a certain condition in Cambodia, there are problems, but there are tangible things they can do."
Forum organizers hope to encourage local Cambodians to get involved in the tribunal proceedings and speak out against those who have wronged them and/or their family.
"Long Beach Cambodian communities can get involved in the justice system in this case," Gurd said. "File complaints and they will be delivered to the prosecutors."
About 700 complaints worldwide have been submitted and are being reviewed now, she said.
"Just because you are a world away from where the trials are taking place your voices can still count and your opinions do matter," Gurd said.
Any and all information is welcomed.
"Part of the hope is that we get some evidence that can be used, but we're happy we're starting a dialogue," Gilmore said.
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