Thursday is a somber anniversary, marking 50 years since the fall of Phnom Penh to the Khmer Rouge and the start of a regime that caused one in four Cambodians to lose their lives in just three years, eight months and 20 days — the length of Pol Pot’s reign of terror.
This date is also a chance to reflect on the importance of holding perpetrators to account, providing for survivors and strengthening a rules-based international order.
The Khmer Rouge Tribunal, established in 2006 to try those responsible for the regime’s crimes and whose proceedings ended in 2022, was strongly supported by Japan — a backer of other international justice mechanisms and the rule of law more broadly.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.