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Justice, human rights, and reconciliation in postconflict Cambodia.

Dicklitch, Susan
June 4, 2015

Source: (2010) Human Rights Review. 11(4): 515-530.

Retribution? Restitution? Reconciliation? “Justice” comes in many forms as
witnessed by the spike in war crimes tribunals, Truth & Reconciliation Commissions,
hybrid tribunals and genocide trials. Which, if any form is appropriate should be
influenced by the culture of the people affected. It took Cambodia over three decades to
finally address the ghosts of its Khmer Rouge past with the creation of a hybrid Khmer
Rouge Tribunal. But how meaningful is justice to the majority of survivors of the Khmer
Rouge auto-genocide when only a handful of top officials are tried? Further, given the
persistent abuse of political and economic rights in post-conflict Cambodia, we are
skeptical that justice or reconciliation is presently possible. (Author’s abstract).

Tags:

AbstractCourtsDiscovering TruthHuman RightsMeaning of JusticePolicePost-Conflict ReconciliationStatutes and Legislation
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