The timing of Pol Pot’s death late Wednesday raised the suspicions of diplomats and military analysts, with some believing the infamous guerrilla was murdered to ensure he never testified before an international tribunal.
“The timing has raised a lot of questions,” said one Asian diplomat. “With the Americans very pushy about handing over Pol Pot, and with Ta Mok evidently setting conditions concerning his surrender and [Pol Pot’s] handover, the coincidence is great.”
A Western military analyst pointed out that forces loyal to the government apparently had gained such a dominant position over the remaining hard-line Khmer Rouge that the reeling rebels were forced to strike an unpalatable deal to hand over Pol Pot to top RCAF officials, including Defense co-Minister Tea Banh.
“I believe Pol Pot was killed to prevent him from falling into the hands of Tea Banh,” the analyst said, implying that some Khmer Rouge cadres were opposed to leaving the fate of their former supremo in the hands of longtime enemies in Phnom Penh.
The Asian diplomat said several prominent foreign nations, influential individuals in Phnom Penh, and senior guerrillas who have defected to the government since 1996 have reasons to fear the testimony of Pol Pot at an international tribunal.
“He might have been murdered to bury all the issues,” the diplomat said. “If he is questioned openly by an international tribunal, his relationship with the present leaders now [in Phnom Penh], the Chinese, even the Thais, will be more clearly revealed. Then you complicate things.”
Diplomats and analysts said China and Thailand would risk being implicated in supporting brutal policies if a trial was convened. They noted China was Phnom Penh’s greatest ally and international benefactor from 1975-79 and the Thais have been accused by Phnom Penh of aiding and trading with the guerrillas after 1991, when the Thai government formally agreed to sever all relations with the rebels.
They also said that some leaders in Phnom Penh, including Second Prime Minister Hun Sen, had been Khmer Rouge cadre in the 1970s and may not want Pol Pot to answer questions in front of a tribunal.
Additionally, prominent Khmer Rouge who have defected to the government since 1996—including Ieng Sary, Y Chhien, Sam Bith, Ny Khorn, and Ke Pauk—have everything to lose if a trial was convened, they said. More than a dozen top Khmer Rouge commanders who have defected and been given guarantees of safety by the government—and in the case of Ieng Sary, a royal amnesty—implemented inhumane policies, scholars say.
Nuon Nou, a guard in charge of detaining Pol Pot since he was put under house arrest last June, told The Associated Press on Thursday that Brother No 1 died of natural causes.
“If they are afraid the body is tampered with, ask his wife. She was there. No one has done anything like that,” he said.
Nuon Nou said Pol Pot’s wife cried after seeing her husband’s corpse, AP reported. “It is impossible for a wife to inject her husband to death,” Nuon Nou said.
Youk Chhang, the director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, which is compiling evidence of Khmer Rouge atrocities, said Thursday morning that he would not be convinced of Pol Pot’s death until his body is produced and expertly identified.
He, too, singled out China and Thailand as countries not enthusiastic about the convening of a tribunal. But he expressed hope that if Pol Pot is dead, backing for an international trial could come from Beijing and Bangkok in support of the US, Norway, Holland and other Western nations.
“Everyone who has been associated with the Khmer Rouge in the past might now change their attitude about the tribunal,” Youk Chhang said. “They were afraid to be pointed at by Pol Pot in front of the international community.”
A senior Chinese diplomat said Thursday that China has nothing to fear from an international tribunal, but implied Beijing does not favor the US-backed proposal.
“The Khmer Rouge issue is the internal affair of Cambodia, which should not be interfered with by outsiders,” said Wu Qingsheng, the first secretary. “We know some countries put forward the idea of an international trial for Pol Pot, but this is our stance.”
The Chinese official emphasized that Beijing cut off all contact with the Khmer Rouge in 1991 and held routine diplomatic and economic relations with Phnom Penh during Pol Pot’s reign from 1975-79.
A senior adviser to Hun Sen said Thursday that the announced death “could be a trick” but emphasized that the second prime minister does not fear the formation of an international court to try Pol Pot.
“The second prime minister wants the tribunal,” Prak Sokhonn said. “Pol Pot has committed so much crime.”
When asked about Hun Sen’s involvement in the Khmer Rouge as a deputy commander based near the Vietnamese border before fleeing Pol Pot’s purges in 1977, Prak Sokhonn pointed out that Hun Sen rebelled against Pol Pot’s leadership.
“Remember Hun Sen was fighting to liberate the country, following the call of Prince [Norodom] Sihanouk, he was not fighting for Pol Pot,” he said.
Other government leaders, including National Assembly President Chea Sim and Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, were part of the Khmer Rouge ranks in the mid-70s but, like Hun Sen, are believed by scholars to be relatively uninvolved with the genocide.
(Additional reporting by Marc Levy)
