District officials in Samlot Friday refuted reports of a troop buildup in the northwest region that reportedly was ordered by former Khmer Rouge officials who have grown nervous at the prospect of a war crimes tribunal.
The reports, published in the Aug 8 edition of Samleng Yuvachun Khmer (The Voice of Khmer Youth) newspaper, said Sou Met, deputy commander of Military Region 5, ordered the buildup after seeing his name listed in a US report as a possible suspect for the tribunal.
“It did not happen like that,” said Neth Un, a Samlot district official, when asked about the troop buildup. “It’s quiet. Nothing has happened here.”
He said Sou Met, who lives in Samlot village of Samlot district, took relatives to Thailand for the weekend but was expected to return soon.
The deputy governor of Samlot district, Nou Sithoeun, also refuted the report, saying no soldiers have gathered and no tanks have been moved, as was reported. “It’s no problem with the people here if they try the top leaders,” Nou Sithoeun said.
“But if the trial went to the low-ranking Khmer Rouge leaders, people here would not be happy. People here would be frightened and scared. There are a lot of low-ranking Khmer Rouge here,” the deputy governor added, identifying himself as a former commander of a Khmer Rouge division.
Captain Sann Son, commander of Samlot district’s sub-military region, said his soldiers are more interested in demobilizing than defending their former leaders.
However, he added that Sou Met, whom he has known since 1970, should not stand trial.
“I heard from Radio Free Asia that Sou Met would be involved with the Khmer Rouge trial, but he was low ranking. He was not involved with what happened before,” he said.
The report states that Sou Met was one of seven Khmer Rouge officials who could face trial for their actions between 1975 and 1979.
