A UN-backed court on Wednesday dismissed a case against a former Khmer Rouge cadre charged with crimes against humanity, highlighting the difficulties of bringing lower level members of the brutal regime to justice. The Khmer Rouge dismantled modern society in Cambodia in their quest for an agrarian Marxist utopia, killing up to two million people. Mid-ranking cadre Im Chaem, a former district official, was among four Khmer Rouge members facing prosecution for charges including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Cambodian court dismisses charges against Khmer Rouge official https://t.co/eWiGZhCxCd pic.twitter.com/yNWOUWUqBD — dwnews (@dwnews) February 22, 2017‘Difficult to swallow’Strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen, himself a former Khmer Rouge cadre before he defected, has repeatedly hit out at the prospect of further prosecutions, warning they could ignite civil unrest. Otherwise, we need to prosecute all Khmer Rouge members,” Chum Mey, one of a handful survivors from Khmer Rouge’s notorious Tuol Sleng prison, said.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 22, 2017 13:05 UTC