Dear Editor,

"You must know that the peace factor came from Ieng Sary, but the war factor

can also come from Ieng Sary." This was a quote by PM Hun Sen in the recent

Associated Press article.

The Cambodian PM has been predicting or hinted of war should the call to prosecute

Mr. Ieng Sary become a reality. War cry in Cambodia is always easier, but the call

for "real peace and justice" is much more elusive. Needless to say, Cambodia

has had many wars already, some were large scale and others were small, but all of

them were wars. IF PM Hun Sen and Mr. Ieng Sary are truly peace lovers and reconcilers,

as they had proclaimed, war should be a remote possibility and the least of Khmer

people's concern.

The Khmer people and the rest of the free world are wondering if the Cambodian

PM and Mr. Ieng Sary have already planned something ahead of the proposed tribunal?

Perhaps there is already an agreement between the two leaders? Perhaps an understanding

of some sort? Or perhaps it was just a threat? Whatever the motive might be, only

PM Hun Sen and Mr. Ieng Sary can answer these questions.

As a Khmer who has suffered greatly under many years of war and under the Khmer

Rouge regime (a regime which Mr. Ieng Sary and PM Hun Sen were a part of), I urge

the two leaders to give "real peace and justice" a chance. Only then shall

true peace and reconciliation among the Khmer people follow. I do not just say this

on my behalf alone. Rather, I speak for millions of lives that have been cut short

by war and by the Khmer Rouge. Among the dead are nine of my immediate family members.

I wish for no vengeance (it is much easier to get a revenge, I believe). I simply

wish for the truth, for some justice, as the KR can never pay for their heinous crimes.

In this sense, the KR leaders, former or otherwise, have absolutely nothing to hide

from a tribunal, except hiding from the truth. Anything less would be a great travesty

of justice for the Khmer people. It would amount to a "moral war" against

the Khmer people and against humanity as a whole. Please give justice a chance, If

these so called "Khmer leaders" really believe in peace and reconciliation.

End the sense of impunity now or without a doubt history will be repeated.

- Ronnie Yimsut, [email protected]