Justice done? How Cambodia is dealing with its past

Ali Al-Nasani, Director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation Phnom Penh, and Elin Skaar, Senior Researcher at CMI.

Justice done? How Cambodia is dealing with its past and how the Khmer Rouge Tribunal did (or did not) contribute to overcome the trauma of the genocide.

From 1975 to 1979 the Khmer Rouge killed approximately 2 Million people which was equivalent to 25% of the population. Women were forced into marriages and child labour was widespread. 40 years after the liberation of Phnom Penh from the Khmer Rouge the wounds of the genocide have not yet fully healed. Cambodia and its population are affected by the atrocities until today. But the young Cambodians who were born after the fall of the Khmer Rouge show little interest in dealing with their country’s past.

Ali Al-Nasani's presentation will touch on various issues of the genocide and discuss the question if the Khmer Rouge Tribunal made a meaningful contribution to healing the wounds of the past. His presentation will be followed by a discussion chaired by Elin Skaar (CMI), discussants TBC.

Ali Al-Nasani is the Director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation Phnom Penh, a German political foundation that has been working in Cambodia since 1992 on issues such as land rights and natural resources, gender and democracy, and dealing with the past.

Tea, coffee and croissants will be served.

All are welcome!