Story: United Nations Pushes for Justice in Cambodia: 05/09/05
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june05/cambodia_5-09.html

Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. Who were the Khmer Rouge? What was their philosophy?

2. What was the ultimate result of rule by the Khmer Rouge?

3. What has happened to the Khmer Rouge?

4. How is the United Nations involved in Cambodia?

5. When and how did the U.S. support Pol Pot's regime?

6. Will the U.S. participate in a Cambodian tribunal?

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. For more than thirty years no one has been held responsible for the death and torture of millions of Cambodians and other ethnic minorities. Do you think putting old men who participated in the crimes on trial will help the country or reopen old wounds? Explain your reasoning.

2. Research the detailed negotiations that led to the draft United Nations agreement to begin a tribunal in Cambodia. Who has a stake in the tribunal? What is their position and perspective on the tribunal? What do they have to gain or lose by having or not having a tribunal?

[http://www.yale.edu/cgp/chron_v3.html One source is the Cambodian Genocide Program at Yale University.]

3. What other countries have held international tribunals following atrocious acts against humanity? What was the outcome? Explain your answer.

Write a 300-500 word essay on either of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.