Phnom Penh (Asianews) – For the first time a former Khmer Rouges leader admitted to the extermination of 2 million persons under the Pol Pot regime. Khieu  Samphan, former head of the Democratic Republic of Kampuchea, said: I was amazed and am still amazed why leaders killed these people." His statement came after Khieu Samphan viewed the documentary-film, "S-21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine", directed by the French-Cambodian, Rithy Panh.

"My mind is confused," added  Khieu Samphan. "My view is changing after having seen the film… I didn't think that people were killed for having stolen a potato to survive." Until now, the former Khmer Rouges leader had always justified the disappearance of 2 million Cambodians by passing blame on the Vietmanese invasion of 1978. The ex-president of Kampuchea, at any rate, denied any involvement in the genocide.           

The film that so disturbed the former leader of the Khmer Rouges, in general, was received indifferently by people. Some Catholic missionaries in Cambodia told AsiaNews that people "want to forget what happened in the killing fields. The want to build a new future."

The attempt to forget the past also involves the UN. It has been nearly 5 years since the United Nations approved the idea of an International Tribunal to investigate the Khmer Rouges crimes. Its activity is however made difficult by current government leaders who fear being implicated. At the same time, people prefer forgetting rather that reopening old wounds surrounding the exterminations. Others believe the tribunal to be not very objective.

Meanwhile former Khmer Rouges heads, all over 70 years of age, live freely, since, having chose not to fight, they enjoy amnesty since 1993. Among them are Khieu Samphan and Nou Chea. They live in villas guarded by the  military corps in Pailin, a city 370 km from Phnom Pehn in the northeast of the country, while the pass the last days of their lives in total tranquillity.  The only ones still in military custody since 1999 are Ta Mok, military commander of the Khmer Rouges, and Kaing Khek Ieu, alias "Duch", who is held responsible for atrocious tortures. In 1993, Duch" converted to Protestantism and now spends his days praying and preaching.(RZ)