By Youk Chhang
I am writing this letter to the editors including of the Diplomat to share my opinion on the Genocide Denial Law. Despite certain public concerns with the law’s political motivations, it is my humble opinion that this law is necessary for this generation to maintain stability and to pursue further development.
However, while this law is necessary, it is not enough to tackle the larger task of promoting Cambodia’s healing, education, and future progress.
Cambodia also needs a law that mandates the teaching and/or training on the history of the Khmer Rouge to ensure that the history of this horrific period will never be forgotten. A law that criminalizes the denial or trivialization of Khmer Rouge crimes can be an important tool to prevent open denial or trivialization of this history, but it only addresses one part of the problem. The Genocide Denial Law does not address the lifeblood of all genocidal regimes, which is ignorance.
Ignorance is the root cause of indifference, intolerance, and ultimately violent extremism, and without education, Cambodia’s past will almost certainly come to haunt its future. Ignorance cannot (and should not) be criminalized, but it can be addressed through education.
There are legitimate reasons why a law requiring education and/or training about the history of the Khmer Rouge is not necessary—the principal reason being education should never require a law to implement. This argument falters on the fact that if the open denial or trivialization of this history warrants as serious a response as the promulgation of a criminal law, then ignorance, having far-reaching and more pernicious consequences across all of society, deserves just as equal attention in the form of a law.
Promulgating a law that mandates the teaching and/or training on the history of the Khmer Rouge will elevate Cambodia above most of the developing and even the developed world in terms of setting a standard for the institutionalization of atrocity crime prevention education. The law will enable Cambodia to set the standard for how countries devastated by war and genocide can not only recover but also take concerted action to prevent future atrocities. And unlike the Genocide Denial Law, there should be nothing controversial or political in the promulgation of a law on education.
The law will be another demonstration of Cambodia’s deep-seated commitment to never accept the return of the Khmer Rouge or any regime remotely similar to this genocidal regime.
I wanted to share my opinion on this matter in a public forum because I believe this is a matter of great public importance and one that should align with the interests of the Cambodian Government. I know education is an important pillar for the legacy of Cambodia, and the entire Cambodian Administration as represented by the Leadership of His Excellencies Samdech Hun Manet, prime minister of Cambodia, and Samdech Techo Hun Sen, former prime minister of Cambodia and president of the Senate of Cambodia.
The Cambodian Government should take this action today for two reasons.
First, there is no better time than now for Cambodia. Cambodia has come so far in rebuilding its society, restoring peace and prosperity, and establishing itself as a nation willing to confront its past through education. We should not overlook this opportunity for Cambodia to further cement its commitment to leading the world in the area of atrocity crime prevention education.
Second, this law will be an investment in Cambodia’s future, and the window of opportunity for making this investment will only diminish with time. I have great faith in today’s youth, but I think it would be a grave mistake to assume that future generations of Cambodians will have as much appreciation for the importance of this history as the survivors and leaders of today. Being so far removed from the horrors of this genocidal period, future generations of Cambodians will find it easier to regard this history with less interest and even disbelief that something so horrible could have occurred. Even today, I have seen some youth questioning whether this history may be exaggerated or made up.
The Genocide Denial Law will protect survivors, loved ones, and society today from the trauma of having this history trivialized or denied. But only a law that mandates education and training on this history will prevent the quiet effects of ignorance to take hold in the future.
Youk Chhang is director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam)
Ref:
Freedom of Expression and Crime of Genocide
David Hutt, a mercenary writer, should see Cambodia for what it truly is
Genocide-denial law sails through National Assembly
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