The Butcher Is Dead

Ta Mok (the , the former Khmer Rouge military commander, died in custody awaiting trial for his leading role in the bloodshed that befell Cambodia from 1975-1979. His death deprives Cambodians of open airing in a domestic court of his role in the Pol Pot led movement. Cambodian political development will remain stunted in the absence of a fair and exhaustive investigation of Khmer Rouge crimes. Ta Mok, a central regime figure and thereafter a decades-long fugitive, represented a crucial witness and defendant. We still remain hopeful that the trials will provide some sense of closure, but Ta Mok's absence

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