Siem Reap, Cambodia

Category: Genocide

4. In 1997, Cambodia asked for assitance from the United Nations to begin conducting trials against the senior leaders of Democratic Kampuchea who "planned or gave orders", as well as those responsible for committing "serious" crimes. The long delay, almost 20 years, was due to the Cambodian civil war, which officially ended in 1998. In 1999, the Cambodian government created the Task Force, a group dedicated to preparing for the trials and dealing with the United Nations. The international negotiations were long and arduous, but were concluded in 2003. The trials are still

In 1999 the Cambodian Government appointed a Task Force to prepare for the trials and negotiate with the UN. The negotiations with the UN were long and it is true to say that there were some misunderstandings and differences of opinion before both sides agreed in 2003 on the details of international participation. In 2004, the trials began. The minimum sentence is five years in prison and the maximum is life in prison. There will be no death penalty because it is unconstitutional in Cambodia.