Sihanouk refuses amnesty to Khmer Rouge defectors

But the king said: “Taking into account the very large and undeniable discontent of the majority of the Khmer people, I announce to this majority that I respect them and that I will not renew my granting of an amnesty to the big Khmer Rouge criminals who are against the Cambodian people.”

In July 1996, at the request of co-premiers Hun Sen and Prince Norodom Ranariddh, the king issued an amnesty for the former Khmer Rouge number three Ieng Sary, when he left the guerrilla movement.

“From now on, I am leaving it to Prime Minister Hun Sen to take all the responsibility for handling this unhappy and dramatic affair to accord a pardon to the Khmer Rouge,” the monarchsaid.

His comments were made in an interview conducted in Beijing, where he is receiving medical treatment.

Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea were received on Tuesday by Hun Sen after their arrival in Phnom Penh. The two former lieutenants of late Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot left their jungle bases last week to go over to the government’s side.

Hun Sen has chosen to let them stay free despite international pressure for them to face a Crimes Against Humanity tribunal.

The king gave his backing to any planned Crimes Against Humanity tribunal.

“Such a tribunal has the perfect right to judge the affair of genocide in Cambodia because it was a crime against humanity,” said King Sihanouk. “This comes under the conscience of the people of the world.”

Several of the king’s children were killed during the Pol Pot rule and the king was kept prisoner for two-and-a-half years in the royal palace in Phnom Penh.