The Khmer Rouge Tribunal, Power Politics, and Resistance in Transitional Justice.

The article discusses the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, which was established in 2003 by the United Nations and the Cambodian authorities to deliver justice for the victims of the Khmer Rouge regime. However, the author of the book, Julie Bernath, suggests that future historians may not view the tribunal favorably. The delay in prosecuting the crimes was due to political interference and conflicts of interest between the UN and the Cambodian government. The tribunal convicted only three senior Khmer Rouge leaders, while others died before justice could be served. The author also criticizes the Cambodian government and the international community for their involvement with the Khmer Rouge. Bernath conducted interviews with various individuals, including victims, ECCC officers, and NGO staff, to explore their attitudes towards justice and the tribunal. The book highlights issues such as poverty, land grabbing, political dissent, and the plundering of natural resources in Cambodia's post-war transition. While the ECCC did secure convictions and put the crimes on record, questions remain about its impact on Cambodia's justice system and its potential as a model for future war crime prosecutions. The article concludes that the book is a valuable contribution to the literature on the Khmer Rouge and its crimes. [Extracted from the article]