Cambodia is still one of the most poorest and least developed countries. Although the Khmer Rouge is no more, Cambodians still face violence in robberies and kidnappings. Trials are set for former Khmer Rouge leaders to face. This could open or close wounds for Cambodia. Land mines remain in the ground of Cambodia. This creates many deaths yet signs explaining the dangers are helping to decrease this. Many Cambodians lost their loved ones in the genocide. They are either dead or remain not reunited with their families. Cambodia has many years to go for recovery. It is a steady pace.
Cambodia is considered one of the most heavily mined areas in the world. It is estimated a that there are ten million mines (the highest estimate). Land mines are responsible for 20,000 lives since 1979 and around 40,000 amputees. However, Cambodia has constructed signs for bettering people’s chances. It is proven that these have helped saved some lives. Demining is also helping peoples chances. As far as mines go, they are only in certain parts of Cambodia today.
The trials against some of the Khmer Rouge leaders are happening even in this year. Pol Pot’s right hand men, Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, were sent to trial in 2011. Another man and his wife were also included in this case. However, the man died and his wife was seen mentally ill and never sent to trial. Case 002 was separated into two trials based on indictments. Trial one commenced in 2011 and focused on crimes against humanity during the genocide. Trial two broke down these crimes into smaller areas such as: genocide, forced marriage, rape, and so on. This trial commenced in 2014. Appeal hearings for Case 002 were resumed in January of this year.
On a happier note, many Cambodians have been reunited with loved ones. CNN covered a news story about a television show called “It’s Not A Dream”, which reconnects loved ones who have been separated during the genocide. The show has reconnected 54 families by the help of young Cambodian members who were born after the war. In one story, Ly Sivhong was a young Cambodian girl who was sent to a refugee camp and then to America during the genocide. Ly wanted to be reunited with her baby sister. The TV show reunited them then showed them pictures of an older woman who was their mom. The older woman came from the crowd and was reunited with her daughters.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/16/asia/cambodia-khmer-rouge-anniversary/
Genocides around the world 