US Cambodian Seeks to Unite Victims
By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
Original re****t from Wa****ngton
03 April 2008
Nou Leakhena founded the Applied Social Research Institute of Cambodia
as a way to bring Cambodians together, to help them heal, and teach
them to trust .
Working with those traumatized by the brutality of Cambodia's wars,
the Khmer Rouge or the current government, Nou Leakhena , who is
Cambodian-American, is slowly building a community of understanding,
healing, and, she hopes, justice.
The Institute is also compiling data on trauma suffered by
Cambodians.
"The root of the problem is that the people themselves don't trust
each other, even the Khmer people in America," Nou Leakhena, PhD, said
in a recent interview. "The key factor for the local Khmer people in
seeking justice is whether they should be united between Khmer and
Khmer and build up strong solidarity among each other, then demand
justice by itself before asking for assistantce from outside."
The Institute is recording information from victims of the Khmer
Rouge, and helping people identify whether, under the laws of the
Khmer Rouge tribunal in Phnom Penh, they are victims.
The Institute held a forum in March that gathered around 100
participants, who shared their experiences and testimonies.
"It is our belief that the testimonials given will not only benefit
the mental health of the participants in the immediate and long term,
but they will also help provide critical evidence to be used in the
prosecuting Khmer Rouge leaders in captivity," Nou Leakhena said.
The Institute not only wanted to help tribunal proceedings, but to
assist modern Cambodia.
"There are all kinds of human rights violations happening in Cambodia
now," she said. "The powerful and rich violate the poor and the
powerless."
Koy Saveun, a participant for the Institute's March forum, said the
gathering was im****tant to help him "clearly identify what justice
is."
"Before you seek justice in society, you had better seek justice from
yourself and your family," he said.
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