reinventing ourselves after genocide: justice for the past and accountability for the future

8/11/2019 Reinventing Ourselves After Genocide: Justice for the Past and Accountability for the Future

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Reinventing Ourselves After Genocide

Sophal Ear, PhDAssistant Professor

US Naval Postgraduate School7 May 2011

Concordia University, Montreal, CanadaThe views expressed do not reflect the views of the Department of Navy or the Department of Defense

What does reinvention mean and what does it mean to reinvent

ourselves?Indeed, how do we reinvent ourselves with memory and plural identities in

the aftermath of genocide?

Do we forgive and forget or do we endlessly wait for justice?

Five Reinventions in Five Acts

1. From Chinese ethnicity to Cambodian nationality

2. From Cambodians to fake Vietnamese3. From Vietnam to France4. From French lives to American lives5. From American to World citizen

I had six minutes to tell my story.

Today, I have a little more time to reflect on my familys and my own

reinvention.

MY WIFE, 8 MONTHS PREGNANT

MOM

BILL GATES

Act 1: From Chinese ethnicity to

Cambodian nationality


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There are no American combat troops in Cambodia. There are no American combat advisers in Cambodia. There will be no American combat troops or advisers in Cambodia. We will aid Cambodia. Cambodia is the Nixon doctrine in its purest form.

President Richard Nixon, November 1971

April 17 th , 1975

Phnom Penh, Cambodia


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One day in late 1975, circa sunset

On the third day of our journey

towards Vietnam

1935 1975


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Act 2: From Cambodians to fake Vietnamese

A VIETNAMESE CITIZEN,A GOOD SAMARITAN

MOM

MEMY UNCLE AND AUNT


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Act 3: From Vietnam to France

A FRENCH CITIZEN,A GOOD SAMARITAN


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Act 4: From French lives to American lives

Act 5: From American to World citizen


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There is no more noble endeavourthan the fight for social and global justice, and for peace and development.

Mark Malloch Brown


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The Responsibility to Protect is a new

international security and human rights norm to address the international communitys failure to prevent and stop genocides, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

79

HOLOCAUST: 11 17 MILLION


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83

RWANDA: 800,000 1,000,000

85 87

BOSNIA: 200,000+


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91

DARFUR: 300,000+

But you need not look beyond Asia. Vietnam

North Korea


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Burma

Tibet

Cambodia


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2007

Police Beating Khmer Kampuchea Krom Monks

2010

The Case of Seng Kunnaka, United Nations World Food Programme

Security Guard

2008 2011

The Case of Boeung Kak Lake: 20,000 People Affected (3,000 to 4,200

families)


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2010

Khmer Rouge Tribunal

TUOL SLENGS DIRECTOR, DUCH, CONFESSED AT KHMER ROUGE TRIBUNAL IN CAMBODIA, 2009.

VERDICT: GUILTY

DEATHS: 12,273+

SENTENCE: 35 YEARS

(REDUCED TO 19 FOR TIME ALREADY SERVED)

APPEALING.

MADOFF: 150 YEARS

KILLED: 0; US$65 BILLION FRAUD

NOT APPEALING.


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My mom, Cam Youk LimJune 1936-October 2009

AbhayagiriBuddhist Monastery Universal Loving Kindness(2006)

IF WE HAVENT FORGIVEN, WE KEEP CREATING AN IDENTITY AROUND OUR PAIN, AND THAT IS WHAT IS REBORN. THAT IS WHAT SUFFERS.


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My mother reinvented herself time and time again to survive.

And she saved lives in the process.

Steven Sophal Ear, born March 2009


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Caitlyn Lim Ear, born March 2011

reinventing ourselves after genocide: justice for the past and accountability for the future

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