Investigator of Cambodian genocide wins ‘Asia’s Nobel’

MANILA: A Cambodian who has devoted his life to documenting the killing of almost two million of his countrymen in the 1970s was named yesterday among the winners of this year’s Magsaysay Awards, widely regarded as Asia’s version of the Nobel prize, reports AFP. Youk Chhang, 57, was given the award for his role as head for more than two decades of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, an institute that investigates atrocities committed under the Khmer Rouge.

The Khmer Rouge was a murderous, ultra-Maoist organisation that killed one quarter of Cambodia’s population from 1975 to 1979. Youk’s organisation aims to help victims of the brutal regime come to terms with their ordeal while ensuring that future generations do not forget the events.

Youk, who experienced torture and saw the death of many family members at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, said he undertook the work for his mother, who also suffered extensively during the genocide.

 

Investigator of Cambodian genocide wins Asias Nobel

MANILA: A Cambodian who has devoted his life to documenting the killing of almost two million of his countrymen in the 1970s was named yesterday among the winners of this years Magsaysay Awards, widely regarded as Asias version of the Nobel prize, reports AFP. Youk Chhang, 57, was given the award for his role as head for more than two decades of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, an institute that investigates atrocities committed under the Khmer Rouge. The Khmer Rouge was a murderous, ultra-Maoist organisation that killed one quarter of Cambodias population from 1975 to 1979. Youks organisation aims to help victims of the brutal regime come to terms with their ordeal while ensuring that future generations do not forget the events. Youk, who experienced torture and saw the death of many family members at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, said he undertook the work for his mother, who also suffered extensively during the genocide.