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Cambodia's empty dock

There are many who dislike John Pilger - author, journalist, film-maker and commentator - but no one can accuse him of not going where others won't. He certainly serves as one pricking consciences where he, rightly, uncovers or challenges injustices.

In his latest writing - for The Guardian in "Cambodia's empty dock" he says that international justice is a farce while those in the west who sided with Pol Pot's murders escape trial.

"It is highly unlikely Pot Pot would have come to power had President Richard Nixon and his national security adviser, Henry Kissinger, not attacked neutral Cambodia. In 1973, B-52s dropped more bombs on Cambodia's heartland than were dropped on Japan during the second world war: equivalent to five Hiroshimas. Files reveal that the CIA was in little doubt of the effect. "[The Khmer Rouge] are using damage caused by B-52 strikes as the main theme of their propaganda," reported the director of operations on May 2, 1973. "This approach has resulted in the successful recruitment of a number of young men [and] has been effective with refugees."

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