Monday 21 May 2012

Who Killed Chea Vichea?

As everyone wonders, Who Killed Chea Vichea? While I don't want to spoil the ending, I will say that it is a mystery for all time.

A more appropriate question is: why was Chea Vichea killed? He was the president of the Free Trade Union, and supported Sam Rainsy, the leader of the most progressive party Cambodia had. Which isn't saying that much, but this is important political context. After an election that no-one one, Chea Vichea was killed, and two men were arrested and sent to prison for his murder. Two men that the film quite firmly shows are innocent of that crime, and are set up by the police. The corrupt police and the corrupt judicial system. And the corrupt Prime Minister of the country (who is still in power).

What I do like about this movie is that many people have their eyes wide open about why this happened, and about the chances of anything being done about it. The police have their scape-goats, Cambodia has some political system now in place, and the US has good commercial ties. And from that point of view all is right with the world. That people died to bring this about isn't of concern to them.

I am cynical, and this movie is an example of this entirely in action. It's an interesting watch, but this is just one example of this practice out of many...

(If you speak Khmer, you can find the full film on Youtube.)
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