Although he wanted to leave Pol Pot before the 1996 defection, he says he and others did not have the courage to do anything. If Pol Pot was strong like before, we would not have risen up. Although he supports the idea of a trial for Khmer Rouge leaders, he says now is not the right time. Historians and other experts need more time to examine the complicated period of Khmer Rouge rule. Nobody can answer that.
Historians have to have time to work.
A Cambodian proverb says that if one fish in a bucket smells bad, it makes all the fish smell bad, although there are still good fish in there. With the Khmer Rouge, we need to clarify who made the mistakes at that time. Cambodia now needs to move to the center because the country has had too many extremist governments, Long Norin says. And the people need to focus on the present and future, instead of dwelling on the past. Long Norin says.