First Khmer Rouge Genocide Trial

It became known simply as the ‘The Killing Fields’ and was one of the most vile examples of massive evil in modern times.

To make a long horrendous story short, the communist terror group, Khmer Rouge, starved, tortured, and butchered much of Cambodia’s population, including children. When the blood bath ended around 1975, an estimated 2 million of the country’s 7.5 million residents had been exterminated. It was one of the most lethal regimes of the 20th century.

And now, three decades later, the head of a prison where some 16,000 men, women and children were tortured before being killed has appeared before Cambodia's genocide tribunal. Kaing Guek Eav is being charged with crimes against humanity in the first trial of a Khmer Rouge leader since their mind-numbing reign back in the 70’s.

Any who doubt the existence of sin, and the depths to which mankind can sink, need look no farther than the Killing Fields. And none need wonder why such things occur, since the Bible takes great care to explain the source and reality of human depravity -especially in Romans chapter one.

But the Scriptures also make abundantly clear that all sin will be dealt with in eternity, even if it escapes man’s justice on earth. The writer of Hebrews put it this way. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9: 27) The Apostle Paul spoke forcefully on the reality of what unrepentant sinners have to look forward to in his letter to the church at Rome. In chapter one and verse 18 he wrote, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” He repeated his declaration in the very next chapter. “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each one according to his deeds." (Romans 2:5-6)

But even with that basic understanding in place, what is often overlooked is that guilt before God and punishment by Him is not geared only toward those who commit huge unspeakable acts. And His wrath will not be focused on just those who happen to have a ‘life-long ledger’ which reveals a little more in the bad column than the good. The Bible assures in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” And a just and holy God has no choice but to righteously deal with it. To not do so would be a violation of His own character, and a theological impossibility.

Scripture also shares a vivid illustration in Revelation about what it will be like for those who must someday face their Creator with absolutely no excuses, and far worse, no Savior. “And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" (Revelation 6:151-7)

The brutality of human sin is all too real. Fortunately so is the reality of a salvation that can cope with it. Just following the reality of Paul’s statement that all fall short of God’s glory comes the glorious opposite potential in verse 24. “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith.” The writer John selected his words on the subject this way. “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (1 John 2:1)

Kaing Guek Eav is charged with crimes against humanity and will no doubt receive whatever is deemed appropriate for his wretched acts. But his sin was not just against humanity. It was also aimed at deity. (Psalm 51:4) And his judgment in the earthly realm will be as a drop in the ocean if and when he faces God’s wrath without the defense of redemption found only in Jesus Christ!

Bill Breckenridge