Cambodia's genocide tribunal

Until now, many Cambodians still clearly remember the pivotal role Indonesia played in ending their country's long civil war.

But on Wednesday, Cambodia unintentionally taught Indonesia it could make steps toward alleviating gross human rights violations. But are we willing to learn?

On Wednesday, police arrested Nuon Chea, 82, at his home in Pailin, in northwestern Cambodia, near the Thai border. Nuon Chea is believed to be the second most wanted person after Pol Pot for the killing of some 1.7 million people in Cambodia in the 1970s.

According to AFP, Nuon Chea, known also as "Brother Number Two", is the Khmer Rouge's most senior surviving leader to face the country's long-delayed genocide trials. "Brother Number One" Pol Pot died in 1998.

Vietnam invaded Cambodia in December 1978 and toppled the China-backed Khmer Rouge and made Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge cadre, Cambodia's new leader. Thirteen years later, thanks to the great mediation role of Indonesia and other ASEAN members, peace was returned to Cambodia.

Despite Prime Minister Hun Sen's initial reluctance, in 2003 the United Nations and Cambodia agreed to set up a genocide tribunal to put on trial perpetrators of the atrocities. In August this year, after three decades, Cambodians saw progress in their search for justice. The genocide court detained and charged Kaing Guek Eav, commonly known as Duch, for a crime against humanity.

Other past leaders, former foreign minister Ieng Sary, and former head of state Khieu Samphan, are also on the wanted list.

When the trial opens next year, perhaps millions of Cambodians will be disappointed with the process being hampered by health problems facing the aging defendants. But at least, justice may be delivered and those responsible for the "killing fields" will receive their punishment.

And let us look at ourselves.

Are we willing and ready to follow Hun Sen's footsteps? We helped Cambodia liberate itself from the civil war and become accepted as a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). But are we going learn from Cambodia?

Indonesia has big problems in settling past crimes against humanity. In the aftermath of an abortive coup blamed on the now-defunct Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in 1965, hundreds of thousands of people were killed.

Until now, the case remains in the dark, while efforts to trace the true history have been discouraged by nearly all of the country's presidents. Soeharto was not the only one -- even the current government is reluctant to unveil the truth.

There were many Muslim activists, students and anti-government leaders, who disappeared or were killed during Soeharto's iron-fist rule.

Many Indonesians became mad when the United Nations expressed its distrust in our government's ability to settle crimes against humanity. Particularly with regard to our former colony East Timor and restive provinces of Papua and Aceh.

Peace has returned to Aceh, but victims of human rights abuses from both warring parties are still fighting for justice. We can easily extend the list of atrocities.

We pride ourselves as a great nation. Cambodia is behind Indonesia in many respects -- at least that's what many believe. But with regard to one very fundamental thing -- Cambodian leaders have the political will and the guts to overcome their "killing fields" tragedy. And because of this, they leave our leaders behind.