Reconciliation and Perpetrator Memories in Cambodia

A critical examination of perpetrator memories reveals their complex and contradictory role in reconciliation efforts, particularly within the context of Cambodia's Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). The study, conducted through ethnographic and interview data from Anlong Veng—a former Khmer Rouge stronghold—highlights how memories of atrocity can both disrupt and align with reconciliation narratives. While perpetrator and victim memories often appear irreconcilable, they also demonstrate surprising commensurability within the ECCC's framework. This duality challenges conventional understandings of reconciliation, offering new insights into the place of perpetrator memories in human rights scholarship.

Manning, P. (2015). Reconciliation and Perpetrator Memories in Cambodia. International Journal of Transitional Justice, 9(3), 386–406. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijtj/ijv015