Nanking Massacre & other genocides

On April 1975, the Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot, took power in Phnom Penh. They emptied Cambodia's cities in a bid to forge an utopia. Up to 2 million people died of starvation, overwork or were executed by the regime. The newspaper reported that there will be a trial in March 2009 on Duch or Kaing Guek Eav, the teacher turned torturer of killing field.

From the news, it remind me of the Nanking Massacre or the Rape of Nanking(1937-1938), and the documentary film I watched recently. There were 300,000 deaths by the Japanese armies.

Another incident of genocide, the Holocaust. The Holocaust was the genocide of six million European Jews , by the Nazi during the Second World War(1939-1945).

In 2005, Iran's President Mahmood Ahmadinejad reported saying that Nazi Holocaust was a myth used as a pretext for carving out a Jewish state in the heart of the Muslim world. On several occasions since then, he has cast doubt on the genocide. Recently on 21-2-2009, former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder visited Iran, he told Teheran that Holocaust, the slaughter of 6 million Jews during WW2 is a historical fact. A strong affirmation from a German leader should put to rest any doubt on Holocaust by the Iran President and any other persons. Schroeder said " It does not make any sense to deny this unparalleled crime for which Adolf Hitler is responsible"(source: The Star 23-2-2009).

Some right wings Japanese still deny their past involvement in Nanking Massacre, unlike the German who had admitted their past war crime during the 2nd world war and their involvement in the Holocaust. The action by the German is respectable. Genocide History is the truth, where many had died, many survivals told the stories personally; no one can erase the painful history from the memory of people. Whether from the Jews, Cambodian, Chinese, or any other people. The acceptance of the fact and admission by the state, provide an avenue for the victims and their families for forgiveness and psychological peace in their life.

Related articles/websites:

1. Nanking 1937, Princeton University website: http://www.princeton.edu/~nanking/html/main.html
2. Iris Chang, http://www.irischang.net/(One of history’s worst atrocities might have remained little more than a footnote had it not been for Iris Chang).
3. http://www.leekianseng.com/seJapaneseHistoryMuseum.htm