But that does not matter as far as Cambodians are concerned, because they have been waiting for so long. They want justice to be done for the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge.

When 17 Cambodian judges and 10 foreign jurists were sworn in at a ceremony at the royal palace in Phnom Penh on Monday, it set in motion a long-awaited trial for the prime suspects in the killing of nearly 2 million Khmers during the 1975-79 reign of the Khmer Rouge. That figure includes those who died from disease and starvation.

It is a major triumph for humanity in this part of the world, because the Cambodian people want it. Squabbling over the funding and specifics of the proceedings has delayed the trial, which should have occurred years ago.

The trial would not have been possible without the cooperation of the Cambodian government, although it has expressed recalcitrance in the past.

For years, the government has been under pressure from the international community, donors and the Cambodian people to initiate trial proceedings against the Khmer Rouge's top leaders, including Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary, Nuon Chea and Ta Mok, among others. These were the ones behind the failed policies that led to the massive evacuation of urban residents to rural areas throughout the country. The leader of the Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot, died eight years ago, or else he too would be standing trial for his crimes against humanity.

Currently, who will be on trial and when remains the subject of speculation.

The local and foreign lawyers involved need to work out the details of the structure and procedure of the trial. One thing is clear: there will be surprises. Let us not forget that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and many other top-ranking officials were also cadets in the Khmer Rouge. As the trial proceeds, nobody really knows whose dirty laundry will be aired or how many people will become involved.

Moreover, during their genocidal regime, there were also countries that were friendly to the Khmer Rouge, including China and even Thailand. How will these two be treated actions?

Currently, Cambodia is a democracy and a full member in Asean. Cambodians deserve some sense of closure in regard to this horrible experience in their past. Most of the families and relatives of the victims made it through their personal tragedies and now live their lives to the fullest.

Hopefully, during the trial the government and all relevant authorities will keep the public at large abreast of developments in a transparent manner. Otherwise, the trial will only augment the lingering anger and bitterness.

Learning from past mistakes, especially when they involve millions of people, is not easy. The relevant authorities will need to have more than open minds and cooperative spirits. They must be patient, as well. Otherwise, any peaceful closure to the horrors of that time will not be possible.

Genocide trials are new to Asia. Most have been related to genocidal regimes in Africa, such as in Burundi, Rwanda and Chad. The Khmer Rouge trial will set a new standard in the region and raise the consciousness of the people as a whole.

After all, a respect for human rights is still quite lacking in this region, in both the various institutions and the general mind-set. Hopefully, this trial will also serve as a preventive measure for the future.