PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Pol Pot's top 30 comrades should be put on trial for genocide, and the July national election postponed, according to senior government adviser Chhang Song who is a dual US-Cambodian citizen.

"I would ask for the execution of anybody culpable of ordering, or executing, or initiating the death of even one person" during Pol Pot's reign, Song said in an interview.

"And I do not think the election will be free, fair and credible. I say that not because of political problems, but because of technical problems," which include a lack of preparation for the polls scheduled for July 26.

Song's candid views on a wide range of topics revealed a rare glimpse into the often secretive government.

He was information minister in the US-backed Lon Nol regime until Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge guerrillas seized power in 1975.

Song then fled to Washington, where he became an American citizen and worked with US politicians, such as then-Senator Bob Dole and Congressman Steven Solarz.

Song returned to Cambodia in 1989, and joined the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) in 1993.

Since 1995, Song has been "on the CPP's payroll" as an adviser to National Assembly Chairman Chea Sim, who is number two in the CPP under Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Nine months ago, when supporters of Hun Sen and rival co-Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh fought with tanks in Phnom Penh -- resulting in 40 people dead and Ranariddh's ouster -- Song advised Chea Sim how Washington and other foreign governments were reacting to the bloody political changes.

"I meet Chea Sim three times a week, sometimes every day. For example, during the July shooting, Chea Sim asked me, 'What does the international community think?'

"And then I would draft for him an answer, so Chea Sim knows about these things."

US President Bill Clinton and the United Nations are currently trying to arrange an international tribunal for top Khmer Rouge leaders who are allegedly responsible for the deaths of up to two million Cambodians during Pol Pot's 1975 to 1978 reign.

Last year, Pol Pot was captured in northern mountains by Khmer Rouge mutineers, and died on April 15. But many of Pol Pot's top comrades are still among the several hundred Khmer Rouge guerrillas who are on the run in the north.

Some of his senior comrades, however, were recently awarded immunity against prosecution because they "defected" from Pol Pot.

Asked how many of Pol Pot's senior officials should be handed over to an international court, Song replied, "I would say less than 50, maybe around 30."

Two of Pol Pot's most notorious top officials who might avoid an international tribunal -- thanks to the government's amnesties in exchange for their surrender -- are Ieng Sary and Ke Pauk.

Ieng Sary, 74, became the highest-ranking defector in 1996, after serving as deputy prime minister under Pol Pot, and now enjoys sanctuary in the western town of Pailin.

Ieng Sary recently stressed his innocence, telling the Cambodia Daily, "When Pol Pot gave orders, there was sometimes some disagreement, but I just did what he said, because it was my assignment.

"I really didn't know about the killings."

Ke Pauk, meanwhile, was a former politburo member under Pol Pot for 18 years, according to historian Ben Kiernan.

Ranariddh recently denounced Ke Pauk for being "responsible for hundreds of assassinations, he is a mass murderer."

Ke Pauk is now reportedly negotiating with Hun Sen for amnesty. Song, however, said, "I think Ieng Sary and Ke Pauk should clear their names, it is better for national reconciliation.

"Personally, I think Ieng Sary is like Hitler. Hitler didn't pull a gun, but still he is guilty. I do, personally, think he is guilty."

Referring to the government's controversial amnesties, Song added, "I advised that if Ieng Sary really wants to bring peace, we should accept him, and provide his personal security, request an amnesty from the king (Norodom Sihanouk), food for his people, and take his troops into the armed forces.

"Ieng Sary was sincere. The deal kept a lot of people alive, innocent people, and gave a chance to the Khmer Rouge to defect, and continue to defect today," Song said.

Despite Song's desire to now force Ieng Sary, Ke Pauk and others to be tried under international law, the Cambodian government still might need to be convinced.

"I don't think Chea Sim has the same sentiment I have. I think Chea Sim is concerned about harmony, peace, and comfort among the people.

"Chea Sim was a communist, but he was also a Buddhist monk. Chea Sim is not the kind of person wanting an eye for an eye.

"We should accept Ieng Sary, but not protect him from international prosecution for crimes against humanity. If the international community wants to do that, we should let them, and support them. "I think Chea Sim would go along with that," Song said.

The UN, meanwhile, has condemned Cambodia for the deaths of about 90 Ranariddh supporters, after UN investigators discovered their bodies in graves scattered around Phnom Penh during the past several months.

Song, however, defended the government and denied that the deaths were politically motivated by Hun Sen against Ranariddh, who is now considering boycotting the election because of alleged intimidation.

"People seem to be killing more and more now, but it is not political," Song said.

"It is piracy. Because money is very scarce now. They don't have enough to eat. It is crime.

"It is the same as behind the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC, on Massachusetts Avenue Northeast, which is a dangerous area," he added, referring to a tough neighborhood near the conservative think-tank.

"There might be a political killing in Cambodia, but the majority is crime, or personal vendetta." The adviser also expressed concern about Cambodia's inability to stage the national election in July, which would pit Hun Sen, Ranariddh and others against each other to rule this Southeast Asian nation.

"The Chairman of the National Election Commission (NEC), Chheng Phon, does not speak English, he is a hermit, and he has not read a newspaper for the past 10 years," Song said, blasting the government's choice to run the NEC.

Song said the NEC job should have gone to himself, because he was better qualified compared with Phon who was information minister during the 1980s when Vietnamese troops occupied Cambodia.

"He does research on culture, and he practices a cult of Buddhism, Vippassana, which is not mainstream Buddhism. He dresses weirdly, and wraps a white cloth around his body. He is not involved in Cambodia. He is not involved with Cambodians," Song said.

"He has nothing to do with management. He claims politics is dirty and despicable. He lives in the clouds somewhere," Song added, pointing to the sky.

"They told me he was approved because he is a good guy, a pure guy, and no one has anything against such a man. But he doesn't meet the people or the international community. He recites mantras and blesses people with water.

"I suggested the election should be postponed to November. That is after the harvest, and people would not have much to do, and they could come to the election like they come to a festival. It is not hot weather.

"It would guarantee a good election turnout. It would give time for the opposition to organize itself." Song predicted "Ranariddh will win mostly in the cities. Hun Sen will win mostly in the countryside. Hun Sen has good organization in the countryside and does a lot of things for the people.

"Ranariddh is playing the victim. I don't like Ranariddh."

Song said his dual US-Cambodian citizenship enables him to communicate effectively between Washington and Phnom Penh during their current strained relations.

"I worked with Dole in 1978, and my Save Cambodia organization was cited for a presidential award by President Reagan in 1983," Song said.

"I worked very, very closely with Congressman Steven Solarz in 1977," Song added.

"I did not come here to Cambodia to support any particular government, but to help the democratization of Cambodia."

Last July, Cambodia's crippled government sent Song to Washington as its first, senior envoy to ask US officials not to rupture relations, after Washington cut aid as punishment for Hun Sen's violent takeover.

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Richard S. Ehrlich has a Master's Degree in Journalism from Columbia University, and is the co-author of the classic book of epistolary history, "HELLO MY BIG BIG HONEY!" -- Love Letters to Bangkok Bar Girls and Their Revealing Interviews.

His web page is located at http://www.oocities.org/asia_correspondent and he may be reached by email: animists *at* yahoo dot com