PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- A survivor of the Khmer Rough death camps said he decided to come forward to get justice for his parents who were killed at one of the facilities.
Norng Chan Phal, 38, is expected to testify during the trial of Toul Sleng's prison director, Kaing Kech Ieu, also known as Comrade Duch, the first trial of a major Khmer Rouge officer in 30 years, The Times of London reported. A pretrial hearing for the camp director is scheduled for Tuesday on his alleged crimes against humanity, torture and homicide committed while he was the prison's director.
Testimony presented by Norng Chan Phal, who was a child when imprisoned, during the U.N.-authorized trial will offer the first direct account of child prisoners at Tuol Sleng.
Between 1975 and 1979 about 17,000 men, women and children accused of counterrevolutionary crimes were sent to Tuol Sleng. Only 14 adults and five children were found alive at the camp, the British newspaper said.
Norng Chan Phal on Monday spoke of his arrest and incarceration in the prison's children's unit. He said he never saw his mother after the second day he, his mother and two siblings were taken to the camp.
"Duch has blood on his hands," Norng Chan Phal, who has been living in rural Cambodia since his release 30 years ago, told The Times.
About 1.7 million people died during the four years Khmer Rouge was in power, overthrowing the U.S.-backed government in 1975. Pol Pot died in 1978.
Norng Chan Phal, 38, is expected to testify during the trial of Toul Sleng's prison director, Kaing Kech Ieu, also known as Comrade Duch, the first trial of a major Khmer Rouge officer in 30 years, The Times of London reported. A pretrial hearing for the camp director is scheduled for Tuesday on his alleged crimes against humanity, torture and homicide committed while he was the prison's director.
Testimony presented by Norng Chan Phal, who was a child when imprisoned, during the U.N.-authorized trial will offer the first direct account of child prisoners at Tuol Sleng.
Between 1975 and 1979 about 17,000 men, women and children accused of counterrevolutionary crimes were sent to Tuol Sleng. Only 14 adults and five children were found alive at the camp, the British newspaper said.
Norng Chan Phal on Monday spoke of his arrest and incarceration in the prison's children's unit. He said he never saw his mother after the second day he, his mother and two siblings were taken to the camp.
"Duch has blood on his hands," Norng Chan Phal, who has been living in rural Cambodia since his release 30 years ago, told The Times.
About 1.7 million people died during the four years Khmer Rouge was in power, overthrowing the U.S.-backed government in 1975. Pol Pot died in 1978.
1 comment:
Don't forget to try Khmer Rouge commanders (Hun Sen, Chea Sim and Heng Sarin).
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