By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French
The former boss of S-21 returned to the selection of torture methods used, while insisting on the existence of other detention centers which were not under his control.
On Wednesday 29 April, inside the ECCC chamber, Kaing Guek Eav recalled the debates he had with his supervisor about the interrogation technique to be used at S-21.
“When Nath was my chief, [prior to March 1976], we discussed on several occasions about the methods to use to question the prisoners,” Duch indicated while answering to the questions of the civil parties lawyer. “Nath was favorable to [the use of] electricity, and for me, it was beating them up with a stick. At M-13, Von Veth, my chief, taught me the suffocation technique with a plastic bag, but I did not like this method. Nevertheless, it was occasionally used at S-21. On the other hand, we never used waterboarding.”
At the Tuol Sleng crime museum, this type of torture was described on the illustrated panels.
Talking about his desire to be a teacher, Duch called it a “utopian dream,” because “at that time, education was not the priority.”
When questioned by Alain Werner, Duch described himself in French as being Son Sen and Nuon Chea’s “German shepherd dog” while admitting that he had “good relationships with them.”
Duch then attacked the Swiss lawyer for the civil parties, he noted that “the latter mixed up too many things” on “very complex” topics.
Nil Nonn chimed in, he underscored the fact that the lawyers asked Duch to be brief, whereas themselves, they love long speeches.
Duch added: “Mr. Werner, you should not consider S-21 as being the only detention center. At that time, there were 4 large groups in charge of internal police: the general secretariat, the person responsible for the 870 camp, the Party Central Committee, and Son Sen, the army chief of staff.”
When questioned about the M-99 camp, located in region 32, Duch recognized its existence, as well as a camp in Kampong Thom. “There were others, in Siem Reap for example, but I forgot where it was exactly,” he added.
On Wednesday 29 April, inside the ECCC chamber, Kaing Guek Eav recalled the debates he had with his supervisor about the interrogation technique to be used at S-21.
“When Nath was my chief, [prior to March 1976], we discussed on several occasions about the methods to use to question the prisoners,” Duch indicated while answering to the questions of the civil parties lawyer. “Nath was favorable to [the use of] electricity, and for me, it was beating them up with a stick. At M-13, Von Veth, my chief, taught me the suffocation technique with a plastic bag, but I did not like this method. Nevertheless, it was occasionally used at S-21. On the other hand, we never used waterboarding.”
At the Tuol Sleng crime museum, this type of torture was described on the illustrated panels.
Talking about his desire to be a teacher, Duch called it a “utopian dream,” because “at that time, education was not the priority.”
When questioned by Alain Werner, Duch described himself in French as being Son Sen and Nuon Chea’s “German shepherd dog” while admitting that he had “good relationships with them.”
Duch then attacked the Swiss lawyer for the civil parties, he noted that “the latter mixed up too many things” on “very complex” topics.
Nil Nonn chimed in, he underscored the fact that the lawyers asked Duch to be brief, whereas themselves, they love long speeches.
Duch added: “Mr. Werner, you should not consider S-21 as being the only detention center. At that time, there were 4 large groups in charge of internal police: the general secretariat, the person responsible for the 870 camp, the Party Central Committee, and Son Sen, the army chief of staff.”
When questioned about the M-99 camp, located in region 32, Duch recognized its existence, as well as a camp in Kampong Thom. “There were others, in Siem Reap for example, but I forgot where it was exactly,” he added.
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