By Ung Chamroeun
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French
The debate ended on a deceiving note on Monday 20 April, the day before the end of the hearings for witnesses of the M-13 detention camp.
The fourth witness in the “No. 1 affair,” the M-13 detention camp, showed the difficulties in establishing the facts. Chan Khorn, a witness in this case, brought forth the shortcomings of his memory.
When asked by Cambodian Judge Nil Nonn, the chamber president , the 53-year-old witness, who now lives in the Tep Phirom commune (Thpong district, Kampong Speu province), spoke with hesitation and with obvious reserve.
“I do not remember very well about what happened at M-13 in 1973. I was still very young back then,” he indicated while answering to almost all questions by: “I forgot.”
Chan Khorn said that he was deported from his village to complete “his army draft duty” and he was sent to work at M-13. He recognized that “several prisoners” were tortured but that he never personally participated in such session.
On the other hand, the witness identified Chan Voeun, who came earlier in the day to answer to the questions of Judge Jean-Marc Lavergne. At that time, Duch denied that Chan Voeun was part of the M-13 personnel.
“I know Chan Voeun, he was a guard just like me. It was him who freed prisoners before he was detained himself. I advised him to escape so that he would not be killed,” Chan Khorn claimed before indicating his “shame” for working at M-13.
“It was in this camp that my grandfather died, but I don’t know who killed him,” he added.
The fourth witness in the “No. 1 affair,” the M-13 detention camp, showed the difficulties in establishing the facts. Chan Khorn, a witness in this case, brought forth the shortcomings of his memory.
When asked by Cambodian Judge Nil Nonn, the chamber president , the 53-year-old witness, who now lives in the Tep Phirom commune (Thpong district, Kampong Speu province), spoke with hesitation and with obvious reserve.
“I do not remember very well about what happened at M-13 in 1973. I was still very young back then,” he indicated while answering to almost all questions by: “I forgot.”
Chan Khorn said that he was deported from his village to complete “his army draft duty” and he was sent to work at M-13. He recognized that “several prisoners” were tortured but that he never personally participated in such session.
On the other hand, the witness identified Chan Voeun, who came earlier in the day to answer to the questions of Judge Jean-Marc Lavergne. At that time, Duch denied that Chan Voeun was part of the M-13 personnel.
“I know Chan Voeun, he was a guard just like me. It was him who freed prisoners before he was detained himself. I advised him to escape so that he would not be killed,” Chan Khorn claimed before indicating his “shame” for working at M-13.
“It was in this camp that my grandfather died, but I don’t know who killed him,” he added.
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