Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, during his trial at Cambodia's war crimes tribunal in this file photo. (Photo by: AFP/ECCC pool)Friday, 29 May 2009
Written by Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post
Expert tells court 'techniques' more brutal than other centres.
AMERICAN specialist Craig Etcheson sought to dispute defence arguments that Duch was a scapegoat for the wrongs of the Khmer Rouge regime, telling the UN-backed war crimes court Thursday that the torture techniques used at S-21 were more horrendous than those at other security offices throughout the country.
Speaking at the trial of former S-21 chief Kaing Guek Eav, Etcheson, who is currently an investigator with the co-prosecutors, said that at zone-level security offices and the security offices situated in the regime's lower echelons, the main torture techniques were "whipping, suffocation with a plastic bag and electrocution".
However at S-21, methods such as "burning, removing fingernails and toenails, putting salt or saltwater on wounds, tormenting people with poisonous insects", were used.
"There was a difference in the torture practices at S-21 and the torture practices at other security offices," Craig Etcheson told the chamber.
Etcheson, who is the author of The Rise and Demise of Democratic Kampuchea, was called on to provide expert testimony on the implementation of regime policy at S-21 prison.
Answering questions put by civil party lawyer Alain Werner about the policy of "smashing" cadres, Etcheson emphasised that the policy meant more than just a bullet to the head.
"Smash means something more than killing," Etcheson explained. "It was to smash into little pieces."
He said that starvation could also be considered a form of smashing.
"Starvation of prisoners in the security offices appeared to be a very widespread policy throughout Democratic Kampuchea."
Cambodian defence lawyer Kar Savuth disputed claims made by Etcheson that the S-21 prison was the regime's largest torture facility.
AMERICAN specialist Craig Etcheson sought to dispute defence arguments that Duch was a scapegoat for the wrongs of the Khmer Rouge regime, telling the UN-backed war crimes court Thursday that the torture techniques used at S-21 were more horrendous than those at other security offices throughout the country.
Speaking at the trial of former S-21 chief Kaing Guek Eav, Etcheson, who is currently an investigator with the co-prosecutors, said that at zone-level security offices and the security offices situated in the regime's lower echelons, the main torture techniques were "whipping, suffocation with a plastic bag and electrocution".
However at S-21, methods such as "burning, removing fingernails and toenails, putting salt or saltwater on wounds, tormenting people with poisonous insects", were used.
"There was a difference in the torture practices at S-21 and the torture practices at other security offices," Craig Etcheson told the chamber.
Etcheson, who is the author of The Rise and Demise of Democratic Kampuchea, was called on to provide expert testimony on the implementation of regime policy at S-21 prison.
Answering questions put by civil party lawyer Alain Werner about the policy of "smashing" cadres, Etcheson emphasised that the policy meant more than just a bullet to the head.
"Smash means something more than killing," Etcheson explained. "It was to smash into little pieces."
He said that starvation could also be considered a form of smashing.
"Starvation of prisoners in the security offices appeared to be a very widespread policy throughout Democratic Kampuchea."
Cambodian defence lawyer Kar Savuth disputed claims made by Etcheson that the S-21 prison was the regime's largest torture facility.
3 comments:
Don't say no Ah Duch,in 1970 Sihanouk let enter Vietcong in Cambodia,I was with vietcong and khmer rouges Pol Pot,Ieng Sary,Nuon Chhea,Ta Mok ,khiev Sam Phan,they killed together the innocent khmers since that time especialy our Lord Buddha that khmer people lived with safety centuries.In 70 they teach me like this:(Chhén pou chay+yeknan+Chungkor)chéfaan-chhean thoanché chay ikchri ta tav Meytikor chhou y.
"Flower and thorn are in the same stem"Our Lord Buddha!
Rom duol Prey Norkor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb84E71yiS4&feature=related
The Jewish holocaust or Khmer holocaust win the oscar.
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