Go shrine seeing, prison strolling in Cambodia

New Delhi, Sep 13 (IANS) - A Communist legacy in the form of ghastly souvenirs, an ancient town with over 100 temples of Hindu origin, a port city with spotless beaches — the tourism map of Cambodia, hard-selling itself as a prime Asian destination to Indians, is etched in extremes.

The violent legacy of the Communist regime of the former Khmer Rouge in capital city Phnom Penh is in sharp contrast to the mystical Siem Reap, the temple town.

‘We are promoting Cambodia as a holistic destination for mid-segment and high-end Indian tourists with a refined sense of history and cultural sensitivity,’ Chhoeng Monny, deputy director (marketing and promotions) of Cambodian tourism, told IANS.

Bordering the gulf of Thailand adjoining Laos, Vietnam and Thailand, Cambodia — the land of surprises — is spread across 181,035 sq km in the heart of Southeast Asia within the lush tropics.

Ceremony To Prepare Ghosts for Khmer Rouge Trial

Skulls of KR victims at Tonle Bat (Photo: Vancouver Sun)

Friday, 24 June 2011
Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer | Washington, DC

Khmer Rouge survivors will hold a religious ceremony on Saturday at the “killing fields” of Cheoung Ek, where thousands of people were executed and buried in mass graves after they were tortured in various prisons under the regime.

Chum Mey, who lived through incarceration at the notorious Tuol Sleng prison, said he plans to tell the souls of the dead to be prepared for their killers to go on trial.

The first UN-backed tribunal hearing for Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith is June 27, marking the beginning of the court’s second trial. The four will be tried for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and other related crimes.

“We have to appeal to those who died to remind them, to have them recall they were killed without doing wrong,” he told VOA Khmer. “We have to remind their ghosts to help them prop up the court, to try [the suspects] immediately and to find justice for those who died, because the four leaders are important, and no others are more important than them.”

Duch only saw one execution [... even though he knows the details on how to murder prisoners]

June 17, 2009
AFP

Despite his statement that he avoided watching executions, Duch went on to detail various methods his staff used to murder prisoners under the brutal 1975-1979 regime.

PHNOM PENH - THE former Khmer Rouge prison chief told Cambodia's UN-backed war crimes court on Wednesday that he only once visited the country's most notorious 'Killing Field' and saw just one execution.

Kaing Guek Eav, better known by his nom de guerre Duch, admitted earlier this year at his trial that he was responsible for overseeing the deaths of 15,000 people who passed through the feared Tuol Sleng jail.

But in response to judges' questions about conditions in and around the prison, he said he had only ventured once to the so-called 'Killing Field' at Choeung Ek, a former orchard just outside the capital Phnom Penh.

'At Choeung Ek, I tried to avoid seeing such killing and I turned my back to executions,' Duch said. 'I only went there for a very, very short time... I saw one, for sure...at 5 am when being executed.'

The 66-year-old told the court he was ordered to inspect the killing field after he shifted all executions outside of Tuol Sleng, which is in the capital itself, for hygiene purposes.

Despite his statement that he avoided watching executions, Duch went on to detail various methods his staff used to murder prisoners under the brutal 1975-1979 regime.

'The method of stabbing the neck of the prisoners was later changed to clubbing,' Duch said. 'Besides stepping on the neck and clubbing, there was the method of blood drawing and another couple of prisoners were taken for medical experiments,' he added.

Earlier in his trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity, Duch begged forgiveness from the victims of the hardline communist movement after accepting responsibility for his role in leading the jail.

But he has consistently denied prosecutors' claims that he played a central role in the Khmer Rouge's iron-fisted rule and maintains he tortured only two people himself and never personally executed anyone.

The court does not have the authority to impose the death penalty, but the former maths teacher faces a life sentence for war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture and premeditated murder.

One Week Out, Tribunal Readies for Duch Trial

By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
24 March 2009

When the impending trial for Khmer Rouge prison chief Kaing Kek Iev begins, Cambodians will learn about his role at three prison sites: Tuol Sleng, Cheoung Ek and Prey Sar.

The Khmer Rouge tribunal announced Monday that during three days of hearings, starting 10 am March 30, discussions will center around the creation of Tuol Sleng, known as S-21, as well as a site called S-13, Takmao prison and armed conflict.

“If nothing changes, the trial will be as scheduled,” Judge Nil Nonn, head of the Trial Chamber, told VOA Khmer.

Better known as Duch, Kaing Kek Iev, 66, faces charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture and murder, for his role as the head of Tuol Sleng and other sites, where at least 12,000 Cambodians were tortured or executed.

His trial will be the first of five jailed leaders of the regime for a tribunal that has been more than 10 years in the making and has weathered much criticism for delays, mismanagement and potential corruption.

The courtroom is expected to receive an audience of 500 people, but those who are interested must file an application of participation. The deadline is Wednesday, March 25.

According to Mao Vutha, who is in charge of registering persons at the tribunal, more than 300 people have so far registered to watch, including aid and development workers, diplomats, students and everyday Cambodians.