"I am emotionally responsible for the death of over one million people and I am responsible for the acts perpetrated. Until the end of my life.” - Kaing Guek Eav aka "Duch", June 17th 2009 at an ECCC hearing.
Photo © John Brown All Rights Reserved
I suppose it would be difficult for any person to acknowledge responsibility for the death of just one person, be it accidental or intentional.
Nevertheless, Duch's case seems to be an example to us all that a lesson is hard to learn.
Here is a report about the trial of former Tuol Sleng S21 Prison Chief Kaing Guek Eav also known as Duch, currently being held at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The report was filed by Stephanie Gee on Ka-set.info.
START
"During the hearing on Wednesday June 17th, 2009 the judges interrogated Duch on the implementation of the policy of smashing. On this issue, the accused claimed he had little first-hand information and confessed he was aware of the execution work but preferred to turn his back on it.
He explained himself in a long tirade by the end of the day, without questioning his responsibility but instead putting it back in the context of the system then established under the Khmer Rouge and of the Communist Party of Kampuchea’s line, which he said transformed trained or educated people such as himself into criminals."
This begs the question as to why "educated people" fall prey to authoritarian rule the world over even today and I actually can't think of an answer except that perhaps they missed school the day the lesson was taught.
The article continues, "Bodies of children were buried in S-21 and its surroundings as well as in Choeung Ek, which he did not see with his own eyes, he claimed. As for the babies brought with their mothers, they were killed “silently.” There again, Duch repeated he had not witnessed such scenes and ignored the number of those killed."
He explained that burying the bodies was the rule, except for those of Westerners, which were cremated, following an order given by Pol Pot and transmitted by Uncle Nuon. The latter had called them in front of Duch “long-nosed people.” Nothing must be left of their bodies."
PLEASE CONTINUE READING
Please read the entire well written report filed by Stephanie Gee. Read it and weep.
TRIAL NEWS
The trial of Duch, currently being held at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, offers an historical document to future scholars studying such subjects but will provide little else.
That "little else" is the enhanced credibility the current government, led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge soldier himself, will enjoy on the world's stage.
Please don't view this trial as "news". None of us is learning anything "new". Just ask 6 million Jews and 900,000 Rwandans.
John Brown Photojournalist On LIGHTSTALKERS
My Mondo Library Photography
My Photoshelter Photography Archive Homepage
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Photos
Photo © John Brown All Rights Reserved
I suppose it would be difficult for any person to acknowledge responsibility for the death of just one person, be it accidental or intentional.
Nevertheless, Duch's case seems to be an example to us all that a lesson is hard to learn.
Here is a report about the trial of former Tuol Sleng S21 Prison Chief Kaing Guek Eav also known as Duch, currently being held at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The report was filed by Stephanie Gee on Ka-set.info.
START
"During the hearing on Wednesday June 17th, 2009 the judges interrogated Duch on the implementation of the policy of smashing. On this issue, the accused claimed he had little first-hand information and confessed he was aware of the execution work but preferred to turn his back on it.
He explained himself in a long tirade by the end of the day, without questioning his responsibility but instead putting it back in the context of the system then established under the Khmer Rouge and of the Communist Party of Kampuchea’s line, which he said transformed trained or educated people such as himself into criminals."
This begs the question as to why "educated people" fall prey to authoritarian rule the world over even today and I actually can't think of an answer except that perhaps they missed school the day the lesson was taught.
The article continues, "Bodies of children were buried in S-21 and its surroundings as well as in Choeung Ek, which he did not see with his own eyes, he claimed. As for the babies brought with their mothers, they were killed “silently.” There again, Duch repeated he had not witnessed such scenes and ignored the number of those killed."
He explained that burying the bodies was the rule, except for those of Westerners, which were cremated, following an order given by Pol Pot and transmitted by Uncle Nuon. The latter had called them in front of Duch “long-nosed people.” Nothing must be left of their bodies."
PLEASE CONTINUE READING
Please read the entire well written report filed by Stephanie Gee. Read it and weep.
TRIAL NEWS
The trial of Duch, currently being held at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, offers an historical document to future scholars studying such subjects but will provide little else.
That "little else" is the enhanced credibility the current government, led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, a former Khmer Rouge soldier himself, will enjoy on the world's stage.
Please don't view this trial as "news". None of us is learning anything "new". Just ask 6 million Jews and 900,000 Rwandans.
John Brown Photojournalist On LIGHTSTALKERS
My Mondo Library Photography
My Photoshelter Photography Archive Homepage
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Photos
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