Caught in the Middle?

Co-Prosecutors used the day to ask Kaing Guek Eav (alias Duch) specific questions focused on the implementation of CPK Party policies at S21 and M13. While the Co- Prosecutors tried to establish that Duch not only implemented, but actually created some of the policies, Duch insisted on his role as a middle-man who merely received orders and relayed them to his subordinates.

“All Enemies Had to Be Smashed”

Deputy Co-Prosecutor Tan Senarong began the day with an attempt to establish different time periods in which to discuss the evolution of CPK policies and the people selected as prisoners. Senarong proposed a framework that temporally divided the CPK into four time periods: pre-1968, 1968-1970, 1970-1975, and 1975-1979. However, Duch countered back that there was no difference in the time period for him. Duch explained his position at M13 and S21 as administrative and involving very little discretionary power. Indeed, in his words, there was one core policy that animated his actions: “People sent to S21 were already regarded as enemies, and all enemies had to be smashed.” When the Co-Prosecutor next tried separating prisoner groups by reason for their arrest, Duch again maintained that such a division only pertained to arresting authorities. Once a prisoner was at S21, his only option was to regard that individual as an enemy.

Despite Duch’s clear position, the Deputy Co-Prosecutor began a series of questions seeking to understand the extent to which Duch may have classified different prisoners and how they may have been treated differently. Senarong asked Duch about arrested Khmer Rouge Cadre, intellectuals, civilian ‘enemies’, women, and children. But Duch did not waiver from his position that he did not consider any classifications and tried to separate himself from policy decisions concerning whom to arrest and interrogate…

Read more: ctm_blog_6-8-2009