Duch’s Slave Labor Camp

Today, Kaing Guek Eav (alias Duch) answered questions from the Trial Chamber regarding operations at Prey Sar, another secret detention facility under Duch’s authority better known as S-24.

Although S-24 has been referred to throughout the proceedings as a “re-education camp,” Duch made clear today that re-education was merely a façade and S-24 was in fact a slave labor camp contributing to the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK) policy of extermination. While the number of S-24 detainees is unclear and will likely remain so, out of many hundreds or thousands detained there, only thirty were released – military combatants sent back to their unit. All others were eventually sent to Tuol Sleng prison (S-21) or the killing fields at Choeung Ek where they were tortured and killed.

While those sent to S-21 were established “enemies” of the CPK to be smashed, those sent to S-24 were considered “elements” because it was unclear if they were enemies or friends. The CPK logic seems to have been that such people of unclear status should be sent to forced labor camps to be put to work and monitored to ensure they would not cause any issues for the CPK. Elements sent to S-24 were often wives, children, or other relatives of those sent to S-21. They were not told the reasons for their detention or given a chance to contest it.

Elements were divided into three categories – good, fair, and serious – based on the threat they posed. Those in the serious category were spied on the most, detained in more secure quarters, and sent to S-21 more quickly. Good behavior could not move a detainee from one category to another…

Read more: ctm_blog_6-24-2009