Him Huy failed to kill prisoners personally, says Duch
Former Tuol Sleng prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, best known as Duch, on 20 July 2009 told Cambodia’s war crimes court that Him Huy failed to kill prisoners personally, just being tasked with bringing prisoners into and out of Tuol Sleng.
“Him Huy was a platoon cadre in charge of bringing prisoners into Tuol Sleng detention camp and sending prisoners to be killed at Chhoeung Ek,” Duch said.
No order was given to Him Huy to kill prisoners personally, Duch maintained. Killing prisoners was a task of Him Huy’s subordinates. “Him Huy followed my order toward crimes at Tuol Sleng.”
K Rouge tribunal summons 35 witnesses, victims
Cambodia’s war crimes court issued a new schedule to hold the next seven-day hearing, calling upon 13 witnesses and 22 civil parties to testify the case of former Tuol Sleng prison chief Kaing Guek Eav, best known as Duch.
Judge Nil Nonn, trial chamber president at the Khmer Rouge tribunal, determined that a total of 35 witnesses and victims would appear before court subsequently from 13 July to 26 August 2009.
The schedule reads that next week, the court hears witnesses about the facts of M-13 prison establishment, armed conflicts, and functioning of S-21 security center including Choeung Ek killing fields.
PM Hun Sen believes infants survive Toul Sleng prison
Prime Minister Hun Sen on 7 July 2009 noticed that infants really survived Tuol Sleng prison after the fall of Khmer Rouge on 7 January 1979.
Hun Sen said then Vietnamese soldiers liberated him (infant), adding Keo Montha, post-liberation era’s Phnom Penh Governor and Culture and Industry Minister, asked the infant from the Vietnamese. This shows that the infant has survived until now.
First lady civil party challenges Duch
Chen Meth, 51, first lady civil party challenged former S-21 security center chief Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, Wednesday.
She told Cambodia’s war crimes court she was transferred to S-21 on 10 November 1977 and detained for fifteen days at S-21, being accused of CIA and KJB. Duch rejected Chen Meth detained at S-21,adding Chen Meth was imprisoned at S-24 security center. If Chen Meth was transferred to S-21, she would be taken to kill at Choeung Ek killing fields, Duch said.
New witness less remembers personal background
Another witness testified on the fact of Tuol Sleng operation. This is another civil party named Li Hor, claiming he was a Khmer Rouge soldier and prisoner at S-21 security center. But the witness could not give full response to the judge, saying he could not remember anything.
Duch’s rejection over Tuol Sleng surviving child causes reaction
Strong reaction followed Duch’s rejection to the child who survived Tuol Sleng prison when the prison surviving child testified before Cambodia’s war crimes court as witness. Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam), considered the rejection as brutality expression of Duch even though now he dresses in civil in court.