[The following is in regards to the trial of Kaing Guek Eav, commonly known as Comrade Duch, who was the head of the Khmer Rouge’s internal security branch, in which he oversaw the Tuol Sleng (S-21) prison camp where thousands were held for interrogation and torture. While the trial itself takes place in the early 2000s, I still felt it appropriate, as the trial only covered events taking place between the years 1975-1979. Every testimony is from that time period, and everything depicted by the author, who was present at the trial, are essentially reactions to this gruesome period of history by contemporaries who were present or had participated. In that sense, I feel this fits well for our purposes, and I do not believe it breaks the 20 Year Rule.]
Bou Meng says that he’s delighted to have had the opportunity to testify. He feels relieved, lighter. He believes that justice will be done for the millions of victims of the Khmer Rouge. The only question he wants to ask Kaing Guek Eav is: “Where was my wife killed? At S-21? At Choeung Ek? Or somewhere else?”
Boy Meng needs to know in order to go there and pray for her.
”I would like this affair to be resolved quickly,” he adds.
Duch gets to his feet.
Mister Meng, you have touched me deeply. I was shocked when I saw you again in February 2008. I wish I could answer your question, but the answer lies beyond my knowledge. My subordinates were in charge of these things. I can only presume that your wife was killed at Choeung Ek. Please accept my highest consideration and respect for your wife’s soul.
Duch’s face tenses up into an expression set somewhere between astonishment and grief – his awkward way of showing distress. He turns his head bashfully and sniffs. He leans on the desk, his arms trembling. He sits down.
Bou Meng is holding his head in his hands. He rubs more balm into his forehead. Boy Meng is a tiny man, his body crippled by torments inflicted by both nature and his fellow man; the pain of his memories and past suffering proves too much, and he, too, breaks down. This flood of emotion flusters the presiding judge, who tries to fill the silence with a steady flow of empty words. There’s a new sadness in Duch’s eyes, one that first appeared a few weeks earlier, when another victim was mentioned.
Source:
Cruvellier, T., and Alex Gilly. “Chapter 18.” The Master of Confessions: The Making of a Khmer Rouge Torturer. Ecco, 2014. 133-34. Print.
Further Reading:
សារមន្ទីរឧក្រិដ្ឋកម្មប្រល័យពូជសាសន៍ទួលស្លែង (Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum) / Security Prison 21 (S-21)
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