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Cambodia: Torture Chief Duch Asks For Harshest Punishment

by Barbara McPherson | August 12, 2009 at 09:09 am

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Torture chief Kaing Guek Eav, aka Duch, confronted with a woman who lost her husband and four children made a statement asking for the harshest punishment. Kaing Guek Eav was in charge of the S-21 prison during the reign of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia between 1975 and 1979. He is being tried in a UN backed court on genocide charges. During the Khmer Rouge regime, thousands of people were tortured and killed at S-21. The area where people were disposed of outside Phnom Penh became known as the Killing Fields

The statement from Kaing Guek Eav, who headed the notorious S-21 prison in Phnom Penh, came as a widow wept before the court, demanding justice for the death of her husband and four children during the communist regime's reign of terror.

"I accept the regret, the sorrow and the suffering of the million Cambodian people who lost their husbands and wives," the defendant told the tribunal. "I would like the Cambodian people to condemn me to the harshest punishment."

Kaing Guek Eav has converted to evangelical Christianity since his capture. In his statement he indirectly compared himself to Jesus Christ saying that Jesus was stoned and if Cambodians wished to stone him he would accept it. Cambodia does not have a death penalty.

More information on the trial:

Cambodia: Survivor of S-21 Prison Camp Testifies Against Duch

Khmer Rouge Torturer Tells How Babies Were Killed Updates

Khmer Rouge Killer Comrade Duch Admits Crimes

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

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Roy C

at 12:08 on August 12th, 2009

Interesting. The man has become subject to conscience.

rng

at 14:12 on August 12th, 2009

Having just been there and talked to those involved I would say his change of heart is neither remorse nor conscience It does however have a lot to do with his legal strategy as do his other assertions denying direct involvement in torture, attempting to discredit other S21 worker witnesses, and the I was following orders defense. Look also to the other Khmer Rouge members who hold high office in Cambodia. This is a pilot case, and is constantly being manipulated. It is a shameful sham of justice to the point where one of the senior officials adjudicating has already quit in protest. Having been in S21 and interviewed other Khmer Rouge survivors, I have a particular interest in this,and the bulk of the reporting done on the issue is superficial and shabby - not your article Barbara, I am referring to MSM. Other than the Phnom Penh Post the rest are skating the surface of the facts only. Snow job, pure and simple