Ex K.Rouge guard describes life under jail boss

[Coventina]

Source: AFP

PHNOM PENH — A former guard at the main Khmer Rouge torture centre wept in court on Monday as he described how he feared his prison boss, who is standing trial at Cambodia's UN-backed war crimes tribunal.

Him Huy, 54, was giving evidence against Khmer Rouge prison chief Duch, who is accused of overseeing the torture and execution of around 15,000 people held at Tuol Sleng prison, also known as S-21.

"I did not dare criticise him (Duch). I was afraid I would be killed... Even when I saw him riding a bicycle towards me, I would find a place to get away from him," Him Huy told the court.

"Frankly, when I see him it reminds me of the moment I worked with him. I was afraid of him. I did not dare look into his face. Even now I'm fearful of him," he said, weeping.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gG5Hw-nml2gqIKwJjxl1_8xIhXsw

---

Please read the entire article.

Thank you.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

1. I have no words and that's rare. nt

[gratuitous]

2. De-humanization has its effects

Even on the people doing the de-humanizing. Launching a war used to be a sober (you'll pardon the expression) undertaking (ditto). It's ruinous to a nation's finances, reduces its standing in the world, and practically guarantees a substantial portion of those who survive the fighting will be fucked up for life. If you're going to go to war, there'd better be a goddam good reason. And I've not seen it in my lifetime.

[David__77]

3. So was 20 or 21 when the prison opened.

That was probably on the older end of the guards and interrogators there. Some were barely teenagers. This was aligned with the philosophy of the CPK/KR - destroy the old, raise the new. Many of the guards were brutalized for various "infractions." It was considered a privilege to serve there, but was probably more dangerous than being a common peasant in many zones.