Thursday, 15 July 2010

Rob Hamill, NZ, Wants to Confront Khymer Torturer, Duch

via Khmer NZ

By BMcPherson Phnom Penh : Cambodia | Jul 14, 2010


cubanexilequarter
S-21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine documentary allows the viewer to see how Khmer Rouge revolutionary policy was implemented on the ground in day by day accounts by the prison guards and surviving prisoners. The director, Rithy Panh, is a lifelong filmmaker and a survivor of the Khmer Rouge camps who lost his parents, sister, and many other relatives to the genocide.

Rob Hamill from New Zealand wants to confront the Kymer Rouge Torturer known as Duch. Kaing Guek Eav, aka Duch was the supervisor of the notorious S-21 prison where many suffered and died during the Khymer Rouge regime. Mr. Hamill lost his brother to the bloodletting in Cambodia in August 1978. He and Canadian, Stuart Glass were Khymer victims when their sailing vessel strayed into Cambodian territory.

"Mr Hamill will be at the United Nations-assisted Extraordinary Chamber of the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) at Phnom Penh for the July 26 sentencing of Kaing Guek Eav, known as "Duch", the former head of the S-21 or Tuol Sleng prison."New Zealand Herald.

Duch is believed responsible for the deaths of over 16 000 men, women and children during his tenure at the prison. While leader Pol Pot was in power, more than 2 million Cambodians perished. The country was changed from one of the most beautiful and prosperous to a devastated land where simply being able to read was a crime.

Cambodia became destabilized when the Vietnam War spilled across the borders and US forces dropped bombs on the country. The failed strategy to cut off supply lines to the Viet Cong was developed by Nobel Peace Prize Winner Henry Kissinger.

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