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Case File No. 002/19-09-2007/ECCC/TC
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3.3.1. Pre-1975 Movements of the Population
104. Prior to 1975, the CPK carried out population movements in areas within their
control. The policy was explained in the July 1973 issue of Revolutionary Flag:
In the evacuation of people from the areas under the control of the
enemy to the liberated zones, we took strong and optimistic views of
mass population to successfully send them away to the countryside
with no worry that people could be fraught with difficulty due to the
[lack] of everything. In addition, we were not afraid that people in the
liberated areas could not help the evacuated people. With strong
popular views, we believe that our people could do everything.
Although we were in the situation that we were lack of rice as we are
now, we dared to evacuate many more people. Based on our past
experiences, we see that people could resolve the problems.288
105. Therefore, Khmer Rouge forces removed people from enemy-controlled areas
to the countryside despite the lack of rice there. Expert Philip SHORT explained that
from 1970, villagers within Khmer Rouge controlled territory were transferred and
sent to remote mountain and jungle areas. “Their original homes, if not already
destroyed, were burned down to stop them returning […] [T]hey were dragooned into
cooperatives of thirty or forty families who farmed the land in common.”289
106. For example, about two months after NORODOM Sihanouk was deposed, the
town of Kratie was taken by the Khmer Rouge and evacuated later in 1973.290
Witness YUN Kim recalls that the town’s markets were initially unaffected and
commercial trade continued.291 However, it was explained in the Revolutionary Flag
presentation in general terms of the five policies, although the material issue for examination in the first
trial is limited to the forced movement of the population (phases one and two). It follows that there will
be no examination of the implementation of policies other than those pertaining to the forced
movement of the population (phases one and two).”) The existence of other policies is examined for
background purposes only. Their implementation will be the subject of future trials; See also, Decision
on KHIEU Samphan’s Immediate Appeal against the Trial Chamber’s Decision on Additional
Severance of Case 002 and Scope of Case 002/02, E301/9/1/1/3, 29 July 2014, paras 84-85.
288
Revolutionary Flag, E3/785, July 1973, ERN (En) 00713996; The Chamber notes that the term
“evacuate” was used by the Khmer Rouge themselves to describe their own policy. While this word
suggests the idea of moving people from a dangerous place or of providing a safer venue, the Chamber
only uses this term to describe the movement of the population of cities and of Phnom Penh in
particular. The proper characterisation of the movements is addressed in the judgement but the
Chamber does not endorse the meaning indicated by Khmer Rouge usage of this term.
289
T. 6 May 2013 (Philip SHORT), pp. 91-92 (confirming the accuracy of the relevant excerpt of his
book); Book by P. SHORT: Pol Pot: The History of a Nightmare, E3/9, 2004, p. 246, ERN (En)
00396446.
290
T. 19 June 2012 (YUN Kim) pp. 29-31; T. 6 May 2013 (Philip SHORT), p. 91.
291
T. 19 June 2012 (YUN Kim) pp. 29-31.
Case 002/01, Judgement, 7 August 2014 - Public
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