002/19-09-2007-ECCC-OCIJ ЮŲŠ / No: D427 Purge of the East Zone 199. The purges of the East zone started from mid-1976 with the arrests of Suos Nov alias Chhouk, former secretary of Sector 24, and Chan Chakrei alias Nov Mean, former cadre of East Zone Division 170.679 Both were arrested pursuant to a decision of the Standing Committee.680 Interrogated and tortured, they produced confessions in which they implicated a number of cadre from Sector 24.681 These confessions were analysed and by mid-September 1976, Son Sen and S-21 staff intensified their pursuit of alleged traitors with regard to cadres and former cadres of the East Zone supposedly implicated as CIA, KGB or Vietnamese agents.682 This launched a series of arrests of East Zone cadre, many of whom were sent to S-21 through 1977.683 For example, on 30 April 1977, Seat Chhae alias Tum, former Secretary of Sector 22, was arrested, whose S-21 confession dated 5 June 1977 was followed by a major purge of sector 22.684 200. From mid-August 1977, arrests and transfers in the East Zone were orchestrated by Son Sen and Ke Pork,685 using regular forces from the Centre, Central Zone units and former Southwest Zone troops placed under Centre command.686 In March 1978, a massive escalation of purges of East Zone cadre and combatants occurred in Svay Rieng in Sector 23.687 This was followed by even more arrests and executions in May-June 1978 in other parts of the East Zone.688 During this time Sao Phim, East Zone Secretary, committed suicide to avoid arrest.689 201. Purges of remaining East Zone cadres, and of cadre who, although operating outside the East Zone were originally from the East Zone, including in various Ministries such as the Ministry of Social Affairs,690 continued through to the end of the CPK regime.691 Some of these cadres were sent from the East Zone to S-21692 while others were killed on the spot693 or moved to other parts of the country.694 Many other East Zone or ex-East Zone cadre and combatants were sent for “reeducation” at worksites such as the Kampong Chhnang Airport construction site.695 202. As was the case with the North Zone and related purges, CPK senior leaders used the Party publication Revolutionary Flag in order to justify the ongoing East zone purges, to convince cadres that the Party had been infiltrated by internal enemies, and to encourage them to search out and “smash” such enemies.696 Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, National Road 4, Choam Chao, Dangkao Phnom Penh Mailing address: P.O. Box 71, Phnom Penh; Tel: +855(0)23 218914 Fax: +855(0) 23 218941. 54