002/19-09-2007-ECCC-OCIJ ЮŲŠ / No: D427 workers between Srae Ambel and Office K-2 of the Ministry of Social Affairs and other related hospitals of this Ministry, especially the 6 January Hospital and Po-1 Hospital, as well as laboratories, from late 1977 to late 1978.1627 377. Workers lived together in common houses that were guarded at night by unarmed guards.1628 During the dry season workers undertook tasks such as erecting dykes in the salt fields, shovelling dirt, compressing the ground, farrowing the earth by hand instead of by ox in the salt water and carrying bags of salt into the warehouses or into vehicles.1629 During the rainy season they had to make, prepare and improve tools for the following salt production and were sent to work in the rice fields in the cooperatives throughout Kampot Sector.1630 Work started at 4 am or 6 am.1631 Sometimes workers had to continue working at night if they had not completed their work or to avoid the salt melting.1632 Workers had to work hard without complaint, so as not to be accused of being lazy.1633 For this reason, they worked even when they became very sick.1634 378. Accusations of laziness or of being a traitor, illness and lack of food all resulted in some workers committing suicide.1635 Workers were not allowed to leave without permission. They worked and lived under the strict control of the CPK cadres.1636 Trey Koh salt field was surrounded by the sea, preventing people from escaping.1637 Regular criticism/self-criticism meetings were also convened1638 and biographies of workers were taken.1639 379. Guards and technicians received larger food rations than regular workers.1640 Witnesses state that if someone was late or sick, his or her ration would be cut down or deprived as punishment.1641 One of them states that some workers caught stealing food were deprived of food for two days.1642 Workers were taken for bathing one or twice a week and, as a result, many suffered from poor hygiene.1643 They were treated using locally produced medicines, which were ineffective. Severely ill or injured workers were sent for medical treatment at Chhum Kreal Pagoda located in Chhum Kreal Subdistrict next to Kampong Kandal, whilst less sick workers were treated at the worksite itself.1644 Several witnesses saw many workers die of exhaustion or illness at either the Chhum Kreal Pagoda or at the worksite.1645 During this time, Phnom Penh radio broadcasts stated that the CPK paid attention to the living conditions and health of the salt field workers.1646 Security 380. Some witnesses state that workers were arrested or taken away, in effect disappearing.1647 Most of the witnesses did not know where they were sent whilst others state that they were 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. 98