002/19-09-2007-ECCC-OCIJ ЮŲŠ / No: D427
502 itself1691 most of the workers at Kampong Chhnang Airport Construction Site were sent
there because they were considered to be associated with the cadre of RAK units who had
been arrested and sent to S-21, including from Centre Division 170 (a former East Zone
unit),1692 Centre Division 310,1693 Centre Division 4501694 (former North Zone units)1695 and
Centre Division 703, a former Special Zone unit.1696 From 1978 most of the soldiers sent to
Kampong Chhnang Airport Construction Site were sent because their leaders came from or
were associated with the East Zone. They generally arrived by trucks in groups from the same
military unit.1697 However, there were also soldiers from the Southwest Zone and the West
Zone.1698 Furthermore, according to a witness working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (B1) at the time, some workers were also sent from B-1 to Kampong Chhnang Airport
Construction Site.1699 Finally, some workers or employees were first tempered at other
locations,1700 including Prey Sar (S-24),1701 before working at Kampong Chhnang Airport
Construction Site.
390.
The living and working conditions varied depending on how much of a “traitor” the worker
was perceived to be. Several witnesses explain that work took place from 7am to 5pm, with a
break from 11am to 1pm. Other workers would work night shifts only,1702 whilst those
workers perceived to be the biggest traitors would be made to work day and night.1703 People
worked seven days a week.1704
391.
For the construction of the runway, workers had to cut trees, pull out the tree stumps and
collect all the plant roots to prepare the ground, as well as dig, bulldoze, break rocks,
compress and compact the earth, carry and mix cement and sand, fill the tarmac with concrete
and level the ground surface.1705 Other soldiers were working on the hill alongside the runway
either in a quarry or drilling a tunnel.1706 Several witnesses state that workers were regularly
injured or killed by rocks.1707 One witness saw the death of a person who was hit by fragments
projected by a rock explosion.1708 Although the vast majority of the work was done by hand,
there was some Chinese machinery on the site.1709 Numerous Chinese technicians provided
technical assistance at Kampong Chhnang Airport Construction Site throughout the period of
construction.1710 Workers were under strict guard control.1711
392.
For some groups of workers, the food rations were insufficient.1712 Cadres1713 and other
workers, notably those working with the Chinese experts, had better food rations.1714 Ill
workers were transported to Kampong Chhnang hospital by ambulance.1715 Witnesses explain
that a number of workers died from starvation, illness, overwork and exhaustion.1716 A cadre
also explained that the suicide of workers occurred on a weekly basis.1717 One cadre states that
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.
102
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