002/19-09-2007-ECCC-OCIJ ЮŲŠ / No: D427 from the other side.227 In 1978, communication between the Centre and the zones increased due to technical improvements.228 81. Witnesses indicate that there was a strict policy of no communication between the zones: the communication between the zones would be sent via the Centre.229 No contact schedule table or decoding table existed for telegram communication from zone to zone, thus making such contact impossible.230 However one telegram operator states that zone to zone communication took place by letter sent by messengers and had to be stamped with the seal of the zone.231 Zone to Sector and District Communication 82. Each sector had its own telegram office but any outgoing communication had to go through the Zone232 83. Only the Autonomous Sectors communicated directly with the Centre and not via the zone.233 One witness, who worked as a telegram operator in Autonomous Sector 105, states that the district offices mostly reported on irrigation projects, healthcare, the monitoring of forces and on “good or bad elements, traitorous or peaceful alliance elements”.234 The Sector Secretary’s Office would prepare a district performance report and send it back to the Centre on a daily basis.235 84. Messengers were mainly used for communication within the sectors and districts, as indicated by American sources (Stoney Beach report): “Each District and Sector within the Eastern Region (Zone) had a messenger network. The networks followed a rigid structure that mirrored the region (Zone) chain of command. For example, even if a district messenger unit was stationed near a regional unit, the district unit would first send messages to their headquarters, then on to the region messenger office. The message would then enter the region (Zone) network. The messengers carried high priority military, party and security messages, as well as personal correspondence for deployed personnel”.236 External Communication 85. Democratic Kampuchea had the technical means to communicate with foreign countries. CPK senior leaders sent telegrams to other, mostly socialist friendly, states throughout the duration of the regime to comment or congratulate them on events in their respective countries,237 or to explain that everything was going fine.238 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. 27