002/19-09-2007-ECCC-OCIJ ЮŲŠ / No: D427 in Revolutionary Flag set forth the notion that a “special class” existed in Cambodian society, comprised of “soldiers, police and Buddhist monks”.699 The notebooks of cadre that appear to refer to this article state that all national minorities were also considered to be part of this “separate special class type”.700 Other classes such as the feudalists, capitalists and bourgeois were described as opponents of the revolution.701 In September 1975, the implementation of this objective evolved when the CPK proclaimed these classes and the special separate class types abolished, declaring that the only classes that existed were workers and peasants, and that all of the other classes had been melded into these two groups.702 At this time, or shortly thereafter, Phnom Penh radio made its last references to Buddhist monks,703 Cham704 and other “national minorities”.705 Although senior Party authorities continued to talk about a Cambodian population incorporating non-Khmer nationalities into 1976,706 by August 1977, the national minorities’ de facto abolition and assimilation was officially stated to have advanced to the point where the country was described as “99 per cent” Khmer.707 Another objective of this policy was to eliminate enemies and to destroy certain groups, as such, in whole or in part. The targeting of specific groups was a key means by which the CPK did “whatever can be done that is a gain for the revolution”.708 Dates and Participation 208. With respect to the targeting of former officials of the Khmer Republic, this policy came into existence before 1975 and continued until at least 6 January 1979. Public declarations of intent in February 1975 to execute the most senior Khmer Republic figures upon victory were followed after 17 April 1975 by a secret decision to kill many other members of the Khmer Republic elite709 on the basis that “it was decided to do whatever had to be done in order to make it impossible for them to stage a counter-revolutionary comeback”.710 209. During the evacuation of the population of Phnom Penh, former officials of the Khmer Republic, especially high-ranking officials,711 were targeted to be arrested and killed.712 There is also evidence that this group was targeted during the movement of people from other urban centres and subsequently throughout Cambodia, in particular in the Northwest Zone713 and the Southwest Zone714 as set out in the section of the Closing Order regarding Factual Findings of Crimes. 210. With respect to Buddhists, this policy began on or before 17 April 1975 and continued until at least 6 January 1979. High figures in the Buddhist hierarchy were executed during the evacuation of Phnom Penh, according to what Duch says he was told by those who carried out the killings.715 Chapter 15, Article 20 of the DK Constitution purported to regulate religion by 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. 56