002/19-09-2007-ECCC-OCIJ ЮŲŠ / No: D427 hard labour.943 One witness refers to Ta Mok stating that it was viewed as not necessary to have markets or cities and that all the city population were to go to rural areas to build the rural economy.944 Duch states in interview that the CPK objectives were to turn the whole country into peasants, abolish privatisation, and to force the technicians to do farming so as to make them powerless and dependent on peasants.945 CPK-era documents state that reeducation was not deemed possible on a large scale and so it was necessary to “evacuate” people to the rural areas946 to stop “uncontrollable ideological contamination of the revolutionary ranks”;947 and to participate in the movement to increase production, sustain the population, and contribute to defending and building the country.948 249. Finally, with respect to security concerns, Nuon Chea has stated that it was necessary to move the people from Phnom Penh to facilitate the military defence of the country from Vietnam949 to protect the people from war.950 Ieng Sary referred to a secret document allegedly obtained from the CIA concerning plans to infiltrate the city.951 Khieu Samphan referred to the perceived need to make the country strong to fight the enemy.952 CPK-era documents state that if the population had not left the cities, the enemies might have been able to launch surprise attacks from behind.953 Planning 250. Prior to 1975, the CPK had implemented a policy of removing people from the towns and cities that came under their control: people were moved totally or partially from urban areas 954 in Steung Treng, Kratie, Banam and Udong. 251. According to some witnesses, the decision to move the population from Phnom Penh was made in February 1975955 and was a deliberate plan of the CPK senior leaders. 956 According to a former East Zone cadre, this decision was followed in February 1975 by orders from Pol Pot that all districts and sectors should prepare by building houses to receive people from Phnom Penh.957 252. One witness explained that in early April 1975 a meeting took place at Pol Pot’s office in Tang Poun Village, Kampong Tralach (Leu) District, Kampong Chhnang Province which was focused on the plan to move the population from Phnom Penh. 958 Although there was no official record taken of the meeting, Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan each participated in the meeting959 and took their own notes.960 The commanders were told to “set up meetings when they returned to their sectors and make plans to evacuate the people from the cities under their responsibilities. This information was subsequently published in the 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. 66