002/19-09-2007-ECCC-OCIJ ЮŲŠ / No: D427
regarding prisoners who had newly arrived, ordered him to: “interrogate harshly and
thoroughly”.2207
508.
Of those former detainees who recall being interrogated at Kraing Ta Chan, two claim they
were seriously mistreated during their interrogation.2208 Others state that although they were
interrogated, they were never beaten.2209 Former Kraing Ta Chan prisoners and guards
witnessed a variety of methods being used to mistreat prisoners during interrogation,
including using plastic bags to suffocate, beatings with whips and clubs, the use of pincers
to pull noses and earlobes, dousing with acid, pouring water into victims, hanging from the
feet, and hanging using ropes tied around the neck.2210 Two former detainees recall seeing
prisoners die from injuries suffered during interrogation.2211 Furthermore, another former
detainee recalls that he would have to dispose of the bodies of those who had died from
injuries sustained during interrogation, insufficient food, and illness.2212
509.
A former detainee remembers being interrogated for three days after he arrived at Kraing Ta
Chan. He said “During those interrogations they asked us who the traitor leaders were, and
when we said that we did not know, we did not know, they beat our thighs and backbones at
the shoulders with a rattan stick, and they tied our arms behind us to a small wooden post.
Then when we said we did not know, we did not know, they used a plastic cloth and tightly
wrapped our heads, faces and ears. That made me unable to breathe and I passed out. Next
they took off the plastic cloth and once again [interrogated] looking for the leaders. Then
they charged that if no one is your leader, then you must be the leader yourself. They said
they would keep me for three more days and then they might interrogate again”.2213 A
number of former detainees and cadres remember hearing screams coming from the
interrogation room.2214
Disappearances and Executions
510.
Orders to kill were sent from the sector secretary to the district secretary who would inform
the chairman of Kraing Ta Chan. These orders were handwritten on confessions which had
originally been sent from Kraing Ta Chan to the district secretary.2215
511.
Some witnesses say that prisoners were taken away during the night2216 in trucks,2217 in
effect disappearing.2218 Guards told them that they were being returned to the
cooperatives.2219 Their fate was hidden from others by the playing of a loudspeaker that
drowned out their screams.2220 One former prisoner was told that he could not reveal that
people were being executed to the other prisoners.2221
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.
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