002/19-09-2007-ECCC-OCIJ ЮŲŠ / No: D427 CPK policy. The concept of marriage was reconstructed under the CPK regime in order for the CPK to replace the role of parents757 and to enable the mothers to go to work.758 The CPK had the objective of increasing population growth759 and “building up a family”.760 This objective was achieved by matching people with similar political status761 and marrying soldiers.762 Marriage was therefore a key means by which the CPK did “whatever can be done that is a gain for the revolution”.763 Dates & Participation 218. There is evidence that the CPK forced people to marry as early as 1974.764 In September 1977, Pol Pot articulated a CPK objective of increasing Cambodia’s population to 20 million within ten to fifteen years.765 He also stated that marriage ceremonies were to be held for groups of couples at the same time.766 The policy relating to population growth was reaffirmed at a national medical conference opened by Pol Pot and attended by representatives of the CPK government ministries and offices, zones and sectors and the armed forces.767 The implementation of a system of marriages arranged by the Party authorities among the population and within the Party itself was disseminated through CPK publications768 and reported to superiors through CPK telegrams.769 A report from the West Zone to Angkar provides information about marriage statistics and birth statistics.770 219. Official documents and statements refer to the supposed voluntary basis of such marriages: Pol Pot stated that “young men and young women [were to] build up families on a voluntary basis”771 and marriages were said to be based upon a person’s proposal of a spouse according to the decision of the command committee.772 Numerous witnesses state that they were forced to marry.773 Even those officials who stated that individuals freely agreed to marriage note that, in practice, people were not able to assert their opposition for fear of violence or death.774 220. In furtherance of this policy, single people in their twenties or early thirties775 were forced to marry776 by CPK authorities,777 usually in official buildings or in public places.778 After being made to spend a short period of time together, couples were required to return to their daily work and were brought together only when the CPK regime required779 including in some cases to ensure consummation of the marriage.780 Some persons who did not agree to marriage in accordance with the Party line were deemed to be “enemies”781 however this was not applied in all instances of refusal.782 VIII. FACTUAL FINDINGS OF CRIMES 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. 59