002/19-09-2007-ECCC-OCIJ ЮŲŠ / No: D427 272. Troops, militiamen or security personnel supervised the movements of population. Most witnesses report their presence at all stages of the movement: at departure;1091 during the movement of population;1092 guarding people on boats;1093 trucks;1094 trains1095 or oxcarts;1096 and upon arrival.1097 Conversely, a few witnesses state that they were not always escorted by armed forces. 1098 273. In Battambang or Pursat, most moved persons would arrive by train. The organization of the railway network was clearly and hierarchically defined with the Phnom Penh Railway Unit at the top of the hierarchy.1099 A former railway operator in Battambang reports that the trains were escorted by armed soldiers and that militiamen were in charge after the arrival of train. His impression was that “all the transportation was organised by the higher level”.1100 Two former railway operators explain that three soldiers managed the stations’ communication network in both Pursat1101 and Battambang.1102 According to the witnesses who operated the railways in Battambang1103 and Pursat,1104 the CPK cadre in charge of the railway stations reported directly to the Phnom Penh Railway Unit. Further, confirming that the CPK Centre was kept informed of these movements of population, one of these witnesses explains that as a Party member, the cadre in charge of Pursat station would attend study sessions in Phnom Penh.1105 274. Local leading CPK cadre would receive people1106 and assign them to cooperatives.1107 Some witnesses state that they were questioned by CPK cadres about their biographies upon arrival.1108 One civil party explains that at one point, she was given the opportunity to choose the cooperative where she wanted to go,1109 and she was subsequently sent for reeducation further to the arrest of her husband.1110 Regarding people sent to central parts of the country1111 or to Kratie,1112 relevant witnesses gave similar accounts. Return 275. Most of the people who were moved and survived the DK regime returned to their homes or native villages as soon as they could.1113 Some witnesses found that their old villages were deserted,1114 houses destroyed and that grave pits had been dug.1115 Witnesses state that it was not possible for the population to return to their home villages during the DK regime.1116 Reasons Given to the Population for the Movement 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. 72