002/19-09-2007-ECCC-OCIJ ЮŲŠ / No: D427
Pech Sokha had previously studied irrigation and hydroelectricity in Phnom Penh at Russei
Keo School in Phnom Penh.1472 [REDACTED] became the Zone Public Work Office
Chairman1473 further to Sao’s disappearance.1474 [REDACTED] said he reported to Ke Pork,
or to his forces when they would come to check the worksite.1475 Some witnesses observed
that these visits would happen regularly.1476 Oeun, a senior cadre significantly involved in the
construction,1477 was eventually appointed Secretary of Sector 42,1478 where the worksite was
located.
355.
The construction of the 1st January Dam and its supervision involved all levels of the Party
hierarchy. Each level was assigned specific responsibilities and occupied a place in the formal
chain of command from the unit chiefs to the subdistrict, district, and sector cadres up to the
zone.1479 Between one to two times a year a Zone Meeting was held, presided by Ke Pork and
attended by subdistrict, district and sector committee members where work results were
reported.1480
356.
The composition of the Central (Old North) Zone sectors, districts and other committees
changed overtime as some of their members were arrested and disappeared during the
construction of 1st January Dam.1481 The Secretaries of Sectors 41, 42 and 43 and some of
their replacing cadres disappeared.1482 Some were sent to S-21.1483 The committees of the
three sectors – 41, 42 and 43 – were in charge of gathering work forces from all districts to
participate in the construction of the 1st January Dam.1484 Sectors communicated to districts
through meetings and reports.1485 It was the same for districts and subdistricts, to whom they
distributed work and gave orders as to the implementation of the plans.1486 Workers were
divided into units under the authority of a chief1487 appointed by Subdistrict cadre and village
chiefs.1488 Meetings were the occasion to control whether quotas where met, whether orders
were respected and people had to confess wrongdoings.1489 “Lower echelon” had to report to
the “upper echelon” about issues such as shortages of food or medicine,1490 or construction
and security matters.1491 One former village Chairman explained that when work was not
progressing according to plan members of the “lower level” were accused of treason,
sometimes by their team leaders, and killed.1492 Other witnesses report that unit chiefs and
team leaders were involved in the decision making process leading to some of the workers
being taken away1493 or otherwise punished.1494 Certain members of the local militia were
seen carrying clubs, hoes, guns or knives1495 and were known to perform killings.1496 Some
witnesses indicate that security people and some local cadres1497 were from the Southwest
Zone.1498
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.
92
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