Searching for the truth Issues 28 - Documentation Center of Cambodia

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Number 28, April 2002
feeding old people was a waste of food because they
could not work any more and deserved death. The
people who were evacuated were fed only to help
Angkar do agriculture. When Angkar was dissatisfied
with or suspected someone, they dug up the past, saying
that the accused was against Angkar or was a secret
agent of imperialists. After that, the accused were
brought to higher Angkar and were never seen again.
Ironically, thousands tons of rice that the people
produced were exported to China or Laos, while
leaving the Cambodian people hungry. Thus,
Cambodians could not decide their own destiny, as
Angkar promised. Rather, their lives were in Angkar’s
hands. Chhim Sichit used these negative aspects to
entice Eab Bunlong to join the Free Khmer Movement.
In May-June Chhim Sochit attended two meetings at
Chuuon Viseth’s invitation. The meetings were held to inform
participants about a plan to liberate Cambodia through
political means, which had already been worked out.
In August 1976 Chhim Sochit went to Cambodia
under Chuon Viseth’s orders. Chuon Viseth told him to
recruit evacuated people and let them know about plans
that would be implemented in Cambodia. First plan:
when he arrives in Cambodia, he must make contact
with an eight-member group⎯Saray Bunky, a major in
the Ministry of Defense; Bun Yeoun, a second lieutenant
in the Ministry of Defense; Sin Rong, a salesman; Lev
Suthsophoantha, an official of Electricity of Cambodia;
Ith Sareth from the Ministry of Information; Nong
Phaly and Nhem Daovreoung from a private school
called Dara Rasmey high school; and Hor An⎯to prepare
for the next meeting. Second plan: after contact is made,
Saray Bunky will be selected as the group leader. He will
assign the eight members of the group to recruit
evacuated people. The third plan: he must meet and seek
support from twelve people in the revolutionary army.
Saray is assigned to contact Sarin Chhak, Huot Sambath,
and Chao Seng (an official in the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs). Ith Sareth is to contact Phok Chhay, Chao Teary
and Uch Ven. Lev Suthsophoan’s duty is to make contact
with Dy Phon, Ruos Cheatho, and Phlaok Saphan.
Chhim Sochit is to contact Men Niktho, Nuth Bunsong
and Deng Kaory to seek support and to persuade them
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Searching for the Truth ⎯ DOCUMENTATION
to be secret informers from the Khmer Rouge.
On August 20, 1976, Chhim Sochit arrived in
Cambodia. He was then sent to K-15 Unit (in the
Cambodian-Russian school of Technology).
Between the time of his arrival and his arrest,
Chhim Sochit did not carry out any plan made by Chuon
Viseth because he was not free to move about, as he had
expected he would be. In his confession, Sochit wrote
that he was very shocked by what was going on and saw
the real goal of the revolutionary Angkar.
On September 1, 1976 Chhim Skochit was brought
to Boeung TroBek camp. On September 23, Chhim Sochit
was sent to another unit, called Talei camp. Chhim Sochit
lived there until he was smashed by Angkar.
____________________
Sophal Ly is a staff-writer for Searching for the Truth.
Brak Youtry (aka Brak Bo):
Chhim Sochit’s Interrogator
Twenty-three years old in 1976, Brak Youtry was
also called Brak Bo and Comrade Bo. He was born in
Prek Ta Duong village, Prek Thmey commune,
District 18, Region 25. His father was Brak Orn, a 55year
old Khmer. His mother was Chea Kuy, a 48-year
Khmer farmer.
Brak Bo left school when he was in grade 9. He
joined the revolution in early January 1973 through Ngorn
Sry, chief of a fish sauce factory. Ngorn Sry helped
Brak Bo get a job in the trade department of Region 25,
where he worked for one year under the leadership of
Hong, the president of business 21 in Region 25. Next,
Angkar assigned him to cut trees and produce rice in
the farming department of S-21 under Ta Sim, the chief
of the farming department. He stayed in this position
for six months.
On April 17, 1975 Brak Bo was sent to Unit 265,
Platoon 22, headed by a man named Rath. After nine
months, he was sent to study at a military technical school
of Division 703, run by Tuy and Peng. He finished his
studies after 5 months and 16 days, and was then appointed
to be a messenger at S-21 (Tuol Sleng prison) under a
platoon officer named Bou. After nearly a year, Brak
Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam)