THE TRIAL OF DUCH
February
2009
I heard on the news today that the trial of Kaing Guek Eav, otherwise known as Duch, began yesterday. Duch was the prison chief of Toul Sleng or S-21 and he is being charged with crimes against humanity. As I was trying to learn more about the trial, I came across this, this and this. I am now interested in reading Nic Dunlop’s book about Duch called the Lost Executioner. It seems like an interesting read.
I did not notice any picture of Duch displayed in Toul Sleng. I suppose it is inappropriate and disrespectfully to the victims to display the picture of the suspected torturer in Toul Sleng. I have likewise never seen Duch until I saw his picture on this website. Just by looking at him, you would never imagine that Duch is capable of leading people, children in particular, in torturing and killing the prisoners of Toul Sleng. But, then again, people capable of atrocities would not look any different from us.
Assuming (I say assuming because all are innocent until proven guilty) Duch is guilty of the crimes he is accused of committing, I wonder how it is possible for him to sleep at night knowing people suffered and died under his hands. I am greatly disturbed that people, myself included, are capable of unspeakable acts of cruelty. How does one become so cruel is a question I have constantly asked myself since visiting Toul Sleng. I am hoping the answer will teach me be compassionate and to never let myself be the source of other people’s suffering.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 at 12:53 am and is filed under 'Pinions, People. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
February 21st, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Dinno saw Duch during his pre-trial. He seemed very ordinary. You couldn’t imagine that he is capable of such atrocities. He has no signs of guilt or repentance. How could people do these things? It is mind-boggling.
February 21st, 2009 at 5:24 pm
I read a review of that book by Nic Dunlop called Lost Executioner. Nic Dunlop seems to feel the same way we do.
Apparently, Duch was a math teacher before he joined the Khmer Rouge. As to what drove him to orchestrate such atrocities at S-21, assuming he orchestrated them, is something that Nic Dunlop was very curious about. According to the review, since he was a child, Nic had a picture of Duch in his wallet and would carry it around with him wherever he went. When Nic was older, Nic became a photo journalist who found himself assigned to cover an aid camp somewhere in the border of Thailand and Cambodia. During that assignment, he got the shock of his life when he saw Duch in that camp. Duch was then working as an aid worker! Eventually, it was Nic that turned Duch over to the authorities. According to the review, despite the interviews granted to Nic, he still does not understand how Duch could have orchestrated the atrocities.
I am trying to get a copy of this book. If I do get a copy, I’ll lend it to you.