Mapping Killing Project 1999 |Documentation Center Of Cambodia|

D119512

Mapping Killing Project 1999 |Documentation Center Of Cambodia|

English

Cambodia

July 2000

Twenty-one provinces.

DC-Cam/20 March 2025

DC-Cam

Document center of Cambodia.

36 page Computer typing (Tx)

Twenty-one provinces.

1999 was the fifth year of the Documentation Center of Cambodia's (DC-Cam) Mass
Grave Mapping Project, and this report describes the fieldwork in those efforts. This year's
report details missions by DC-Cam Mapping Teams to twelve of Cambodia's twenty-one
provinces, including Banteay Meanchey, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Kampong
Thom, Kandal, Kratie, Phnom Penh, Prey Veng, Siem Reap, Takeo, Mondulkiri and
Ratanakiri provinces. Thus the report covers all corners of Cambodia, from the densely
populated south to the jungle-clad north, from the remote reaches of the east to the far
western rice bowl, and provinces in Cambodia's heartland around the Great Lake.

As in previous years' work, there is a depressing uniformity of findings: witnesses
testify to torture and murder on an astounding scale, and remains of mass graves and former
Khmer Rouge prisons provide their own mute testimony, littering the countryside as physical
evidence of these crimes. It happened everywhere, and it happened in much the same way
across the country. This confirms that the Khmer Rouge terror was both massive and
systematic, which meets one of the key criteria in the definition of crimes against humanity.
A brief review of some of this year's findings drives home this stark reality.
In conclusion, we achieved few results from this research expedition. In interviewing
witnesses in Banteay Meanchey Province, we went only to one of its districts, Thmar Puok
District. We did not go to Banteay Ampil District, because that district is now
administratively part of Oddar Meanchey Province. When we wish to go there, we will have
to contact the provincial authorities in advance. The trip to that district will be extremely
difficult, as there are a lot of big holes in the road and the bridges have been destroyed by
flooding. So, it will not be possible to make that trip by car. The logistics will involve a raft
and oxcarts. It is seventy kilometers distant, and will require a full day of travel. It will be
wiser to attempt that trip in the dry season, rather than the rainy season.

The witness who survived detention in the Khmer Rouge security office lives very far from
the site, and we have not yet been able to determine his current address. Time did not permit
it, so our team could not interview that witness. Even though we have few results, we
nonetheless compiled this document to be published as an historical record for younger
generation, so they can be aware of the troubles during the 3 years, 8 months and 20 days of
the Khmer Rouge regime.

© DC-Cam