Mapping the killing fields of Cambodia 1998.

D119514

Mapping the killing fields of Cambodia 1998.

English

Cambodia

7th December 1998

Kratie province

DC-Cam/20 March 2025

DC-Cam

Document center of Cambodia.

18 pages Computer typing (Tx)

About mapping project

Conclusion
In Sambo district, information from witnesses was so clear and important that we have never had witnesses' testimony in other
provinces since we started the mapping project. The witnesses like killers or security cadres often ran away from where they worked
in the Khmer Rouge regime to escape possible revenge. However, the sites are very far from the village and flooded. The remains of
the victims have never been exhumed. The mass graves were no longer visible. Therefore, the first visit to Sambo district has little
result. We are sorry that the district chief does not assist us to meet the Khmer Rouge security chiefs on an excuse that they refused
to meet and answer to our team.

We think that in the dry season, we can ride ox-carts or bicycle or motor or walk to the not-yet visited sites. We should visit the
province again and we want to make sure that we meet and talk to those Khmer Rouge security cadres, who we could not meet this
time. In the case of Kuk Sang in Bati district, with the pressure of the local authority and the people, the Khmer Rouge cadres
always cooperated with us to provide information to us. But the Khmer Rouge objections in Sambo district to meet us has prevented.
Conclusion
In Prek Prasap district, we could visit only one site. Because Wat Chroy Ampil is very far from the district office, and we had to
travel by a slow boat to Chhlong, only where we could rented a speed-boat to go to the site. When we were on the way there, the
rains started, our team were not just shivering but also facing danger of boat overturn due to the strong wind and waves, too. Finally
we reached the target safely and we received satisfactory result. The witness gave us detailed information, and physical evidence
remains there. We should go to the remaining sites in the future, but our team should be allowed more time for any future visits.

Chhlong District
December 9, 1998
At 12 a.m., we snatched the time to make a short visit to Chhlong district office, where we met District Governor Mr. My Pheng.
This district lies along the Mekong River on the eastern bank of the river. It is about 36 kilometers southeast of the provincial town.
The district is bordered on:

- the west by Krauch Chmar district,
- the east by Kratie district,
- the south by Dambe district, Kampong Cham province,
- the north by Prek Prasap district,

According to the District Governor, the population is 90,000 equal to 5,000 families. The district has 8 sub-districts and 40 villages.

© DC-Cam