Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam) MAPPING THE KILLING FIELDS OF CAMBODIA, 1997: khet KAMPONG CHAM [C-3-kampong Cham/a-cb-ke]

D119531

Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam)
MAPPING THE KILLING FIELDS OF CAMBODIA, 1997: khet KAMPONG CHAM
[C-3-kampong Cham/a-cb-ke]

English

Cambodia

15 March 1997

Kompong Cham

DC-Cam/20 March 2025

DC-Cam

16 pages Computer typing (Tx)

Place of the Killing:

There are 4 killing sites:

1- At Chamka May Sak, now within the compound of munti srok;
2- In phum Lor, khum Koang Kang, srok Pongnea Krek;
3- At Trapang Sangke near the border between khum Veal Mlou and Kra Gnang; and
4- In phum Boss, khum Daun Tei, srok Pongnea Krek, 15 kilometers from the district office. Time did not permit us to visit this
site.

Geographical Location of District

In conclusion, we have researched the genocidal crimes of Pol Pot's clique in 3 criminal centers in 3 communes of srok Pognea
Krek, khet Kampong Cham. We have found that the death toll outnumbers that of other provinces, which was our primary reason
for returning to investigate. Once again, our research was limited somewhat by the distances involved, and by the road conditions
between each of the sites. However, the opportunity to personally inspect the killing sites and the pits, to verify the death toll, and
to directly receive witness' testimony was irreplaceable, much more valuable than gleaning information from documents from the
office of culture. For instance, in some places the documents indicated that only 5 pits existed; upon examination, we found up to 9
pits. The figure is based on what was estimated in the documents.

We are likely to face two problems in going deep into deserted forest in rural areas, neither of which will deter us. First, we may
meet Pol Pot's soldiers. Second, there might be armed robbers. Apparently, in srok Pognea Krek, a group of 12 soldiers with guns
banded together and escaped to the forest. Recently, they have robbed people, killed a medical worker in the district, and stolen
cattle for food or for sale to Vietnam. We encountered some difficulties in following up the administrative procedures of
communes and districts. Because neither the district chief nor the district administrative office was able to provide us with security
forces, we decided to ask the commune chief for some militiamen to help us.

For now, regarding the procedure of administrative affairs, subordinates mostly listen directly to superiors. Orders are issued by
superiors directly to followers to carry out. For example, police listen to and carry out orders passed on by the commissariat of
provincial police. Contacting lower administration officers without first getting access to their superiors is also a problem.
Anyway, our work is very important. It is an integral step for a country trying to responsibility for its history.

© DC-Cam