Kang Kek Iew
Cambodia- Biography of Kang Kek Ieu
- Early Life and Education
- Joining the Khmer Rouge
- Tuol Sleng and Crimes
- Fall and Trial
Biography of Kang Kek Ieu
Kang Kek Ieu, also known as Duch, was a Cambodian political figure and former leader of the communist movement known as the "Khmer Rouge." He was the head of the notorious Tuol Sleng prison and played a significant role in the Democratic Kampuchea regime from 1975 to 1979. Duch gained notoriety for his involvement in the crimes committed by the regime, including crimes against humanity, torture, and participation in the Cambodian Genocide. He was brought to trial and ultimately sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Early Life and Education
Kang Kek Ieu was born in the village of Choyaot in the Kampong Thom province, Cambodia. He was of mixed Chinese and Khmer heritage. Duch excelled in his studies and received his high school diploma at the age of 19. He then went on to pursue a bachelor's degree in mathematics at a prestigious college in Phnom Penh, where he demonstrated exceptional academic achievements.
In 1964, Duch enrolled in a teacher training institute with aspirations to become a mathematics teacher. It was during this time that he became involved in a new communist movement led by Son Sen, who would later become the Minister of Defense for the Khmer Rouge. Duch completed his teaching certification in 1966 and began working in a small town in the Kampong Cham province. He was highly regarded as a dedicated and beloved educator.
Joining the Khmer Rouge
In 1967, Kang Kek Ieu joined the Communist Party of Kampuchea. Shortly after, three of his students were arrested, and fearing for his safety, Duch fled to a secret Khmer Rouge base, where he was recognized as a full member of the party. However, he was arrested a few months later and spent the next two years in prison, without ever receiving a formal trial.
In 1970, Duch was released along with other political prisoners under an amnesty program. He returned to the Khmer Rouge and adopted the pseudonym Duch, which would later become infamous. He was appointed as the head of a prison camp and served as the chief of the Special Security Department under Vorn Vet.
Tuol Sleng and Crimes
Duch constructed his first prison, M-13, in the Amleang forests. Within two years, another prison, M-99, was established. With the assistance of his loyal assistants, Comrade Chan and Comrade Pon, Duch honed his skills as an interrogation specialist. Prisoners in his camps endured extreme torture and starvation. Few managed to survive their captivity under Duch's regime.
In 1975, the Khmer Rouge finally gained power, and Duch and his followers were able to operate at full force. One of his most infamous creations during this time was the Tuol Sleng prison, also known as S-21. This prison, along with several others, was specifically built for internal enemies of the party, and Duch led a relentless campaign against perceived communist traitors. After obtaining the desired confessions through interrogations, Duch would often order the execution of the prisoners, sometimes in the most brutal and sadistic ways.
Fall and Trial
On January 7, 1979, Duch fled Phnom Penh as it was captured by Vietnamese forces. He failed to destroy the prison records but found time to execute some surviving prisoners. His failure to destroy the archives led to his demotion within the party. For some time, Kang Kek Ieu lived under a false identity in Thailand and China until he was eventually exposed and apprehended. He surrendered to authorities in Phnom Penh.
On July 31, 2007, Duch stood trial for his crimes. By then, he had already spent over eight years in a Cambodian prison, which did not elicit sympathy from the judges. Duch admitted his guilt and desperately pleaded for leniency and forgiveness. Ultimately, on July 27, 2010, he was sentenced to 35 years in prison, taking into account the 11 years he had already served. Duch is expected to be released in 2029 at the age of 87.
