Documentation Center of Cambodia

 

WITNESSING JUSTICE: DCCAM PUBLIC VILLAGE FORUM

KAMPONG CHHNANG

 

July 29 - 31 , 2013

 

Photo and Text by Sok-kheang LY, Sodavy UN, and Sanas MIN

Kampong Chhnang province geographically situates in the middle of the country. It was within West Zone or Zone 401 under the supervision of Chou Chet, who was later arrested by Ta Mok on charge of having complicity with Vietnam. The Zone chief was made to write a long confession at S-21 or Tuol Sleng prison. This province could be regarded as a potential military strategy and a business hub for Chinese interest. DK sent tens of thousands of slaves from various provinces to build a Kampong Chhnang airport from May 1976 onwards with hundreds of Chinese advisors and supports. It was one of the noticeable construction sites under the supervision of Son Sen, DK Deputy PM in charge of National Defense, Sou Meth (a suspect in Case 003) and Ta Lvey, commander and deputy commander respectively of DK National Air Force Division 502. The construction site which was believed to have claimed the lives of thousands of Cambodians was eighty percent completed by the time when the Vietnamese occupation forces disrupted the construction. It's been abandoned only recently the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) declared a renovation and turned it into an international airport in the coming years. In this province, approximately forty grave sites were found and efforts are being made to interview former KR members and others. According to PA project's figure, one hundred and thirteen interviews were conducted. However, further examination will be made on DK's military strategies to wage a war with Vietnam, if the airbase was completed.