2009-04-21
By SOPHENG CHEANG
Associated Press
Nhem En, the chief photographer at the group's notorious torture center who photographed prisoners before and after they were tortured, is also selling his cameras. His images are the centerpiece of a permanent exhibition at the prison, which is now known as the Tuol Sleng genocide museum.
He has denied any involvement in the atrocities committed by the regime, whose policies were believed responsible for the deaths of 1.7 million Cambodians when they were in power in 1975-79. He has said his job was only to take photographs.
As many as 16,000 men, women and children are believed to have been tortured at S-21 in Phnom Penh before being executed.
The prison's commander, Kaing Guek Eav, is currently being tried by a U.N.-assisted genocide tribunal. At the trial Monday, a witness at the U.N.-assisted genocide trial of Duch told the tribunal he had seen the defendant torture a woman.
Nhem En said a public auction would be held next week for the shoes and two cameras he used to photograph prisoners. Bids for the lot would start at $500,000, he said.
"I love and like these items very much, but if I don't sell them I would not have enough money to fund the museum," he said.
The photographer plans to build the museum at Anlong Veng, a former Khmer Rouge stronghold in northern Cambodia where he now serves as a deputy district chief. The museum will display photos of the communist group's leaders.
Nhem En said he received what he says were Pol Pot's shoes from a close aide of the leader about a month after his death in April 1998. He said Pol Pot wore the shoes - rubber sandals made from automobile tires, which were standard issue footwear for Khmer Rouge guerrillas - for several years before his death while a prisoner of one of the group's factions.
He said the two cameras for sale were given to him in 1976 for his work at S-21.
At Duch's trial Monday, Chan Voeurn, 56, told the court on Monday that Duch had burned the breasts of the woman. Chan said he worked as a guard in 1974 at the M13 jungle prison, which had also been under Duch's command.
Crying as he testified, he also said that Duch had personally shot dead his uncle, another prisoner.
The defendant said the testimony was false, fabricated or based on hearsay accounts. The commander has denied most accusations of personally torturing and killing prisoners.
Duch is the first senior Khmer Rouge figure to face trial, and the only one to acknowledge responsibility for his actions. The 66-year-old is charged with crimes against humanity, war crimes, murder and torture.
Four other former Khmer Rouge leaders are in custody and are scheduled to be tried sometime over the next year or two.
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