Ta Long, Kampong Speu (Cambodia). 24/02/2009: Norng Chanphal, one of the four S-21child survivors  
©Vandy Rattana

Norng Chanphal, who came to testify Thursday July 2nd at Duch’s trial, had stepped into the media spotlight at the beginning of the year, shortly before the initial hearing opened. Presented as one of the “children from S-21” and discovered in January 1979 in the gloomy Phnom Penh security centre by the Vietnamese troops, the now 39-year-old man tried to join as a civil party. But since his application was submitted after the deadline, he was allowed to come and testify as a witness only. Nervous in the box, the bulldozer driver only retained very few memories of his short stay in S-21, during its last days of existence. His hearing took the whole day – instead of the half-day announced on the eve – like the survivors who came to the stand before him.

Kambol (Phnom Penh, Cambodia). 03/03/2009: Bou Meng, S-21 survivor, during a preliminary hearing on Khieu Samphan at the ECCC
©John Vink/ Magnum

Bou Meng, third S-21 survivor to testify, is 68 years old and already looks like a damaged old man. “I look older than I am,” he conceded. Failing hearing and memory, sight troubles, a toothless shy smile, a back that still bears the marks of repeated torture sessions… Those were as many indelible scars the slightly limping frail man listed before the court on Wednesday July 1st. The long-term effects of his detention in the centre directed by Duch. More than a year and a half, the longest among the remaining survivors still alive. Bou Meng, who joined Duch’s trial as a civil party, was touching during his testimony, so much that he seemed to manage to distress the accused, who usually appears so comfortable in the courtroom and so baffling by his apparent insensitivity. Since survivors started testifying at the beginning of the week, the trial has been watched by a packed room, thanks essentially to the tribunal who organises bus trips for people living in the vicinity.

Phnom Penh (Cambodia). 26/02/2006: Chum Mey, one of the three S-21 survivors still alive, demonstrating how he was detained in a cell  
©John Vink/ Magnum (archive)

A second S-21 survivor was called to testify in Duch’s trial and again, the frustration, already felt on the previous day during Vann Nath’s hearing, arose to see the court not measuring up sufficiently to this key moment of the trial. Tuesday June 30th, Chum Mey, a prisoner who was tortured in S-21 and joined as a civil party in Duch’s trial, was able at last to share his story with the public, but was treated, on too many instances, without the signs of respect that never failed to be shown to the accused. An inversion of roles? For the last three weeks, the trial has been managed more efficiently and the effort is quite commendable. However, that should not be at the expense of respect during debates.

Phnom Penh (Cambodia). 09/05/2001: Vann Nath during the shooting of “S-21, The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine” by Rithy Panh
©John Vink/ Magnum

Only one day, as scheduled by the Trial Chamber, to hear a crucial witness such as painter Vann Nath, whose life was spared in the death antechamber only thanks to the portraits of Pol Pot he was asked to make… One may have wondered whether that would be enough. However, the hearing on Monday June 29th was adjourned earlier than planned. The first survivor of S-21 called to testify since the start of the trial on March 30th recounted his experience with dignity, simplicity and precision, without ever resorting to dramatic effects. But the judges and the parties were often short of questions, most of which were off the mark.

Kambol (Phnom Penh, Cambodia). Faced with justice, has Duch changed? The accused asked the question himself  
©John Vink/ Magnum (file picture: 01-04-2009)

Thursday June 25th, in one morning, the co-Prosecutors and civil party lawyers interrogated Duch on the functioning of the re-education camp of Prey Sar, also called S-24. The efficiency can be credited to a decision by the judges to limit the speaking time allocated to each party and the president’s direction of the debates. However, the examination of S-24 ended with the feeling that Duch was far from having disclosed everything on the subject.