MAK Chhoeun
Pseudonym: 2-TCW-823
Cases: Case 002/02
Category: Witness
Background and Role
Mak Chhoeun joined the Khmer Rouge revolution in 1970 at the village level and was later promoted to the sector level in the Kampot forces.
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He was then transferred to join the Southwest Zone forces in Division 3 and assigned to help liberate Phnom Penh, before being sent to Kampong Som alongside Division 3, where he was the commander of Battalion 560 in Regiment 63.
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Mak Chhoeun testified as a witness before the Trial Chamber in Case 002/02 about his wedding ceremony in 1976,
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defending against the Vietnamese,
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and the various instances where he saw Khmer Rouge leaders.
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Marriage of Disabled Soldiers
Mak Chhoeun had a consensual marriage in 1976,
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even though he had no previous romantic relationship with his wife, and they had simply agreed to marry each other.
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There were around 40 couples, two or three of whom were disabled soldiers, who married on the same day.
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Ta Mut presided over his wedding.
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While Mak Chhoeun testified about being free to marry whoever he desired, the Trial Chamber found in light of other evidence that men and women were forced to marry in accordance with Angkar’s instructions during the Democratic Kampuchea period.
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The Supreme Court Chamber referred to Mak Chhoeun’s testimony in dismissing Khieu Samphan’s argument that the Trial Chamber erred in assessing evidence on the marriage of disabled soldiers,
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finding that the fact that Mak Chhoeun testified that he had a consensual marriage did not diminish the evidence that many marriages were forced or that it was non-consensual for most women.
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Defending Against the Vietnamese
Mak Chhoeun had 300 men under his command and was responsible for organising ammunition and food to be transported to the islands of Koh Ses or Koh Thmei.
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He explained that he was stationed there from 1978 to 1979 to protect the territories, as the islands were close to the border with Koh Tral, which was occupied by the Vietnamese.
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There were brief attacks by armed Vietnamese fishing boats, who fired first before his battalion responded.
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A number of soldiers were injured and killed as a result of the attacks.
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Mak Chhoeun added that his boats never crossed into Vietnamese waters and they never captured any Vietnamese, as he understood that Cambodia should not attack Vietnam.
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He described in general terms that Democratic Kampuchea, being a small country with a small population, had a policy not to invade other countries.
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Reporting the line and meeting Khmer Rouge leaders
Mak Chhoeun attended meetings at the divisional headquarters around once a month where either Ta Mut or Brother Dim spoke about defending and protecting the islands and borders, particularly the maritime boundary, as well as matters relating to politics, education, diet, hygiene, the economy, and health.
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He also recalled attending a study session which lasted for four days at the Olympic Stadium after the liberation of Phnom Penh, where he saw Son Sen and heard Pol Pot speak about defence and construction of the country.
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After he was transferred to Phnom Penh in 1978 to be in charge of organising the evacuation of the labour force, he met Khieu Samphan during his stay which lasted for only around 10 days as the Vietnamese later invaded the city.
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