NHEM En

Pseudonym: 2-TCW-919

Cases: Case 002/02

Category: Witness

Background and Role

Nhem En was a photographer at S-21 and he wrote a book called “The Khmer Rouge’s Photographer at S-21” about his work from 1975 to 1979. He joined the revolution in 1971 with five of his siblings, two of whom were eventually killed as a result of internal purges. He moved to Phnom Penh in 1975 and worked on several jobs publishing newspapers and delivering letters between Monivong Hospital and Takhmau Prison until 1976. Angkar sent him to study photography and filming in China for six months in January 1976. Nhem testified as a witness in Case 002/02 about his work as a photographer at S-21, the administrative structure of S-21, and the roles and duties of various Khmer Rouge leaders. The Trial Chamber heard Nhem’s testimony over two days and found his evidence was marked by extensive contradictions, inconsistencies, speculation, and lack of clarity. It thus approached his evidence with extreme caution, and only relied on it with respect to the roles of Son Sen and Nuon Chea.

Work in the Field and at S-21

Upon returning from China, Nhem worked at S-21 to take photos of incoming prisoners and was a field photographer documenting the activities of Democratic Kampuchea in six zones. During the field trips, he received orders from Son Sen and Ta Nat, while Duch only gave him orders for his work at S-21. Among the photographic missions he carried out for the regime, he recounted numerous occasions where he accompanied delegations from the Communist bloc to visit worksites in the Northwest Zone, including Trapeang Thmar Dam, Trapeanng Pou, and 1st January Dam. During these visits, he took photos of high-ranking Khmer Rouge cadres such as Pol Pot and Son Sen. He also took photos of people at Prey Sar on a weekly basis, though he mainly worked at S-21. Besides film-making and photography, he was tasked with drawing maps of the Northeast Zone. At S-21, only a small number of prisoners were photographed, as many were taken away and killed before their photo could be taken. Nhem described the procedures when taking photos of prisoners, the numbering system to identify the prisoners, and the use of photography materials. When Vietnamese forces reached Phnom Penh on 7 January 1975, Nhem escaped S-21 with Duch. Before leaving, Nhem said that he buried photographic and filming equipment under coconut trees in front of the S-21 compound, and he attempted to retrieve this when he returned to Phnom Penh in 1990. He also said that he began gathering and storing a collection of photos, films, and audio recordings of the Democratic Kampuchea regime following the national reintegration in Anlong Veaeng in 1997. He added that most of the collection belonged to him, though some of which he retrieved from Pol Pot’s house after the latter’s death and other materials he retrieved from military commanders. Nhem elaborated on the administrative structure of S-21 in relation to Division 703. He also gave details about the organisation and staff at S-21, including Duch. Nuon Chea submitted that Nhem was an “imposter” and “charlatan” whose evidence was wholly lacking credibility and that his evidence should be disregarded in totality. In addition, S-21’s head photographer, Noem Oem, stated that: (i) Nhem was sent to S-21 as a child by Duch; (ii) Nhem stayed outside the S-21 compound; and (iii) he (Noem Oem) trained Nhem to take photos, thus refuted the suggestion that Nhem possessed previous photography skills or that he played a significant role in S-21’s photography unit. The Trial Chamber found that, based on Nuon Chea, Noem Oem, and others’ evidence, Nhem’s role at S-21 was very limited. The Trial Chamber further noted that it would approach Nhem’s evidence with extreme caution, and would only rely on it when sufficiently corroborated and for limited purposes that do not relate to facts in issue, particularly in connection with S-21.

Roles of Khmer Rouge Leaders

Nhem said that Son Sen was the Minister of Defence in charge of security, Nath was in charge of the General Staff of the army, and Pin was in charge of Division 703. He described attending big rallies at the Olympic Stadium, where Nuon Chea was present alongside Pol Pot and Son Sen. The Trial Chamber recalled the need to treat Nhem’s evidence with extreme caution, particularly in connection with the role of Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan. It considered Nhem’s testimony and relied on it (when sufficiently corroborated by other evidence) in finding that: (i) Son Sen was often referred to as the head of the Ministry of Defence; (ii) Son Sen’s title as Minister of Defence was synonymous with his functions at the General Staff; and (iii) Nuon Chea appeared as the chairman, trainer, or speaker at meetings, training, or study sessions at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh.

Videos

Testimony
Date	Written record of proceedings	Transcript number
19/04/2016	E1/418	E1/418.1
20/04/2016	E1/419	E1/419.1
21/04/2016	E1/420	E1/420.1

Relevant documents
Document title Khmer	Document title English	Document title French	Document D number	Document E3 number
កំណត់ហេតុនៃការស្តាប់ចម្លើយ សាក្សី ញ៉ែម អេន	Written Record of Interview of NHEM En	Procès-verbal de l’audition de NHEM En	D108/3/15	E3/68
កំណត់ហេតុនៃការស្តាប់ចម្លើយ សាក្សី ញ៉ែម អេន	Written Record of Interview of NHEM En	Procès-verbal de l’audition de NHEM En	N/A	E3/9532