OU Savrith
Pseudonym: E2/26
Cases: Case 001
Category: Civil Party
OU Savrith is a French national born in the province of Kampong Cham, Cambodia. He testified via video conference in Case 001 as a civil party on the death of his older brother, OU Vindy, at the Security Centre, also known as S-21.
1
OU Savrith testified on behalf of his sister-in law, his niece, and his other relatives regarding the death of his elder brother OU Vindy at S-21.
2
The Trial Chamber allowed Ou Savrith to be a civil party in this matter as OU Savrith proved the existence of a relationship to the immediate victims of S-21, Ou Vindy, and that the death of OU Vindy was a direct consequence of the crimes which Kaing Guev Eav alias Duch was convicted.
3
Background
Between April 1975 and 7 January 1979, OU Savrith lived in France.
4
His father, OU Kimsan, died in 1972. His mother, Nay Sidonie, died in Cambodia during the Democratic Kampuchea (DK) Period. He does not know where or when she died.
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He had two brothers who died in Cambodia between 1975 and 1979, and two sisters, OU Chumonie and Ou Macbeth, who live in France.
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OU Vindy was a graduate of ENA, the national administration school of Phnom Penh. In 1975, he was an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seconded to the Cabinet of the Prime Minister, Mr. Long Boret.
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He was married and had three children. He had a close relationship with His Excellency Norodom Sihanouk.
8
OU Vindy was a model to OU Savrith; they had a great relationship.
9
In 1973, OU Savrith went to France to study. At the end of 1979, he saw OU Vindy’s name on the list of persons arrested. He recalled 13 February 1976 as the date his brother was registered at S-21, and 23 January 1976 as the date he was executed.
10
OU Savrith spoke about the suffering experienced by OU Vindy’s wife, his daughter and their two sisters. He read a few lines written by his niece: -
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“My name is OU Kamela. My father, OU Vindy, is one of the many victims of S-21. I was four years old when my father was arrested, tortured, and executed. At four years old, I was too young to be fully aware of all the atrocities which my father was probably subjected to. When I was four years old, I was too young to realize that he was no longer among us. At four, I was also too young to realize the degree to which the absence of a father would forge my future life…”
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“…I, daughter of a victim, I request that the punishment be commensurate with the crimes committed, with the suffering inflicted, and commensurate with the number of lives that the accused has taken away…”
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In 1992, OU Savrith returned to Cambodia for the first time, visiting S-21, and ever since has cried of the injustice, wondering what happened to his brother at S-21.
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He and his relatives want moral redress, not financial reparations or material relief.
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Seeking Clarification from Duch
Based on OU Vindy’s S-21 biography, which was presented in court, OU Savrith sought clarification of the discrepancy his brother’s fate from when his arrest of 13 February 1976, and when he was executed on 23 January 1976 when according to a biographical note he claimed to have been a CIA agent.
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Duch explained that the list of entry at S-21 was not always accurate since special people were placed in special prisons which may account for discrepancies in the entry dates.
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He confirmed, however, that the confession date was 23 January 1976.
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OU Savrith also wanted clarity on OU Vindy’s confession given that the handwriting was strong and harmonious, thus calling into question whether the confession was written under torture.
19
Duch explained that torture could not be avoided at S-21, that the only person who was not tortured was Koy Thuon, though based on OU Vindy’s clean handwriting, it might have been possible that had not been tortured.
20
OU Savrith’s Testimony
OU Savrith knew Tioulong Raingsy, Lim Kimari and Mr. Son Kaset who were arrested along with his brother were in the same group with OU Vindy and their families knew each other.
21
OU Savrith learned that after 17 April 1975, OU Vindy together with 10 family members were evacuated from Phnom Penh.
22
He learned this from his sister-in-law when she arrived from the refugee camps in Thailand and informed him that OU Vindy had been detained at S-21.
23
OU Savrith speculated that his brother was most likely arrested because of his association with Tioulong Rangsy who was arrested by the district leader.
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Duch offered no observations.
25
Videos
