SAM Sak
Pseudonym: 2-TCCP-993
Cases: Case 002/02
Category: Civil Party
Sam Sak testified before the Trial Chamber as a civil party in Case 002/02 about his experience while working at the Trapeang Thma Dam worksite
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which workers called a hot battlefield due to hard work imposed on them.
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Sam, a New Person,
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was sent by Khmer Rouge to a children’s unit in Battambang province’s Samraong Commune, Phnom Srok district after 17 April 1975.
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He was later transferred in 1977 to a mobile unit in the district’s Trapeang Thma Dam construction site where he was assigned to carry earth to build dams.
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Within his mobile unit each worker received about two or three cubic meters of soil to complete per day. The workers were forced to work regardless of the weather or the condition of their health.
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They woke at 4 a.m or 5 a.m and had to work until 10 p.m with just a short break, and with only thick gruel in a small bowl to eat.
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Unit chiefs verified the work quota and made a report to their superiors.
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Workers who did not meet their quota had their food reduced
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and ordered to participate in criticism and self-criticism meetings.
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Sam recalled attending one criticism and self-criticism session after being criticised by one of his group members for not having fulfilled his quota,
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and was asked to admit his mistake and to try to complete assigned quotas.
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Workers were sick because of hard work.
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Those accused of having an imaginary sickness were told that if they could eat, they could also work.
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They knew nothing about the benefit of what the purpose of budling the dam.
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Sam contracted malaria, a fever and swollen disease while working at the Trapeang Thma Dam worksite.
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Workers received rabbit dropping pellets for any kind of disease they had.
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Sam recalled one occasion when Khmer Rouge leadership and a Chinese delegation in black clothes visited the Trapeang Thma Dam worksite.
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During the visit, only healthy people were allowed to welcome the visitors.
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The Chamber relied primarily on testimonies by 11 witnesses and four civil parties including Sam Sak in finding that living and working conditions at the Trapeang Thma Dam worksite were very difficult and affected workers both physically and mentally,
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that workers frequently felt sick due to malnutrition and overwork,
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that workers could not refuse their assignments,
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and that attempts were made by local authorities to hide certain aspects of the real situation faced by workers at the construction site.
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