SAR Sarin
Pseudonym: TCCP-186
Cases: Case 002/01
Category: Civil Party
Background and Roles
Sar Sarin testified as a civil party in the Case 002/01 trial proceedings, and provided testimony on his roles as an art performer in 1973 and later as a driver transporting foreign leaders around DK. He also described his attendance at study sessions held by Ieng Sary, Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan. In 1973, he joined the Revolutionary Movement as an art performer in the Propaganda Team.
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He testified that art performers were asked to educate villagers through songs, which disseminated information concerning the Revolutionary Movement.
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He told villagers that the United Front was chaired by Samdech Sihanouk, and its members comprised of Khieu Samphan, Samdech Penn Nouth, Hu Nim, Hou Youn etc.
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He shared information about the historical background of the former resistance, including Achar and other Khmer former heroes.
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Roles at K-7, K-12 and K-15 and visits to model districts
Sar Sarin joined the Khmer Rouge army on 8 August 1975.
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In September or October 1975, he and other soldiers entered Phnom Penh.
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He was subsequently transferred to K-7, the messenger unit,
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where he was asked to clear bushes and plant vegetables.
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Vuy, the head of K-12, asked Sar Sarin and others to join their unit,
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which was responsible for organising motor vehicles and drivers.
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When they first arrived at K-12, they were not allowed to drive cars and instead were tasked with fixing or maintaining cars.
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He also attended training at K-15, the Khmer-Soviet Technical School.
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Most of the trainees were returnees from overseas, and the trainer was Comrade Phum.
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Sar Sarin was responsible for transporting the trainees to visit three model locations, including a model district in Kampong Tralach Leu in the West Zone, and in Tram Kak in the Southwest Zone.
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These locations were selected as they met the development target.
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When Sar Sarin and the trainees visited these locations, he observed that the people were very active - they cultivated crops, played music and worked “very happily”.
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He testified that they were not introduced to the dining halls because it was known that the eating conditions were not good.
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Greeting foreign visitors & study sessions held by CPK leaders
As a driver at K-12, he transported important foreign visitors from China, Burma, Laos and Yugoslavia.
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To prepare for their arrival, Ieng Sary organised study sessions on how to greet visiting leaders.
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During these sessions, Ieng Sary talked about Cambodia’s international reputation and its diplomatic relations with other countries.
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Ieng Sary admitted that there was a shortage of food, medicine and shelter in Cambodia, and that radio broadcasts were used to disseminate propaganda.
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Sar Sarin attended political study sessions at Borei Keila, which were conducted via lectures by Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan.
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The sessions lasted three to four days, and the participants were lectured on the victory of the Party.
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In its Judgment, the Trial Chamber cited Sar Sarin’s interview with DC-Cam to shed light on the meaning of the phrase “Party Centre”.
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The Trial Chamber used the phrase “Party Centre” to refer collectively to the senior executive organs of the CPK based in Phnom Penh – namely, the Standing Committee, Central Committee, Military Committee, Office 870, Government Office (S-71) and sub-offices of the Government Office.
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The contents of this interview were also relied upon by the Trial Chamber when finding that “[f]from April 1976, MEY Prang was Minister of Communications and Transportation. In this role, among other duties, he was in charge of the Train Unit”.
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Request for Protective Measures
During his testimony, Sar Sarin expressed that he would only continue to testify if he was granted protective measures for the rest of his life.
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The Chamber held that it did not have the jurisdiction to grant this request and excused him from further testimony.
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On 23 July 2013, in considering the OCP’s request for the Chamber to reconsider its decision not to recall Sar Sarin, the Chamber asked Sar Sarin whether he had changed his mind. He maintained that he would refuse to testify unless he was granted the previously requested protection measures.
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Videos
