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March 2, 2008: Update:
According to a report in the British newspaper, Independent, at the end of February, the UN Tribunal took Duch to the killing fields of Cambodia.
The tribunal is bringing to justice those responsible for the slaughter of 1.7 million Cambodians during the brutal four-year reign of the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1979. This brutal time in Cambodian history was made famous by the movie "The Killing fields."
Though Pol Pot, the leader of the Khmer Rouge died in 1998, the tribunal is taking five Khmer leaders to court in July of this year.
One of those is Duch -- the chief torturer of the Khmer Rouge -- who operated Tuol Seng, a prison camp where 20,000 men, women and children were brutally tortured then murdered. But since then Duch has become a born-again Christian and the full story of his incredible conversion is recorded below.
On February, 26, 2008, the tribunal took Duch to the Killing Fields to re-enact what happened.
The convoy made up of 80 tribunal judges and staff was heavily guarded as traveled to its first stop Choeung Ek. It is one of the best know mass graves in Cambodia and pieces of bones and cloth still litter the site.
When they arrived, Reach Sambath speaking on behalf of the tribunal said, "It was emotional, of course, and very quiet. Everyone was very quiet."
At the site, the four guards from Tuol Seng who were brought along as witnesses provided testimony as did Duch who has fully confessed to his crimes and said repeatedly he will testify if called upon.
It was here that Duch first broke down. It happened when the group passed a tree with plack saying babies were killed by bashing their heads against its trunk.
The second occurred when the convoy arrived at a Buddhist pagoda also known as a stupa. Stupas are traditionally used as memorials to help people remember and this one contained the skulls of 8,000 Cambodians killed by the Khmer. Duch fell to ground crying and praying.
Source: Tears and prayers as Khmer Rouge 'torturer' is taken back to the Killing Fields by Andrew Buncombe (Independent.co.uk: February 27, 2008)
The story of Duch's conversion
A while back I was reading an article, in the Globe and Mail about the upcoming trials in Cambodia of former members of the Khmer Rouge.
The Khmer Rouge was one of the most evil regimes of the past century. It started off as a Maoist, guerilla group in the Cambodian jungles run by a despot named Pol Pot. They overthrew the Cambodian government in 1975 and though they only reigned four years -- falling in 1979 to the Vietnamese -- their reign of terror was marked by the brutal massacre of nearly 2 million people.
After their overthrow, the Khmer Rouge returned to the jungles and fought the Vietnamese occupiers until they withdrew in 1989. The Khmer then disbanded and its members moved back into Cambodian society as if nothing had happened.
Death estimates, under the Khmer, range from 800,000 people to as high as three million. The latter number is derived from a door-to-door survey conducted by the Vietnamese during their 10 year occupation. The 2 million number is generally accepted as accurate as it reflects the body count from numerous mass graves uncovered holding an estimated 1.39 million bodies. Since Cambodia only had a population of 7.5 million at the time, over 20% of the population was exterminated.
One of the regime's mottos was "To keep you is no benefit, to destroy you is no loss" and certainly they lived by it. There were mass executions of former government loyalists, intellectuals (this included people wearing glasses which indicated they could read) and as well non Cambodians such as Vietnamese and Chinese. Religious groups were also targeted particularly Christians and Muslims.
Pol Pot transformed Cambodia into an agrarian society and emptied the cities forcing the people into the country where hundreds of thousands starved to death, were slaughtered or quite literally worked to death. Phnom Penh, the capital city with a current population of 1.2 million, was a ghost town in the late 70s.
The British movie, The Killing Fields, won three Academy Awards for it portrayal of this horrific time in Cambodian history. Though Pol Pot died in 1998 under mysterious circumstances, many leaders of the Khmer Rouge still walk free in the country. This includes Leng Sary, the foreign minister of the Khmer Rouge, who has lived for years in a mansion in Phnom Penn under police protection.
Nuon Chea -- Brother #2 -- second in command behind Pol Pot was considered the master mind behind the Khmer genocide and lives in northwestern Cambodia. The International community has made repeated attempts to have Cambodia come to terms with this dark period in its history.
Finally after nearly 30 years of prodding, the government said it will hold trials in 2008 bringing to justice those responsible. Most believe Cambodian governments resisted dealing with the issue because many politicians, senior bureaucrats and even military personnel are former members of the Khmer Rouge who would be exposed if others are forced to testify.
The chief torturer and executioner
As I read through the Globe and Mail article, I was struck by a reference to Khang Khek Ieu (Duch was his revolutionary name) who is expected to face justice. The article stated he was a born again Christian.
Duch (pronounced dook) was leader of the Khmer Rouge's secret police and oversaw the country's notorious prison camp system used primarily to torture and execute individuals (men, women and children) considered enemies of the state.
It was said if you entered one of the camps you never came out alive. Before his rise to power, Duch was commander of the highest security prison in the regime -- S-21 -- otherwise known as Tuol Seng where an estimated 12,000 people were imprisoned and executed. Most sent there were actually members of the Khmer Rouge, as Nuon Chea routinely used S-21 to purge the party of dissidents real or imagined. Using extreme measures of torture, S-21 routinely gained confessions for all crimes charged and then executed them.
Pol Pot's torturer comes to Christ
Christopher LaPel -- a Cambodian-born pastor living in Los Angeles -- regularly travels to Cambodia to preach the Gospel and hold leadership training seminars.
In 1995, he was involved in a two-day leadership seminar in Chamkar Samrong a village in Battambang province. There he met a man, 54, by the name of Hang Pin. Christopher said Hang had been encouraged to attend the meetings at the urging of a friend. LaPel described him as withdrawn and gaunt.
After listening to LaPel's sermon, Hang made a commitment to Christ and asked to be baptized. LaPel said this resulted in a remarkable transformation in Hang's life. He went from being withdrawn to open and laughing and concerned about how he looked. At this point, LaPel had no idea that Hang Pin was the notorious leader of the Khmer Rouge secret police -- Duch.
Looking back, LaPel said the only hint he had of Hang Pin's past was a comment he made about having done a lot of bad things. "Pastor Christopher," Hang Pin told LaPel, "I'm a sinner. I don't think my brothers and sisters can forgive me because my sins are so deep." [3] After his conversion, Hang Pin returned to his village and started a church. He eventually went to work for a non government agency called the American Refugee Committee (ARC) in 1997 -- all the while, maintaining his connection with LaPel and preaching the Gospel.
In search of Duch
As the Holy Spirit drew Hang Pin to salvation, on the other side of Cambodia British photographer and Journalist Nic Dunlop, who had taken a keen interest in Cambodia's brutal history, was photographing and reporting on its Khmer Rouge past. He first arrived in 1989 and came back a number of times exploring different regions of the country.
Dunlop said he was drawn to S-21, which by this time had been turned into a museum of the genocide. The Khmer Rouge had taken photos of all the people incarcerated there and these thousands of images now covered the walls. He was mesmerized by the photos of desperation and death.
It was during one of his visits to the museum that he saw a picture of the camp commander -- Duch. He obtained a copy of the black and white photo and kept it in his wallet thinking it might prove useful in identifying Duch if he ever came across him. In his article, "On the trail of Pol Pot's chief executioner," Nic Dunlop tells his story of how he tracked down Duch. In 1999, while on another one of his tours, he met Hang Pin in a village near the city of Samlot in Western Cambodia.
Based on the photo taken at S-21, Dunlop was convinced he had just found Duch. He arranged to take a group photo of people in the village, making sure he had a clear shot of Hang Pin. Later Dunlop compared the two photos. There was no doubt in his mind he had found Duch. Dunlop contacted another reporter, Nate Thayer, and a week later the two returned to the village to confront Hang Pin as to his secret identity.
When they arrived, they found Hang Pin and struck up a conversation with him. He told the journalists of his conversion to Christ and his desire to start a school and a church in the community. Thayer then asked him if he ever worked for the Khmer Rouge secret police. Dunlop said Hang Pin deflected the question stating he currently worked with ARC and was translating school text books. Thayer asked the question two more times and finally Hang Pin paused and then said, "It is God's will you are here." [1]
"I have done very bad things in my life," he told them. "Now is the time to bear the consequences of my actions." Referring to his Khmer Rouge days he added, "Then I thought God was very bad. I did not serve God, I served communism. I feel sorry about the killings and the past." [1]
Dunlop said Duch confessed fully to his involvement with the secret police and S-21. The last thing Dunlop saw -- as they pulled out of the compound -- was Duch entering a hut pulling off his ARC t-shirt.
After Dunlop and Thayer broke the news they had found the infamous commander of S-21, Duch went into hiding for a couple days before finally turning himself in to the police. Dunlop has no doubt that Duch's commitment to Christ played a big part in his confession and arrest. To date, Duch is the only major leader of the Khmer Rouge to confess to his crimes.
In a later interview with Thayer, Duch said he was willing to testify against the other perpetuators and in fact fears for his life because of his willingness to do so. "It is OK, they can have my body," he said, "Jesus has my soul. It is important that this history is understood. I want to tell you everything." [2]
Duch has been in prison since 1999 and I wondered how he was doing. So this past June, I contacted Christopher LaPel and received an encouraging report about Duch who sits in a military prison in Phnom Penh just a few block away from S-21.
"Yes, I would like to answer your questions regarding Khang Khek Ieu or Hang Pin or Duch, one of my disciples and one of our leaders serving our Lord Jesus Christ in Northwest Cambodia before he came forward ... Yes, he is in jail in Phom Penh and he [is] still preaching and sharing God's word with people around him."
Believers with a past
But I suspect many struggle with how God could forgive someone as cruel and brutal as the former Commandment of S-21. But Duch joins a long list of believers with a past. I want you to take a moment and list three of the most famous Biblical characters, aside from Jesus. A number could be listed, but I am certain you probably included either Moses, King David and the Apostle Paul on your list.
Many undoubtedly included all three on their list. Aside from their overwhelming desire to serve God, these three men have one thing in common -- they were all murderers.
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Moses does the right thing the wrong way
Moses killed a man beating an Israelite (Exodus 7:11, 12).
We are not told all the details of the account and some may wonder how this act could be considered murder. But this was the traditional form of Egyptian punishment. Egyptians routinely beat the hired help and overseers are pictured in motifs with staffs in their hands and even beating the odd worker. It was not intended for death.
In verse 12, we are told Moses "looked this way and that" before striking down the Egyptian intimating it was a surprise move. Moses was a member of the Royal household, the Egyptian would have been totally unprepared for an attack and done little even if he saw it coming. Since he was a member of the Royal family, Moses could have ordered the beating stopped. Consequently, killing the Egyptian was murder.
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King David's great cover-up
King David committed adultery with Bathsheba the wife of Uriah the Hittite and actually impregnated her (2 Sam 11, 12) while, Uriah -- a member of David's army -- was away fighting the Ammonites. With Uriah’s wife pregnant, David ordered the soldier be sent home from battle, hoping he would have relations with his wife, covering up the adultery. When Uriah refused -- in respect for his comrades still at the front -- David arranged his death. He ordered Joab, his general, to place Uriah at the most dangerous point in the battle and then to suddenly withdraw stranding Uriah.
The depth of David's gall is seen as he orders Uriah to unknowingly deliver his own death warrant to Joab.
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Paul the Apostle plots a murder
Paul the Apostle prior to his conversion went by the name of Saul and was involved in jailing Christians. He also played a critical role in the murder of Stephen, the church's first martyr.
In Acts 6: 8-12, Stephen was preaching in Jerusalem and men from a local synagogue challenged Stephen. Unable to make headway against the disciple, a group secretly had some 'false' witnesses accuse Stephen of making blasphemous statements against Moses and God (v 11, 12). Stephen was then dragged before the the council (v 12) -- the Sanhedrin -- to face these charges. Standing before the High Priest (7:1) and others of the council, Stephen preached what would be his last sermon.
Though he said nothing that would be considered blasphemous, those in attendance were so incensed, they dragged Stephen outside the city and stoned him based on the previous false accusations. As the people removed their outer cloaks to prepare for the stoning, Luke records, "the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul." These were the "false witnesses" mentioned in Acts 6: 10, 11 who had accused Stephen of blasphemy. By laying their cloaks at Saul's feet, this group pointed to the future apostle as the ring leader behind the odious plot.
The work on the Cross
Many may struggle with how God could forgive such a brutal man as Duch. But I believe Duch's conversion is a tremendous testament of the complete work of Jesus on the Cross. In some sense, our struggles may reflect our own lack of understanding or even unbelief in Jesus' redeeming sacrifice. I want to take a look at one of the terms Paul used to describe what the Lord did on the cross not only for Duch, but each and every one of us.
Paul said we are "justified by faith" (Rom 5:1). The word justification is the Greek word dikaiosis and finds its usage in judicial judgment. This legal term does not mean to make upright or to infuse with righteousness, i.e. the Judge saw the evidence and decided to declare you innocent anyway. Such a move would be little more than old-fashioned corruption.
Rather justification means when the verdict came down you were declared not guilty because there was no evidence to condemn you. You were acquitted of all charges. Paul explains how this happens in 2 Cor 5:21, when he writes: "He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
The apostle Peter said it this way, "and He (Jesus) Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross." The sinless Jesus became sin for us. At the moment of salvation, all our individual acts of sin were transferred onto Jesus. They became His sin and God no longer has any record or memory of our sin. As a result, we are acquitted of all charges against us. This is justification. We have been quite literally "justified by His blood" (Rom 5:9).
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The justification of Duch
Duch who has already admitted his guilt sits in jail awaiting trial. Despite his confession the prosecutor will undoubtedly rehearse the evidence of Duch's crimes. He will show the memos Duch wrote at S-21. Nic Dunlop had such a memo signed by Duch stating the torturers were to use the "hot method" on an individual even if it killed him. Nic handed the paper to the former commander and asked if this was his signature. He said it was.
Other memos found at S-21 included one where Duch ordered the execution of nine children.The prosecutor will undoubtedly show the thousands of images hanging on the wall in S-21 of the people killed under his command. Many were taken after the torture and before they were put to death. Dunlop said you could see the utter hopelessness in their eyes and then your eyes noticed the disfigurement of torture.
When the Vietnamese toppled the Khmer Rouge, they were forced to evacuate S-21 in an hour. Shortly after its fall, Ho Van Tay, a photographer, went into S-21. He photographed the contorted bodies still chained to their beds. He photographed the axes, saws and other instruments of torture on the tables. He photographed the floor where in spots the blood was an inch thick and tufts of hair scattered about. These photos will undoubtedly be presented in the court case.
However, when Duch comes before God's court none of this evidence can be presented. None of it exists. So complete is Christ's death on the Cross, Duch will be acquitted of all charges.
In fact, guided by the Holy Spirit Paul wrote: "where sin increased, grace abounded all the more" (Rom 5:20). Simply interpreted: where there is great sin, there will be more than enough grace to cover it. The word more in the Greek "huperperisseuo" implies "super abundant." There is "super abundant" grace available to cover the worst of sins and the most evil of sinners.
The Holy Spirit knew He would be drawing people to salvation who were standing in Hell itself. People who had committed unimaginable horrors. People like Duch. The Holy Spirit wants us to know Jesus' grace is more than sufficient to cover the worst.
This is good news for you as well, because it means every sin you did, past, present and future, is washed away because of your faith in Christ.
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom 5:1).
No condemnation
Because of justification, Paul writes, "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom 8:1). If you struggle with how God could forgive Duch, does this suggest a lack of understanding or even unbelief in what Christ did for you on the cross? Many of us experience condemnation because we condemn ourselves.
This happens because haven’t fully forgiven ourselves. Satan can grab a hold of this unbelief and attack this weakness with his own demonic condemnation. It can be a horrendous and brutal assault. If you have believed on Jesus for salvation you must full grasp your salvation. If you find yourself plagued by thoughts of past sins, it is time for you to forget the past as completely as God has forgiven and forgotten your sin.
But this takes faith. You must choose to believe you are completely forgiven as you actually are. Memorize these verses. If the condemnation comes confess with your mouth that you are completely forgiven.
The hard questions
But the mystery of God's grace brings with it some very difficult and hard questions. When Christopher LaPel found out his disciple Hang Pin was in fact Duch, the infamous commander of S-21, he personally had to come to grips with the issue. His parents, brother and sister had been killed during the Khmer Rouge reign of terror. One cousin, a science professor, even ended up in S-21 and her photo hangs on the wall.
"I was shocked when I found out who he really was," Chris said, "because what he did was so evil." "Then I reflected it's amazing; it's a miracle. Christianity changes people's lives. If Jesus can change Duch, He can change anyone." [4] LaPel holds no anger towards Duch and has completely forgiven him. Another hard question, posed to missions worker Vincent Chia by a Cambodian who heard of Duch's salvation:
"Are you going to tell them (the Cambodians)," he said, "their relatives and friends who were tortured and died in excruciating pain were condemned to hell, while the man who did this to them will be in heaven?" [5]
 Update: July 31, 2007
According to a report in the Globe and Mail, Duch -- otherwise known as Kaing Kek Ieu -- is the first member of the Khmer Rouge to be charged by Cambodia’s international genocide tribunal for crimes against humanity. He was officially charged in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on July 31, 2007.
Prosecutors recommended the tribunal lay charges against five senior members of the Khmer Rouge. Duch testified before the tribunal on the previous Friday and was the first senior member of the Khmer Rouge to be questioned.
The tribunal expects to lay charges against the other four unnamed members of the Khmer Rouge over the next few weeks. Photo on right is a picture of Duch released by the Sun Heng Police.
Source: Khmer Rouge chief charged by Ker Munthit (Globe and Mail: July 31, 2007)
Update: July 17, 2007
On July 17, 2007, Cambodia’s Ministry of Cults and Religion (MCR) passed a law forbidding Christians from door to door evangelism. In its directive, MCR described the activity as disruptive. Essentially, Christians will only be allowed to distribute materials within their church building. Christians are also forbidden from using money or other methods in an effort to persuade Cambodians to convert. Many believe this is specifically directed at English lessons and aid distribution. Further MCR ruled that Christians are no longer allowed to build a church without prior permission of the Ministry. Cambodia has a current population of 14 million people made up primarily of Buddhists. The Christian population is estimated at 70,000 with 140 churches. Source: www.christianpost.com
Source:
[1] On the trail of Pol Pot's chief executioner, by Nic Dunlop (Prospect Magazine, August 2002)
[2] Duch implicates living Khmer Rouge leaders in killing (Far Eastern Economic Review: May 4, 1999)
[3] Christianity finds home in Cambodia, but death questioned, by Chris Fontaine (Laredo Morning Times: January 23, 2000)
[4] The killer and the Pastor, by Caroline Gluck (TimeAsia: July 12, 1999)
[5] The wondrous Cross of Grace by Vincent Chia (http://vivavoxdei.blogspot.com)
Others sources: Tribunal finally ready to probe 'Killing Fields', by Geoffrey York (Globe and Mail June 14, 2007: Toronto, Ontario Canada) / Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia (Moody Press: Chicago) / Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (WM B Eerdmans Publishing Company: Chicago)
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