On his second day of testimony at the Khmer Rouge tribunal Thursday, witness Nou Mao described how some of the regime’s high-ranking members spread their ultra-Maoist ideology by delivering study sessions to cadre before they took control of the country.
Mr. Mao, a 78-year-old farmer, told the court that the regime’s message had been imparted to him by the likes of Hou Yuon, an agriculture expert and moderate communist, and Chou Chet, who rose through the ranks to become chief of the Western Zone.
Hou Yuon openly disagreed with plans to evacuate cities after the ousting of the Lon Nol government, and was ultimately purged by his compatriots in 1975, while Chou Chet was also against evacuations and was subsequently purged in 1978.
Aided by notes from historian Ben Kiernan, who interviewed Mr. Mao in 1986, Khieu Samphan’s lawyer, Anta Guisse, asked the witness about a talk given by Hou Yuon in 1972.
“I didn’t meet him personally,” Mr. Mao said. “I don’t recall the year, or month of that year. To my recollection, Mr. Hou Yuon, who came to brief all the cadre, he said that upon victory, we must not evacuate people.”
This belief was at odds with that of ruthless Khmer Rouge military leader Ta Mok, the Southwestern Zone chief, who also spoke at the end of a monthlong study session the witness attended before the regime.
On Wednesday, Mr. Mao said the idea to evacuate people from cities was “political suicide” for the Khmer Rouge.
“I did not know [Hou Yuon] clearly at that time,” Mr. Mao continued. “He briefed the cadre who were from commune, district and sectors and he actually touched upon many matters ranging from economics to political matters.
“A lot of issues were addressed in his speech. But what I recall was that upon victory, we must not evacuate the people.”
In a monthlong study session given by Chou Chet, Mr. Mao said cadre were taught about politics, and near the end of the session, Ta Mok gave a lecture on the military.
Mr. Mao also downplayed his own role in the regime, telling the court that he was a member of a village committee and then a commune committee before being removed from his duties after falling ill.
Hearings continue Monday.
