Duch's Family During Democratic Kampuchea

Stoung-Kompong Thom: Ly Thong Huot, known as comrade Thoeun, Duch’s brother-in-law, was a former chief of Stoung’s security center during the Khmer Rouge (KR) regime. Thoeun’s wife, Kiang Kim Heang, was Kaing Guek Eav’s sister. Kaing Guek Eav’s letter from the Central Committee to the Stoung’s cadres could save the spouses’ lives in a “purge” when a cadre from South-West Zone replaced the cadre in North Zone.

"However, another letter from Kaing Guek Eav couldn’t save another brother-in-law named comrade Yorn since it was too late. Tou Kuntheng, whose hometown was with Duch’s and lived near Duch, said that Kaing Guek Eav’s father was named Kaing Yuki and his mother is named Meas Sieu. There were 5 children in his family, and there was only one boy, Kaing Guek Eav, the eldest. Following Kaing Guek Eav were Kaing Kim Hieb, whose husband was comrade Yorn and Kaing Kim Heang, whose husband was comrade Thoeun. Kaing Kim Hiet and Kaing Kim Hoeun came last in the family."

Tou Kuntheng, the present Kompong Thom’s Sombo’s governor, said that during the KR regime, Ly Thong Huot, known as comrade Thoeun, was the chief of Stoung’s security center. "However, he became the chief because of his own ability fighting to topple Lon Nol's regime—not because of Duch’s influence in the Central Committee. When South-West Zone's cadre was changed to control North Zone, Duch seemed to be aware of the circumstances, so sent a letter to Stoung to save his sister's and brother-in-law's lives. When the letter arrived, comrade Thoeun and his wife, Kaing Kim Heang, who had already been arrested, were released. They were sent to Phnom Penh, where they were living with Duch until 1979 when the KR regime was collapsed. They fled with Duch westwards and died due to starvation while they were climbing mountains," Tou Kuntheng described.

Comrade Yorn, Kaing Kim Hieb's husband, was killed by the Khmer Rouge in 1977. According to Tou Kuntheng, Duch's letter arrived at Stoung after comrade Yorn was already killed. He said that because of Kaing Guek Eav's influence, Chi Youk became a village controlled by the House of Kaing. Tou Kuntheng was also in Chi Youk Cooperative during the KR regime.

He could remember that Kaing Yuki, Kaing Guek Eav's father, was appointed as chief of the male elderly in the village while his wife Meas Sieu, Duch's mother, was appointed as chief of the female elderly in the village. One of Kaing Guek Eav's sisters was appointed as chief of Chi Youk Cooperative. Tou Kuntheng said that Chi Youk became a village under Duch's family.

"During the KR regime, Chi Youk's villagers were suffering the most under the control of Duch's family, and Duch's power and influence left the villagers maltreated," said a villager on the condition of anonymity.

Though it has been claimed as above, Duch's nephew refuses to say anything about his family during the KR regime.