Kaing Guek Eav, the leader at the notorious S-21 prison for the Khmer Rouge regime known simply as Duch, told a U.N.-backed war crimes tribunal Monday that the children of inmates were murdered to keep them silent.
“When children arrived at the center I gave the order to kill them because we were afraid those children would take revenge,” the 66-year-old told the court.
Five senior members of the Khmer Rouge were arrested in 2007 and charged with a variety of atrocities, including war crimes and crimes against humanity. It’s estimated than nearly 2 million people died during the reign of the Khmer Rouge in their effort to form an ultra-communist agrarian utopia through forced labor camps.
Duch denied responsibility for the execution of infants at S-21, a former high school, who were killed by smashing their heads against trees.
“I did not order that crime, but I believe my comrades did that,” said Duch.
Cambodia does not have a death penalty. Duch faces a maximum life sentence in prison if convicted of war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture and homicide.