p Having emptied and vandalized the cities, Angka Loeu proclaimed the birth of a new Democratic Cambodia. . . .
p . . .Having “cleansed” the cities, Angka Loeu commenced to “purify” the population by eliminating “corrupt” elements. At Battambang, Cambodia’s second-largest city, the communists directed the government troops back to their barracks, allowed them to pack their belongings and marched them to the high-school building in the center of town. By next day, more than 1,000 officers, 2,000 noncoms and 1,000 soldiers were milling about. Politely, the communists told them to separate by rank. Then they distributed rice to the ordinary soldiers and authorized them to buy whatever else they wanted at a nearby market. Among the defeated soldiers a feeling of relief grew: they were being treated fairly; no longer would Cambodians have to kill Cambodians.
p The following morning a dramatic announcement was made. Prince Sihanouk was returning to Pnom Penh! To 92 welcome the Prince, officers would travel to the capital for the celebration.
p Kom Kiry, a 52-year-old infantry major, was one of those who left in the convoy. In the lead were a Jeep and Land Rover holding about 20 armed communists; then came a bus carrying some 30 government army officers and 10 guards; five open trucks with more officers, and, bringing up the rear, a truck holding about 60 communists.
p In Kom’s truck there was a festive air. A communist official had passed the word that, after the welcoming ceremonies, all the officers would be given a certificate absolving them of blame for having served in Lon Nol’s army. All would then go free.
p For about three hours the convoy drove along Highway 5 toward Pnom Penh, and then abruptly turned off on to a secondary road leading toward the Battambang—Pnom Penh rail-road tracks. The officers, who had been joking and laughing, suddenly were hushed. They could see, waiting on the right side of the road 200 yards from the main highway, a long line of about 60 armed communist soldiers.
p The vehicles halted and the officers were ordered to disembark. Kom studied the terrain. On the right-hand side of the road were soldiers; on the other was a field and, in the distance, forest.
p Perhaps ten minutes after the vehicles had driven off, a burst of machine-gun fire—about 20 rounds—came from the highway. A signal, thought Kom. A minute later, the soldiers along the road began shooting into the officers. Kom slipped away in a low crouch, then broke into- a desperate run.
p For three hours the Khmer Rouge fired into the piles of dead and dying officers. Hiding in the forest Kom could hear the sounds of gunfire. Of the 315 officers in that convoy, only four—Kom and three others—appear to have escaped.
This was only one of many organized massacres perpetrated throughout Cambodia during the first days after surrender. For, despite their pledges of reconciliation, the communists immediately set out to exterminate the entire government officer corps and management echelon of the civil service.
Notes