Son Sen
Alias : “Brother [Bang] Khieu”,1 Brother [Bang] 89,2 Brother [Bang] 62,3 Khim,4 475
SON Sen (1930-1997) was a member of the Central and Military Committees, full rights member of the Standing Committee, Chairman of General Staff and Security, and Deputy Prime Minister for National Defence. He and his family were murdered on Pol Pot’s orders.
Explore the Khmer Rouge hierarchy to understand his role in the secretive system.
Key Findings
The Trial Chamber in Case 002/01 and Case 002/02 found that Son Sen:
- Was a member of a joint criminal enterprise with CPK leaders with the common purpose to “implement rapid socialist revolution through a ‘great leap forward’ and defend the Party against internal and external enemies, by whatever means.” 24
- Was likely a member of the Standing Committee, attended all Party Congresses and other meetings at which the Party line was discussed and decided upon. 25
- Had military authority, issuing instructions and political guidance to commanders and deputy commanders of divisions and independent regiments. 26
- Forwarded written messages and reports received from military commanders to other CPK leaders, including Nuon Chea, with handwritten annotations and requests for instructions. 27
- Chaired a committee tasked with managing the evacuation from Phnom Penh. 28
- Ordered the purge of East Zone cadres and sent Southwest Zone cadres to the East Zone to counter the Vietnamese and “cleanse” those who allegedly collaborated with Vietnamese. 29
- Was in charge of S-21 as Duch’s supervisor and intensified the pursuit of “traitors” at S-21 who were supposedly implicated as CIA, KGB, or Vietnamese agents. 30
- Conducted study sessions for S-21 staff during which there was discussion about building the country, agricultural production, military strategies, and the importance of the Revolutionary Flag magazine. 31
- Consulted with Nuon Chea about whether individuals could be arrested after having been implicated and sent unit heads copies of their confessions. 32
- Directly intervened in the arrest and interrogation of important prisoners. 33
- Was kept appraised of the situation inside Division 801, including interrogations at Au Kanseng Security Centre, had overall authority for the Security Centre, and relayed information to the upper echelon before instructing the lower echelon. 34
Disclaimer
Son Sen was not a suspect, charged person, or accused in any proceedings before the ECCC. Therefore, the findings of the Extraordinary Chambers cannot be equated to findings of guilt against him.
Some information may be sourced from confessions which were obtained under torture. The reliability of such information should be treated with caution. See Decision on Evidence Obtained Through Torture.
Drag
1930
Born.6
1940
1940s-1950s
Was a member of the “Marxist Circle” while studying in France along with other Khmer students, including Pol Pot, Ieng Sary, and Ieng Thirith.7
1960
30 September-2 October
Appointed as candidate or alternate member of the Standing Committee at the First Party Congress.8
1963
Appointed to the Central Committee and fled to the Vietnamese border after being named as one of the 34 suspected “leftists” in a list published by Norodom Sihanouk.9
1970
From 1970
Became a member of the CPK Military Committee, which was responsible for military and security affairs.10
1973
Mid-1973
Supervised M-13 Security Centre, the official Special Zone Police Office, until January 1975.11
1974
June
Met other CPK leaders in Meak village in Prek Kok commune to discuss plans for the final assault and evacuation of Phnom Penh and other urban centres.12
1975
Early April 1975
Met other CPK leaders to finalise the evacuation of cities and co-chaired a committee which managed the evacuation of Phnom Penh.13
After 17 April 1975
Worked in Office K-3 and later at the General Staff in Phnom Penh until 6 January 1979.14
15 August
Planned the establishment of S-21 with Duch and In Lorn (Nat), appointed them as Vice-Chairman and Chairman of S-21, respectively, remained Duch’s direct superior until 15 August 1977.15
9 October
Appointed as Chairman of the General Staff.16
1991
Present at the signing of the Paris Peace Agreement and named member of Cambodia’s Supreme Executive Council along with Khieu Samphan.22
1997
10 June
Murdered near Kbal Ansoang alongside 13 members of his family on Pol Pot’s orders.23
Related Documents
Closing Orders
- Case 002 Closing Order, D427, Part One, Factual Finding, I. Historical Background; and II. Administrative Structures
- Case 003 Dismissal Order, D266: 2. Administrative Structure; 3. Facts; 4. The Policy to Purge in the Military Rank; 5. Meas Muth’s Role and Participation; 6. Reasoning and Conclusion
- Case 003 Closing Order (Indictment), D267: 5. Factual Findings and Analysis; 6. Legal findings on personal jurisdiction.
Judgments
- Case 002/01 Judgment, E313: 3. Historical Background, 2.2.1. CPK Structure
- Case 002/02 Judgment, E465: 3. Historical Background; 5. Administrative Structures.
Evidence
- Minutes of the Meeting of Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries of Divisions and Independent Regiments, 2 August 1976, E3/37.
- Minutes of the Meeting of Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries of Divisions and Independent Regiments, 18 August 1976, E3/797.
- Minutes of the Meeting of Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries of Divisions and Independent Regiments, 30 August 1976, E3/149.
- Minutes of the Meeting of Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries of Divisions and Independent Regiments, 9 October 1976, E3/13.
- Minutes of the Meeting of Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries of Divisions and Independent Regiments, 11 November 1976, E3/802.
- Minutes of the Meeting of Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries of Divisions and Independent Regiments, 16 December 1976, E3/804.
- Minutes of the Meeting by Comrade Tal, Division 290 and Division 170, 16 September 1976, E3/4175.
- Minutes of Meeting with the Organization’s Office 703 and S-21, 9 September 1976, E3/811.
- Minutes of Divisional and Independent Regiment Secretary-under Secretary’s Meeting, 16 September 1976, E3/150.
- Minutes of the Meeting Comrade Tal of Division 290 and Division 170, 16 September 1976, E3/822.
- Minutes of the Plenary Meeting of the 920th Division, 7 September 1976, E3/799.
- Minutes of the Meetings of Secretaries and Logistics Chiefs of Divisions and Regiments, 19 October 1976, E3/810.
- DK Telegram, Instructions for 164, 4 November 1976, E3/1151.