Ta Mok

Alias : CHHIT Choeun,¹ UNG Choeun, Ta Mok² Ta 15,³ Brother Number Four⁴

Ta Mok born CHHIT Choeun (1925-2006) was Second Deputy of the CPK, Deputy Chair of the CPK’s Military Committee, Secretary of the Southwest Zone, and member of the Central and Standing Committees. He was captured by the Cambodian military, detained, and died awaiting trial.

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 Ta Mok:

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 necessary.” ¹⁹
Had a long-standing and prominent role in the CPK from 1975-1979. ²⁰
Frequently met with members of the Standing Committee and attended all Party Congresses and other meetings of the Centre in Phnom Penh or in his Zone, including the meeting where the plan to evacuate cities was discussed. ²¹
Directly controlled military units during the evacuation of Phnom Penh. ²²
Held a meeting at his home in Takeo where he informed military commanders that the Standing Committee had made the decision to purge the East Zone, and subsequently spoke of preparing forces. ²³
Sent Southwest Zone forces to the East Zone to counter Vietnamese forces and “cleanse” those who collaborated with the Vietnamese (i.e. to execute the purge of East Zone cadres). ²⁴
Ordered the arrests of Ta Keu, Deputy Secretary of the Northwest Zone, and Vorn Vet. ²⁵
Participated in a meeting with top CPK leaders and several military commanders, during which Sao Phim and other East Zone members were declared internal enemies to be purged. ²⁶
Relayed instructions to marry disabled soldiers. ²⁷
Was involved in the extensive flow of execution reports between Sector 13, which directly administered Kaing Ta Chan Security Centre, and personally visited the cooperative. ²⁸

Disclaimer

Chhit Cheoun (Ta Mok) 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

1925

Born.⁵

1963

Appointed to the Central Committee at the Second Party Congress and subsequently as member of the Standing Committee.⁶

1968

Became Secretary of the Southwest Zone.⁷

1970

October

Discussed a plan with other Central Committee members to liberate Cambodia.⁸

1974

18 March

Took overall control of the CPK forces together with Son Sen.⁹

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.¹⁰

1975

Early April 1975

Met other CPK leaders to finalise the plan to evacuate cities and stated that all people must be evacuated to rural areas to build the rural economy in two days.¹¹

After 17 April 1975

Remained Secretary of the Southwest Zone after the same was split into the West Zone and Southwest Zone.¹²

1978

Appointed Secretary of the West Zone in addition to his existing duties.¹³

Mid-1978

Appointed Secretary of the Northwest Zone in addition to his existing duties.¹⁴

1979

May

Remained with the Khmer Rouge inside Cambodia after the collapse of the DK regime.¹⁵

1997

Rebelled against Pol Pot after the murder of Son Sen on Pol Pot’s orders and ordered his forces to arrest Pol Pot and place him under house arrest.¹⁶

1999

March

Captured along the Thailand-Cambodia border and detained in a military prison awaiting trial.¹⁷

2006

21 July

Died at military hospital in Phnom Penh.¹⁸