Vorn Vet

Alias : PENH Thouk alias Sok,¹ Te, Mean, Kuon, Vet, Vorn, Vorn Vet,² “Bang Vorn”,³ Vorn,⁴ “Grand Uncle Vorn”⁵

VORN Vet (1931-1978) was a member of the Central and Standing Committees of the Communist Party of Kampuchea (“CPK”), Deputy Prime Minister for Economics, and was responsible for industry, railroads, and fisheries. He was detained at S-21 and subsequently executed on Nuon Chea’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 Vorn Vet:

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.” ²⁰
Attended and participated in most key meetings at which the Party line, particularly in relation to the economy, were discussed and decided upon. ²¹
Was responsible for industry, railroads, and fisheries. ²²
Had six committees under his authority as Deputy Prime Minister responsible for economics. ²³
Attended a meeting where the plan to capture Phnom Penh was discussed and endorsed the CPK’s plan to evacuate Phnom Penh. ²⁴
Directly controlled military units during the evacuation of Phnom Penh. ²⁵
Toured the countryside with Nuon Chea, Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary, and Son Sen and visited a cooperative. ²⁶

Disclaimer

Vorn Vet 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

1931

Born.⁶

1960

30 September-2 October

Appointed to the Central Committee at the First Party Congress.⁷

1963

Assigned to the Party’s City Committee in Phnom Penh alongside Nuon Chea.⁸

1971

July 1971-Mid-1973

Directed M-13 security centre, the official Special Zone police office, which was the precursor of S-21.⁹

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.¹⁰

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.¹¹

17-25 April

Became Secretary of the Special Zone who was in charge of its military divisions that directly controlled Phnom Penh.¹²

October

Named responsible for “Industry, Railroads and Fisheries” by the Standing Committee.¹³

1976

30 March

Appointed as Deputy Prime Minister for Economics and Finance by the Central Committee.¹⁴

April

Officially headed the Ministry of Economics, which oversaw the Commerce and Communications and Transportation Committees, and was member of a committee charged with “making examinations and preparations for merchandise which must be purchased” from China.¹⁵

3 August

Present at a military committee meeting with other CPK leaders.¹⁶

1977

Received reports from the Democratic Kampuchea (“DK”) Ambassador in Hanoi about Vietnamese complaints of acts of aggression committed by DK armed forces on its territory, accompanied a Chinese Economic delegation to visit various worksites with other senior CPK leaders, and gave a welcome speech about the good relations between the People’s Republic of China and DK.¹⁷

1978

April

Sent by Nuon Chea to work with Duch at S-21.¹⁸

November

Arrested at the Party Centre’s office on Ta Mok’s orders, brought to S-21 and interrogated for his “traitorous activities serving the CIA and Yuon”, and later executed on Nuon Chea’s orders.¹⁹