Bou Meng, a Cambodian artist and survivor of a Khmer Rouge torture center, has died at 85
Summary
Bou Meng, a Cambodian artist and one of the few survivors of the Khmer Rouge's S-21 torture center, has died at age 85. He survived because he was forced to paint portraits of Khmer Rouge leaders and later testified about the crimes at a U.N.-backed tribunal.Key Facts
- Bou Meng was one of only seven known survivors of the Khmer Rouge’s S-21 prison, also called Tuol Sleng.
- He was kept alive because he painted portraits of Pol Pot and other communist leaders.
- The Khmer Rouge ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979 and caused the deaths of about 1.7 million people.
- Around 16,000 people, mostly women and children, were imprisoned and killed at S-21.
- The prison is now the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.
- Bou Meng testified in 2009 about his experiences during the trial of Kaing Guek Eav (Duch), the S-21 commandant.
- Duch was convicted of crimes against humanity, torture, and murder and died in prison in 2020.
- Bou Meng died from age-related illness, as reported by the U.N.-backed tribunal that prosecutes Khmer Rouge crimes.
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