The Phnom Penh Post

The indictment of Comrade Duch made public yesterday contains an interesting section about the former torture chief's psychological state. Despite having overseen thousands of executions at S21, Duch appears relatively normal psychologically, according to the reports of court-appointed psychiatrists.

The defendant "did not present any psychopathology. He is responsible for all of his acts. He is highly intelligent and has a very good memory," the closing order reports.

"Although he is 'influenceable and impressionable,' this falls within a framework of beliefs, the ideological prerequisites of which he shares. Duch shows a certain 'endeavor to distance himself from his past actions,' and shows good analytical capacity. However, this distance and analysis are not enough to come to terms with the Khmer Rouge 'fabrication process' that is still perceptible sometimes in his vocabulary, thought processes, psychology and behaviour."

Scholars often describe Duch as an extremely conscientious worker, and according to the psychiatrists, "there is a strong presence of obsessive traits in (his) personality, both past and present. He is meticulous, conscientious, control oriented, attentive to detail and seeks recognition from his superiors."

Though he has a tendency to use denial as a coping mechanism, he has made progress in this area in recent years. And while his "ability to put himself in other people's shoes" is limited, Duch has repeatedly expressed regret about his role during the Khmer Rouge period.

From their evaluations, the psychiatrists have concluded that Duch could possibly be rehabilitated and reintegrated. Of course, they add, this would depend on the outcome of the trial, Duch's age and his personal security.

In all, Duch, like many infamous historical figures, appears decidedly ordinary from a psychological standpoint -- which makes his actions all the more disturbing.