THE KR PAPERS

Simple Thai made exercise books recording minutes of KR meetings, plus loose documents of more minutes and a full KR census.

The "KR Papers" were obtained on May 15 in Choam, atop Mountain 200 14kms north of Anlong Veng at the approach to Sa-gham Pass into Thailand, in a house next to Pol Pot's and near the site of his pyre. The RCAF had secured the area three days before.

The documents are three simple Thai-made exercise books recording minutes of meetings from June 24, 1997 through to January 19, 1998 (273 pages), plus loose documents of more minutes and a full KR census. A bit battered, they are nevertheless perfectly legible and written in the same, neat hand.

The minutes of exclusive political study meetings for top cadre led by Ta Mok, Nuon Chea and others detail the hierachy's discussions and decisions before and after last July's coup. References include their private responses to overtures from Prince Ranarriddh to ally against Hun Sen; the killing of Son Sen and the ten Funcinpec negotiators; and the finances of Pol Pot. Each entry is dated and the name of the speaker and their comments noted, sometimes paraphrased, sometimes verbatim.

In O'Bai Tap on May 19 the documents were verified as authentic by Pich Chheang, the former DK ambassador to China and deputy standing committee member under Pol Pot, and Yim San, commander of Division 980 in charge of political study within the DK army. Both men participated in meetings minuted in the documents earlier this year.

An independent expert in Phnom Penh describe the papers as "politically explosive" and possibly the "most important" to have been found in Cambodia in recent times. Senior CPP sources said the books were "priceless" and would change not only Cambodians' views of Hun Sen's actions in July last year - but that of the world.