Ex prison photographer to testify at genocide tribunal

A former photographer at a Khmer Rouge prison has been summoned to testify as a witness before a UN-supported Cambodian genocide tribunal.

Nhem En, 47, said the tribunal's co-investigating judges have ordered him to appear before them on November 1.

The judges required his appearance regarding the criminal case against his former boss, Duch, or Kaing Guek Eav, Nhem En said. Duch headed the former Khmer Rouge S-21 prison and torture centre.

Duch has been detained by the tribunal on charges of crimes against humanity committed when the Khmer Rouge regime held power in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979.

The group's radical policies caused the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people from starvation, overwork, disease and execution.

The prison is now known as Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Nhem En photographed thousands of prisoners before they were locked up, tortured and executed, and their haunting images are the centrepiece of the museum.

He has denied any involvement in the atrocities and said his job was merely taking pictures of the prisoners after they were brought to the prison.

"I will not oppose the summons," Nhem En said. "I support the tribunal to try the former Khmer Rouge leaders."