Bou Meng, Rare Survivor of Khmer Rouge Torture House, Dies at 85

Bou Meng, a Cambodian artist, was one of the few survivors of the Khmer Rouge's S-21 torture center, also known as Tuol Sleng Prison. He was imprisoned in 1977 and was one of only a handful of people to emerge alive from the notorious prison. His survival was attributed to his artistic skills, which he used to paint portraits of the regime's leaders.

Meng's death at 85 marks the passing of another living witness to the Khmer Rouge era. The New York Times notes that Meng's testimony was crucial in the trial of Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, the former commandant of Tuol Sleng Prison. Duch was convicted of crimes against humanity and war crimes in 2010.

Meng's passing underscores the dwindling number of survivors who can provide firsthand accounts of the Khmer Rouge's atrocities. The Cambodianess notes that as these survivors age, the world faces the loss of invaluable testimonies that document one of the darkest chapters in modern history.