Boe Meng, one of the few survivors of the Khmer Rouge's S-21 prison, has died at his home in Kandal at the age of 85. After surviving, he shared stories of the regime's cruelty and called for justice for the victims.
On 18 August 2026, Hang Nisey, director of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, announced that Boe Meng, one of the few well-known survivors of the infamous Khmer Rouge S-21 prison, passed away at his residence in Kandal province, Cambodia, on the night of Friday, 14 August, at the age of 85.
Reports state that Boe Meng was a key figure in preserving the memory of the Khmer Rouge's brutality after the regime's collapse. Over several decades, he revealed stories about the suppression and killing of people, calling for truth-seeking and accountability for those involved in the crimes.
S-21 prison, or Tuol Sleng prison in Phnom Penh, was a major detention and interrogation center under the Khmer Rouge regime during Pol Pot's rule from 1975 to 1979. Many prisoners were tortured and killed, with only a few survivors. Boe Meng later testified before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) in Case 001, which prosecuted Kaing Guek Eav, known as "Duch," the former head and security secretary of S-21 prison.
Boe Meng's death represents the loss of another crucial witness to Khmer Rouge history, who played an important role in conveying the memories of the victims and the atrocities committed during one of Cambodia's darkest periods.
Source: Freshnews