New Book Sheds Light on Unknown & Forgotten Crimes of Cambodia’s Pol Pot Regime

July 23, 2010 - PRLog -- ©  David Kattenburg (kattenbu@mts.net)

Contact: Heather Smith, The Key Publicity  E-mail: media@thekeypublish.com  Tel: 416-935-1790

New Book Sheds Light on Unknown & Forgotten Crimes of Cambodia’s Pol Pot Regime

On the eve of a verdict in the Phnom Penh trial of Kaing Guek Eav, aka Duch -- the first Khmer Rouge leader to face justice for his crimes -- Canadian journalist Dave Kattenburg sheds light on an unknown and forgotten  crime of Cambodia’s Pol Pot regime. Foxy Lady offers the most complete account of the imprisonment, torture, and murder of eight Western yachtsmen (four Americans, two Aussies, a New Zealander and an Englishman) by Cambodia’s Pol Pot regime. The story of Canadian victim Stuart Glass is told here for the first time. A small library of books has been written about the 1975-79 Cambodian genocide. Foxy Lady offers a distinct and fresh narrative. By weaving Stuart Glass’ life,
travels and untimely death together with the inexorable rise, cruel reign and collapse of Democratic Kampuchea and its internal security apparatus, this book will engage both newcomers and those who’ve read widely on the subject.

Key factors that David emphasizes:

1)        Thirty years after the Cambodian genocide, a Khmer Rouge leader has finally been convicted for his crimes. Hopes were high, but the lengthy trial of Kaing Guek Eav (aka Duch) shed little light on one of the 1975-79 genocide’s most mystery-filled footnotes: how eight western yachtsmen (four Americans, two Aussies, a New Zealander and an Englishman) were seized, charged as CIA spies, and brutally murdered in Duch’s little Auschwitz in south-central Phnom Penh (S-21; Tuol Sleng). Foxy Lady presents the most complete story to date, focusing on the deaths of Canadian Stuart Glass, New Zealander Kerry Hamill and Englishman John Dewhirst.

2)        The murder of Canadian Stuart Robert Glass (spared the horrors of S-21 by being shot and killed on his little yacht, Foxy Lady) could well be the subject of testimony at the trial of Duch’s bosses, if and when this occurs. Stuart was the Khmer Rouge’s only Canadian victim. Foxy Lady tells his story for the very first time.

3)        There’s nothing banal about the evil acts and current demeanor of Kaing Guek Eav. In contrast to his bosses— who continue to deny responsibility for the death of two million Cambodians—Duch arouses a very small measure of sympathy. This is his story, as well as Stuart’s.

4)        The fact that Foxy Lady and other Western yachts may have been smuggling pot – or aiming to do so -- when they were seized in Cambodian waters in 1978 in no way diminishes the crime committed against their crew. Their worldview and lifestyle were a reflection of [Western] times. The story of how freewheeling, liberal-minded Westerners were “smashed” in the central dungeon of ultra-doctrinaire and puritanical Democratic Kampuchea offers interesting narrative opportunities.

About the Author

Dave Kattenburg was born on Long Island in 1953. He holds bachelor and Ph.D. degrees in biology and health sciences, teaches university science courses and produces radio stories on global environment, development and social justice issues. Documentaries arising from his travels have appeared on CBC Radio, Radio Netherlands, Free Speech Radio and his own site www.greenplanetmonitor.net. David currently resides at the epicenter of North America, Winnipeg.

Author is available to be contacted by media for interviews and comments and can be reached through The Key Publicity: Heather Smith (media@thekeypublish.com) David Kattenburg (kattenbu@mts.net) Tel: 416-935-1790

Full Press Release: http://thekeypublish.com/images/FoxyLady19-July-2010.pdf

Book Listing: http://thekeypublish.com/index.php/vmchk/Foxy-Lady.html

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