PIC OF THE DAY

This story is out of control. I frequently check Pano's Pictures (www.panos.co.uk) a site that showcases the work of many premiere photojournalists of the world (including Martin Adler who was killed ironically in Mogadishu. One of my earlier posts was taken recently in Somalia by another journalist. Not a good place).

Anyway, was checking today and came across a slideshow by Nic Dunlop called " The Lost Executioner." I had heard of Pol Pot, the leader of the Cambodian communist movement called Khmer Rouge in the 70's. 1.7 million Cambodians were tortured and murdered under his control (I didn't know it was that many!) . The story is Nic became obsessed with tracking down this guy Comrade Duch (pictured above) Pol Pot's chief executioner. One day in 1999, while on assignment, Nic recognized a guy who turned out to be Comrade Duch (Nic physically took this picture!). He was a born-again Christian working for an American charity. This is for real, it blows my mind.

Duch was arrested and eventually confessed to his part in the killing machine that was Khmer Rouge and now, FINALLY, in February 2009 is standing trial by the United Nations for the murders. This has to be made into a movie, right???? More importantly some sense of justice and closure will finally be given to the families of those murdered. Oh, and Dunlap's book " The Lost Executioner" came out back in 2006, but I can't wait to read it.