served the two villages of Saemaul and Hyonmaul of the camp
officials. The size of villages is large by the standard of a farm village
but small by the standard of a county. There were 1,200 families in
the Yongdong sector alone. Pongchang is the largest in size and
Yongdong, Suan and Sangni were smaller in the same order. I think
the entire number exceeds 20,000. The Tukchang Mine is very large.
There were 6,000 to 7,000 prisoners assigned to each shaft and there
were an additional 300 prisoner in the open shaft. So, there were also
additional 20,000 prisoners.” (A09, former prisoner, from PPC No. 18,
1975~2000)
“In 1994, when Tukchang sector was broken off and
attached to the local government, 60% of the area was cut away from
the sector. Nevertheless, there were 15,000 prisoners remaining in
the Yongdong sector and, additionally, there were many factories
such as a motor pool, and similar facilities. So, the entire population
exceeded 50,000. In 2006, Pongchang had restrictions lifted. The
systems in the control center fell into a state of confusion after the
relief operation in 2000 in the wake of march of suffering and food
shortage. But 100 families were driven to Kaechon without any due
consideration of them” (0 Myong-o from Camp No. 18)
The PPC are divided according to the nature of detention: offenders
only, offenders and their families together, or families separately, according to
the severity of crimes committed. However, further information is required for
more precise assessment of these situations as the available information is
not sufficient and some testimonies are conflicting. Testimonies available to
this date are cited in the above table, 2-1.
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