Justice for genocide victims - 30 years late

by Lazylizards | February 17, 2009 at 06:26 am

744 views | 89 Recommendations | 14 comments

After 30 years, the first trial of a former Khmer Rouge leader begins. Kaing Guek Eav, 66, better known as Duch, was in charge of the Toul Sleng prison. It is believed that he was responsible for the deaths of 15,000 people. The trial of four other senior Khmer Rouge officials is not expected to start until next year.

A tour of this infamous prison, converted from a school, is a must for visitors to Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital city. Looking down the corridors outside the former classrooms that were converted to prison cells, it is easy to imagine the certain death that victims suffered. Very few survived incarceration and torture at the end of this cruel period of history when Vietnam sent troops to liberate Cambodians from the evil regime.

From 1975 to 1979 at least 1.7 million people were executed or died of overwork, starvation, torture or untreated disease.

The Khmer Rouge left behind an eviscerated and traumatized society, and some human rights advocates hope the trial can bring a measure of closure.

A survey of 1,000 Cambodians last year by the Human Rights Center, University of California, Berkeley, found that even after three decades, the traumas and hatreds persisted.

In face-to-face interviews, nearly half the respondents said they were uncomfortable living close to former members of the Khmer Rouge. Two-thirds said they wanted to see former cadres suffer in some way. Forty percent said they would take revenge themselves if they had the opportunity.

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Paschen

at 06:55 on February 17th, 2009

Thank you for the post on this.

Jordan Yerman

at 09:32 on February 17th, 2009

Tuol Sleng (also known as PS21) is creepy beyond words

Poohface (not verified)

at 08:17 on May 28th, 2009

What the hell you on man ???

Roy C

at 10:05 on February 17th, 2009

The Khmer Rouge were a last straw for Marxism. Their killing fields put a last nail in the coffin of that political philosophy.

Studies done on the torturers demonstrate that they were not sadists, but were rather more like those who follow orders and tried to do a good job.

Now, the leaders- that is another story.

AlvarezGalloso

at 10:52 on February 17th, 2009

Great posting. I also agree with Roy C except that Marxism is trying to revive itself in the Americas.

Amy Judd

at 11:02 on February 17th, 2009

Good post - thanks

jeantalon

at 11:29 on February 17th, 2009

It's a lesson to all the Genocidal States such as Zimbabe, Sri Lanka, China etc.

gerrypopplestone

at 13:42 on February 17th, 2009

Anyone who has been to the school in Phnom Phen will never ever forget the horrors of what they see at the school where Dutch carried out his unspeakable crimes. These perpetrators should have been brought to justice many years ago. The photographer (Mike Lipton?) who pursud him when he disappeared and found him deserves our heartfelt thanks for devoting so much time to doing so.

til_midnight

at 16:12 on February 17th, 2009

This is the sandstone causeway leading to the Baphuon. French archaeologists in the 1960s dismantled much of the Baphuon for conservation work, but were interrupted when the Khmer Rouge took power. Their meticulous notes were destroyed and for the past 14 years, archaeologists have been trying to piece the temple back together. It’s been slow going.

til_midnight has contributed a photo to this story.

Pythiian1

at 17:33 on February 17th, 2009

Thank you for this post regarding the Khmer Rouge trial in Cambodia. It is a small step toward a modicum of justice for the victims and their families. The younger generation doesn't even know about these atrocities.

In addition to UC Berkeley's studies, Yale University also has extensive records and documents covering Cambodia's dark period under the Khmer Rouge.

bongo rubato

at 20:44 on February 17th, 2009

This is the floor of an interrogation room at S21.

bongo rubato has contributed a photo to this story.

uslair

at 03:36 on February 18th, 2009

We was covered by a deeply depressing mood as we was visiting the killingfields near Pnom Penh where thousands of Khmer was killed by Khmer Rouge.

uslair has contributed a photo to this story.

IsaBlah

at 09:31 on February 18th, 2009

I was there. I visited The S21 prison last month and met one of the 4 survivors. He was coming back, for the first time, in order to find his peace. We all listened as he told us how he lost his wife and kids in the horrid place. The tortures, the questionings, the fear that your name would be called to be brought to the killing fields. I broke down as i told him how sorry I was that he had to live through that.

He let us take pictures of him. hoping, that we would bring back his picture and tell his story and of the ones who lost their lives.
So, thank you, for this posts.

IsaBlah has contributed a photo to this story.

seoulsister25

at 02:04 on February 27th, 2009

I had no idea what had happened in Cambodia before visiting the Killing Fields at Choeng Ek and Tuol Sleng Museum last month. I'm happy to contribute a photo to the story & help educate others.

This picture shows how the Khmer Rouge, like the Nazis, kept detailed documentation of the prisoners.

seoulsister25 has contributed a photo to this story.