S-21 Prison and The Killing Field

Before I entered the country, I knew little of its history.  Cambodia has had a rough history and effects can still be seen everywhere.  It's important to know the history in order to understand the current culture.

From 1975-1979 the Cambodian Genocide was carried out Pol Pot's regime, the Khmer Rouge. Within these years it is estimated that 1.5-3 million people were killed.  Pol Pot's dream was to create a socialist system that brought people back to their farming roots.  When his system was implemented people were relocated from cities to collective farms.

Anyone who refused to move, intellectuals, ethnic people, artists and religious followers were all killed.  Little to no evidence was needed and simply wearing a pair of glasses could lead to death.

During his reign 25% of Cambodias population had been killed.

S-21 Prison

The S-21 prison is located in Phnom Penh.  When the genocide started this school was transformed into a torture and execution center.  Today it stands as Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.  The museum offerers an audio tour that explains all aspects of the regime; what the prison was used for, how Pol Pot's regime came to power, how the regime fell, and the lasting effects of the genocide.  This is one of the 150 execution centers in the country.

View from outside of the prison.

The prison is completely covered in barbed wire.  Security was tight here, rather than to keep the prisoners from escape, this barbed wire was placed to stop suicide attempts.

One of the many interrogation and torture rooms located in building 1.  The prisoners here were interrogated and tortured until they had gave forced confessions.  Out of the 17,000 people that entered this prison, only 8 are known to have survived.  

When the regime fled the prison, they executed the remaining prisoners.  In each interrogation room the photo of the victim is placed as evidence.

Child soldiers of the regime carrying M16 rifles.

Some of the most shocking information about the genocide.  Many of the leaders are still on trial although they have documented confessions.  Pol Pot died in house arrest in 1998 after living a virtually free life.  This gives some insight into Cambodia's politics and where they still stand.

Small wooden holding cells.

Killing Fields

The Killing Field in Phnom Penh is one of many 20,000 mass grave sites around the country.  People were often lied to and brought to locations under the impression they were going to be given another chance.  This would mean almost certain death.  Pol Pots philosophy was to execute an entire family in order to prevent people from coming back for revenge.

This Buddhist stupa serves as a monument for the victims.  If you look closely you can see the tower of 5000 skulls and bones from the victims.  Nearly all of them have been noticeably smashed.

Bones and clothing can sometimes be seen coming through the ground while walking around the fields.

 Killing Cave

The killing cave in Battambang is another location where the Khmer Rouge would execute prisoners.

A Buddhist hell temple.  These temples are built to signify Naraka, a Buddhist underworld or hell.

Skulls found in the cave.  I have mixed opinions of the display of skulls and the morality of it, although it is a Buddhist temple.