Tuol Sleng Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek

Cambodia's story includes PolPot and the Khmer Rouge.  And Genocide.

To honor the terror of the people at that time and the havoc still within Cambodian society, I went to Tuol Sleng Museum (as known as Security Prison 21) and the Killing Fields.   Tuol Sleng remains virtually untouched in many years--this was the site of detention and torture in Phnom Pehn.  The Khmer leaders kept meticulous records of everyone and everything.  And it is all on display.  A bit unsettling.

Then out to the Killing Fields where the detainees from Tuol Sleng were bludgeoned to death.  It is actually one of about 300+ Killing Fields through out Cambodia and serves as a memorial to all the victims.

I went with a French woman travelling solo and we had a guide at the prison; hearing her family story was difficult.  At the Fields everyone is offered a tape recorded tour (the entire area is quiet); it was incredibly well done.

Cambodia's history is challenging because the leaders were never found accountable.  And the people are still resentful of each other & the various roles they were forced into or assumed.  It is not so long ago and the entire upper class and all educated people were killed.  Maybe 25% of the population died.

And it was all very difficult.  We wonder at man's amazing ability for brutality.  And see that it continues today.

Torture room

There were 4 survivors of the Prison; only 2 remain alive today

Spirit houses are everywhere -- endless prayers are offered for dead and missing relatives.
Families were destroyed.

Modern memorial at the Killing Fields.  The interior houses bones found in the mass graves at this site.