Killing Fields
I started writing this as we drove away from the Killing Fields, just one of 20,000 mass grave sites in Cambodia. I choose to write this now because I wanted to accurately share the emotions of turmoil and immense sadness that coursed through me. I admit to being ignorant of Cambodia's genocidal history before adding it to my list of countries to visit. However upon arriving in Phnom Penh and a quick Google search of the sites I realized that this bloody history occurred less than 40 years ago. From the large population of orphans and high percentage of post traumatic symptoms in the population, the gruesome effects of the genocide carried out by the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot are still felt today.
The first hand audio accounts of survivors tugged at my heart. Imagining the tortures and hearing the pain in the survivors’ voices as they recounted what occurred the filled me with sympathy and anger. “Hundreds of thousands were executed through drastic measures: pregnant women were cut open; plastic bags were tied over heads suffocating victims to death; and men, women and children were shot or buried alive. Others died of starvation and disease during forced urban evacuation and in brutal labor camps, where husbands, wives, and children were separated,” (Chung 2000). The “educated class” (doctors, lawyers, teacher, etc) anyone with an education that could read and write was housed and tortured in labor camps.
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| Security Prison 21 |
The torture primarily took place in a school that was renamed Security Prison 21, the classrooms were transformed into prison cells and torture chambers. Forms of torture included (but not limited to) drinking other inmates urine, electric shock, water boarding, rape, genital mutilation. Even on the brink of death prisoners were kept alive to be tortured more. Inhumane, vile and terrifying, I cannot begin to fathom how a person could perform such sadistic acts on another.
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| Skulls of victims found in mass graves |
The killing fields brought me to tears. Hearing a survivor's account whilst walking through the mass graves I was no longer able to contain my emotions and sobbed with grief for the thousands that died.
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| Mass Grave Site |
The killing fields are now described as a peaceful place to mourn the deaths of ancestors and the violent genocide but unfortunately I felt nothing but sorrow. It felt alive with all of the spirits of those murdered there. The babies who were held by their legs and heads smashed into trees, the women raped and bludgeoned to death, and the men beat over the head and throats slit.
The audio guide left you with a somber message. He said, “Never forget Cambia, Germany, Rwanda and even the genocide of the native Americans in America.” He urged us all learn from the mistakes of people who came before us and not to repeat their mistakes. In the wake of today's society I can only pray that the message reaches the masses and tolerance and acceptance is taught rather than revered.
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| Mass Grave Site |
When visiting Cambodia, stopping in Phnom Penh to visit Security Prison 21 and the Killing Fields is a necessity. Hire a “tuk tuk” driver for the morning and go to the prison first, the driver will wait for you and then take you to the Killing Fields (about 40min from the city) and finally bring you back to your hostel. This is the cheapest route and it costs about $11 USD, which can be split it amongst friends. Although depressing you begin to understand the turmoils that plague the nation today. Hopefully by learning about the history we can come together to continue the healing and rebuilding efforts in Cambodia.
To read more about the Cambodian Genocide: http://www.ppu.org.uk/genocide g_cambodia1.html
Works Cited
Chung, Margaret. Intergenerational Effects of Genocidal Disaster among Cambodian Youth. National Association of Social Workers, Dec 2000. http://www.naswnyc.org/?339
