The Khmer Rouge and Cambodia's Dark Past

Fence and makeshift memorial surrounding mass grave

In the last two weeks, we visited the Cambodian Genocide Museum, the Killing Field and its memorial to those who died, and listened to numerous stories from staff and family about the Khmer Rouge period in Cambodia.  

 

And I’ve spent the last two weeks thinking about this blog post, thinking about what I should say and how I should say it. How should I discuss the horrors of the Khmer Rouge and the genocide Cambodia endured in the 1970s? As a graduate student studying peace and conflict resolution, I could speak about the recovery process and the slippery concept of justice as this country continues to recover from the horrors of the Khmer Rouge. While many young Cambodians did not live through the Khmer Rouge period themselves, everyone in this country has been directly and intimately affected by the genocide of (estimates vary) up to one third of the population, the destruction of family and social life, and the massive dismantling of the education system. Justice, as is often the case, has hardly been cut and dry, which continues to affect the country and its people.  

Former school transformed into an infamous prison during KR regime

As a graduate of an international relations program, I could speak about the global causes as well as consequences of the Khmer Rouge regime and how it continues to impact Cambodia’s position on the world stage. Cambodia and its leaders, while certainly not blameless, were caught up in a struggle much bigger than this small South East Asian country; other major players also contributed to the circumstances that led to the rise of Pol Pot and his Communist Party. After the country emerged from this horrific period, it faced the difficult task of rebuilding from the ground up. The Khmer Rouge targeted all intellectuals as enemies of the Communist agrarian utopia they strove to create; the country lost a generation of teachers, doctors, engineers, and scholars. These consequences have continued to impact Cambodia as it tries to improve its people’s standard of living. 

National memorial to genocide victims

However, I finally decided to forgo any academic or political discussion and focus on the people who have shown such resilience in the face of unspeakable horror. As I mentioned, the Khmer people are still recovering from this tragedy; it can be seen in every tear shed for a lost family member and in every memory and experience shared from that time. Despite the outwardly cheerful demeanor of many Cambodians, It is still very present in this country; it is still very real. I honestly cannot wrap my head around the terrible conditions my Khmer neighbors, friends, and family endured. 

 

So, in the end, I find I do not have much to say. I am in awe of the resilient, warm, and welcoming people I have met thus far; I honestly do not have the words to do them justice. While it was difficult to hear such emotional and heartbreaking stories, I am glad I was able to listen, learn, and stand witness to their experiences.  

 

 

 

 

"For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.” -Elie Wiesel 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you want more information on Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge, and the Cambodian genocide, please visit the following websites.  

 

The Killing Fields Museum: http://www.killingfieldsmuseum.com/

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum: http://www.tuolslenggenocidemuseum.com/

The Documentation Center of Cambodia: http://www.dccam.org/