Also watch this vlog in Kannada: https://youtu.be/Ww5Tqz4TwkI
About the Choeung Ek Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21 Prison)
Over a million people were killed and buried in many sites across the country from 1975 to 1979 by the Khmer Rouge. One such site is located just 30 mins south of Phnom Penh. Cambodia gained independence from France in 1953. As a result, the Kingdom of Cambodia was established with Prince Norodom Sihanouk as the leader.
Until 1970, Cambodia appeared to largely remain neutral by being a part of the non-aligned movement led by India and Egypt. However, due to the war in Vietnam, the Cambodian government was pulled into the fight between the West and the Communists which was spiralling out of control. Sihanouk allowed the Vietcong guerillas to set up bases on Cambodian soil in exchange for money from North Vietnam and China which was very much needed to improve the terrible state of their economy.
At the same time, he had attempted to make ties with the west stronger. USA and its allies were already in control of South Vietnam and it was expected that Cambodia might soon be too as the West wanted to ensure a capitalist South East Asia. With this, Cambodia was being pulled into the war in Vietnam, which the people did not like. Besides, the money which the administration received from foreign governments also went into the hands of the elite and not to the benefit of the Khmer (Cambodian) people.
A group of Khmers had begun to revolt against the government with support from the Vietcong and China. Initially started as a guerilla force, the Red Khmers (“Khmer Rouges” in french) fought the government in a civil war that lasted five years until 1975. In a final act, the Khmer Rouge took control of the Kingdom and renamed it as the Republic of Kampuchea.
Although this appeared to be a positive turn for the country, the Khmer Rouge turned out to be very autocratic. Under the leadership of Pol Pot and his comrades, the Khmer Rouge imprisoned and massacred many innocent Cambodians suspected of having supported the previous government. Even common clerks in government jobs were not spared.
The prisoners were tortured at the S21 jail in Phnom Penh and the killings happened in open daylight in rice fields, cities and even at the borders. Cheoung Ek was the biggest field where many lives were taken.
Over 1.8 to 2.5 million people may have died with many others having gone missing or escaped as refugees. In 1979, the Vietnamese forces launched a massive war on the Khmer Rouge, driving them permanently underground. As a result, the Kingdom of Cambodia was re-established.
Today, there is a memorial and an open air museum teaching visitors about the grim history of Cambodia.
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We’re Shishira & Navneeth, a couple from Bangalore, India and we’ve been exploring the world with two backpacks and a lot of curiosity since 2016! We’ve been writing free travel blogs, our personal travel stories and useful tips and tricks on https://www.backpacksters.com/ and love doing travel photography! As Chartered Accountants who love travel, we try to make the best of our budget too! 🤓
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