Into Cambodia’s Dark History

As was the day we visited the Vietnam War Museum in Ho Ch Min City, this too was a somber day looking back on the genocide that took place in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. The Pol pot reign of terror began when the people thought he would bring Cambodia into an enlightened age. Instead he tortured and murdered millions of people. During this time 3 million people disappeared, some fled the country, others died from starvation but many ended up in camps such as the one we visited – now the Tuol Sieng Genocide Museum.

As we walked the grounds a Memorial Day celebration was taking place where several of the survivors were present. Actually only 7 people survived this camp because they had a skill valuable to the Khmer Rouge.

One barrack housed higher ranking people and they were tortured and killed in these rooms. We were not allowed to photograph the rooms but the floor tiles and walls were still darkened by the blood of these prisoners. The beds they were chained to were also in the room as well as a photograph of the deceased prisoner.

Another barrack had brick cells on the first floor and wooden cells on the second. The prisoners were taken out of the building to be tortured.

Barbed wire was placed in front of the buildings because one female prisoner committed suicide by jumping. They did not want anyone to commit suicide. They would let you know when it was your turn to die.

Pictures of prisoners both alive and deceased were displayed. It was heart wrenching and I think difficult for most of us to see.

After our tour of the genocide museum, we traveled to one of the killing fields. It was very moving to walk among the mass graves listening to the history of the place. The To avoid disruption of the grave sites during rainy season, a boardwalk was installed over the fields.

As we entered, there were placards describing what happened to the prisoners once they arrived at the killing fields.

They were blindfolded and brought off a truck and gave their names to a soldier. Then they proceeded to a holding room and one at a time executed by hitting them in the back of the neck. Sometimes they didn’t die and were buried alive.

Our guide said she was born in 1980, a year after the reign of Pol Pot.

As we walked over the killing fields, the reverent and solemn moment flowed through us touching all our hearts. When our guide spoke of the women raped and killed after seeing their babies murdered, I could not help my tears from escaping.

For many the graves have not been disturbed but are mounds throughout this field.

And a memorial housing many of the skulls and bones was erected at the site.

It is hard to phantom the inhumanity that human beings can inflict on other human beings. Seeing this is a reminder to be kinder, more tolerant, and to be aware.

Our afternoon was aboard ship. We had some lovely sites of river life.

And our chef did a vegetable carving demonstration.

There was a lovely sunset this evening

In the evening it was Terri’s birthday and she was surprised with a birthday cake from our cruise director.