The killing fields are a numberr of sites in Cambodia where large number of Cambodians were killed and buried by the Khmer Rouge regime, during its rule of the country from 1975 to 1979, immediately after the end of the Cambodian Civil War (1969-1975).
The term "killing fields" was coined by cambodian journalist Dith Pran after his escape from the regime. A 1984 film, The Killing Fields, tells Pran's story.
20,002 mass grave sites have been found. It is estimated that 2.5 million people died--the number could be much higher.
Our guide Sofia, born in 1978, told us of the atroctists. She lost many members of her family; most of her fathers's family died and on her mother's side she lost her grandmother.
The Khmer Rouge regime and Pol Pot arrested and eventually executed almost everyone suspected of connections with the former government or with foreign governments, as well as professionals and intellectuals.
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| Mass graves |
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| Bracelets and colorful cloth brought to the area where children were killed |
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| Pieces of clothing leaching from the gravesite walls |
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| How can there be beauty in such an awful place? |
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| People pause to remember the victims and reflex on the horror of genocide |
96% of the Buddhist temples were destroyed and only 800-1000 monks out of a possible 60,000 monks survived.
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| Chum Mey and Sofia |
We visited S21, originally a high school, that was converted into a security prison. Of the 17,000 people brought there only seven survived. We met one, Chum Mey, who actually was a very peaceful, happy person. He has written a book about his experience; proceeds go to an association that helps families of victims.
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