UNESCO adds three Cambodia genocide sites to register
UNESCO Recognizes Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek in Phnom Ph K
Historical Background
- Pol Pol’s Khmer Rouge regime declared 1975 “Year Zero,” aiming for an agrarian society free of class, politics or capital.
- Between 1975 and 1979, nearly two million Cambodians died from starvation, forced labour, torture or mass killings.
New World‑Heritage Sites
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum – former high‑school turned notorious S‑21 prison, where an estimated 15,000 people were tortured.
- Choeung Ek Genocide Centre – former Chinese cemetery and “killing field,” where S‑21 prisoners were executed nightly.
Site‑Specific Features
- Tuol Sleng now houses black‑and‑white mugshots of victims and preserved torture equipment, serving as a space for commemoration and education.
- Choeung Ek, with over 6,000 exhumed bodies from more than 100 mass graves, features a memorial that displays victims’ skulls and hosts annual remembrance prayers.
Other Prison Site
- M‑13, located in central Kampong Chhnang province, was once a leading Khmer Rouge prison; today it remains a patch of derelict land with visible pits used for interrogation and torture.
Statements and Tribunals
- Prime Minister Hun Manet said, “May this inscription serve as a lasting reminder that peace must always be defended,” and added, “From the darkest chapters of history, we can draw strength to build a better future for humanity.”
- Youk Chhang, a survivor and director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, explained that the inscription will “ensure the teaching of Khmer Rouge history is more efficient and relevant.”
- A United Nations‑sponsored tribunal convicted three key Khmer Rouge figures, including S‑21 chief torturer Kaing Guek Eav, before ceasing operations in 2022.
Conclusion
Pol Pol, nicknamed “Brother Number One,” died in 1998 before he could be brought to trial, but the new UNESCO inscription preserves the memory of Cambodia’s darkest period and urges global commitment to peace and remembrance.
