Khmer Rouge

To understand a nation, you need to know its history.

Genocide museum – TUOL SLENG – former Khmer Rouge S-21 prison

 Established in May 1976,
 for all opposing Angkar (the revolution party),
 covers area of 400x600 meters,
 4 school buildings used as administration, interrogation and torture offices,
 sub-unit working for Angkar in the prison were children from 10-15 years old,
 number of killed human beings here - more than 12.000,
 all within 3 years...




The security regulation number 6: While getting lashes or electrification you must not cry at all.


The Khmer Rouge officials: "It is better to arrest ten people by mistake than to left one guilty person go free."

It is estimated that as many as 500.000 people were excecuted for crimes against revolution and the state. People with experiences or skills desappeared. Some victims were burried alive. Nearly everyone who was known as educated was killed. No one dared to wear glasses or speak foreign language, that was a sign that they were educated. Who wanted to survive, had to pretend to be illiterate.

"ANGKAR invites you to go for further education." was official invitation for imprisonment or direct execution whether or not they had actually commited a crime.







Wedding was a waste of time and no help in producing rice. Mass weddings were therefore established. Each couple was chosen by Angkar. The main purpose of the Khmer wedding was not to form family units but produce children who could serve the revolution.

The braid of barbed wires was preventing the desperate victims from commiting suicide.

In January 1979, the Vietnamese officially captured Phnom Penh and the People's Republic of Kampuchea was created. Thus the three year, eight month and twenty day Khmer Rouge reign of terror had officially ended...The strugle for Cambodians however went on. Dealing with famine, poverty and diseases and trying to find any information about their missing relatives and beloved ones was bringing further pain and horror. The Khmer Rouge was still present, very strong in some of the regions of Cambodia, conducting raids on towns, villages and homes, killing again innocent civilians into late 1990s.



The Khmer Rouge regime officially ended with the Vietnamese capture of Phnom Penh. But the Khmer Rouge left behind an uneducated and unskilled society, a displaced and traumatize nation, a population of 70% women, many widowed, a countryside full with landmines that even today continue to criple or kill. It will take generations to heal.


THE NEW REGIME
poem by Sarith Pou

No religious rituals.
No religious symbols.
No furtune tellers.
No traditional healers.
No paying respect to elders.
No social status. No titles.

No education. No training.
No school. No learning.
No books. No library.
No sience. No technology.
No pens. No paper.

No currency. No bartering.
No buying. No selling.
No begging. No giving.
No purses. No wallets.

No human rights. No liberty.
No courts. No judges.
No laws. No attorneys.

No comminication.
No public transportation.
No private transportation.
No travelling. No mailing.
No inviting. No visiting.
No faxes. No telephones.

No social gatherings.
No chitchatting.
No jokes. No laughter.
No music. No dancing.

No romance. No flirting.
No fornicifation. No dating.
No wet dreaming.
No masturbation.
No naked sleepers.
No bathers.
No nakendness in showers.
No love songs. No love letters.
No affection.

No marrying. No divorcing.
No martial conflicts. No fighting.
No profanity. No cursing.

No shoes. No sandals.
No toothbrushes. No razors.
No combs. No mirrors.
No lotion. No make up.
No long hair. No braids.
No jewelery.
No soap. No detergent. no shampoo.
No knitting. No embroidering.
No colored clothes, except black.
No styles, except pyjamas.
No wine. No palm sap hooch.
No lighters. No cigarettes.
No morning coffee. No afternoon tea.
No snacks. No desserts.
No breakfast (sometimes no dinner)

No mercy. No forgiveness.
No regret. No remorse.
No second chancecs. No excuses.
No complaints. No grievances.
No help. No favours.
No eyeglasses. No dental treatment.
No vaccines. No medicines.
No hospitals. No doctors.
No disabilities. No social diseases.
No tuberculosis. No leprosy.

No kites. No marbles. No rubber bands.
No cookies. No popside. No candy.
No playing. No toys.
No lullabies.
No rest. No vacations.
No holidays. No weekends.
No games. No sports.
No staying up late.
No newspaper.

No radio. No TV.
No drawing. No painting.
No pets. No pictures.
No electricity. No lamp oil.
No clocks. No watches.

No hope. No life.
A third of the population didn't survive.
The regime died.

source: tuol sleng museum, Phnom Penh