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Cambodia Khmer Rouge Prison
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Cambodia prison Khmer rouge, mad
communist, Tuol Sleng.
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Khmer Rouge Prison 21 - The
Chilling High School In Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Most travel stories are of
the happy-go-lucky variety. Every once in a while,
however, one visits a place that evidences the vicious,
dark side of mankind. Khmer Rouge Prison 21, known as
Tuol Seng, is one such place. It is a stark reminder of
the cruelties humanity can visit upon itself.
The headquarters of the
Khmer Rouge campaign in Cambodia.
The infamous
Khmer Rouge was the ruling party of Cambodia from 1975
to 1979, with fighting going on for many more years. Led
by Pol Pot, also known as
Brother Number One, the party
is estimated to have killed as much as 1/3rd of
the
population of Cambodia through murder and starvation.
The Khmer Rouge has justly been compared to Hitler for
its brutal genocidal actions. Tuol Sleng represents the
most brutal example.
Tuol Sleng covers roughly a
city block, but is tucked back among alleys in
Phnom
Penh. During the Khmer's rule, two folds of iron sheets
encased in electrified barbwire to prevent escape
enclosed it.
Prisoners were chained to walls and
tortured on a daily basis until they admitted crimes
against the state. The prisoners were required to follow
ten regulations.
A shocking sampling include:
1. Do not try to hide facts
by making excuses. You are strictly prohibited from
contesting
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2. While being lashed or electrocuted, you must not cry
at all.
3. Disobey any rule and you will get 5 lashes with an
electric wire.
Much like the Nazi concentration camps,
the Khmer Rouge
documented ever prisoner and atrocity. Upon arrival,
each prisoner's picture was taken and a detailed
biography was documented. Prisoners were then confined
to cells approximately the size of a closet by chaining
them to iron posts. Daily torture was undertaken through
beatings, electric shock and other atrocities. At the
end of their imprisonment, prisoners were marched about
two miles to the killing fields. To save bullets, they
were beaten to death.
The atrocious numbers for
Tuol Sleng:
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From 10,500 to 14,500 adult
prisoners.
Another 2,000 children prisoners.
7 survived. Yes, just 7.
Only 2 Khmer have ever been prosecuted for the atrocity.
Today, Tuol Sleng is a genocide museum. The walls are
full of pictures of the prisoners. Men and women. Boys
and girls as young as 5-years old. There are still
bloodstains on the floors of the interrogation rooms.
Why visit or write an article about Tuol Sleng?
Traveling is about
discovery, even if the subject is something
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Tuol Sleng - Khmer
water boarding |
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horrible.
Failing to recognize the dark side
of humanity dooms us to repeat those failings. The Nazi
concentration camps existed in the 40s, Tuol Sleng in
the 70s, and today similar atrocities are occurring in
North Vietnam and other places. Will we ever learn?
About the Author
Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers
of travel journals. Writing journals are the perfect
travel accessories. Visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com
to read more travel articles and travelogues.
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