The more I learn about Cambodia's history, the more I feel for the people.
For those who, like me, were not aware, just briefly:
From 1975 to 1979 there was a reign of terror here. Leader Pol Pot had the bright idea of making Cambodia a self-sufficient country. He deployed the Khmer Rouge army to wipe out all the cities so that everyone in the countryside could go to work because rice production had to be tripled. An impossible task.
Intellectuals were deemed incapable of working with their hands or resisting and were immediately killed, along with their entire families. The so-called prisons and killing fields were used for this.
In the 120 prisons, the strangest confessions were forced through torture, after which people were still killed. The killing in the Killing Fields was not done with expensive bullets, but with clubs, knives and iron bars on the edge of mass graves. Babies and young children were beaten to death against trees in front of their mothers.
Rural workers were left without any possessions and forced to work 12 hours a day. Many died because of this alone. In the end, 2 million of Cambodia's 7 million inhabitants did not survive. Every inhabitant has had to deal with it and in the street scene today it is still striking that there are so few elderly people.
The places I visit can only make me sad and silent. What a horrible time this has been for Cambodia… 😔
Hi Ivo,
Impressive sites was on the way back by bus from the killing fields
Very quiet then
Especially the tree gave me the shivers, I don't know if it is too
You could see it, but then you saw when you walked over those bridges you saw pieces of clothing from the victims above the ground
Good to pause for a moment.
But Cambodia also has very beautiful things to see and enjoy.
Many more safe kilometers.
Gr Ton,
Hi Ton, I was also speechless. Never knew this happened here. But indeed, there is still so much beauty to see! For example, Angkor Wat in Siem Reap is next on the schedule 😉
Greetings!