Young people will remember the true history of Cambodia by attending the study tour organized by the Khmer Rouge tribunal, even though they were not born before the genocidal regime. This is the affirmation of the teachers who led the students to visit the study organized by the ECCC on 6 April 2023.
The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) on April 6, organized a study tour for 130 students from Samdech Decho Hun Sen Stung Trang High School in Kampong Cham province. The study tour has brought the students to the Win Win Memorial, Boeung Choeung Ek Genocide Center (Killing Flields), Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, and were presented by ECCC Public Affairs Officer. The purpose of this visit is to help students understand and remember the tragedy of the Khmer Rouge regime, the national liberation from the genocidal regime, and the trial of the crimes of that brutal regime.
Mrs. Suon Chanthen, a teacher of the students, stated that she was very excited that the ECCC brought her students to visit today. "It is historical research for students to remember, even if they are not born in the Khmer Rouge regime, but all of sites they visited today are historical documents that cannot deleted; so, it is really good that we can organize the program for students to learn. It is a clear memory cannot be erased. At school, students read documents and imagine the story, but when they get here, they see clearly that help them to have a better memory." said Chanthen.
Another teacher, Mr. Tan Kimleang, also made a similar view by stating that "This visit made the students more aware, firstly, they were able to see the real locations left over from the Pol Pot regime, and secondly, they were aware clearly how tortured made by the Khmer Rouge than just reading the book and when coming to see the real sites, then they can remember a lot and for a long time."
Upon learning of Cambodia's bitter history, the teachers expressed their appreciation and thanks to the Royal Government's win-win policy for liberating Cambodia from the genocidal regime and bringing peace and stability. They also thanked the ECCC for organizing this event so that they could understand, visit crime sites, and see the development in Phnom Penh today. Then the teachers suggested ECCC to continue its’ activities to organize more outreach study tours for other younger generations to learn and remember Khmer Rouge brutal history.
ECCC organizes weekly study tours for students, youth, and the public to promote remembrance and participation in preventing the return of the atrocities such as the Khmer Rouge regime. Since the beginning to 2023, more than half a million national and international public have participated in the study tour under the coordination of the Public Affairs Section of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Court of Cambodia.
