Well what can I say?
Gruesome, depressing and unbelievable comes to mind. Choeung Ek, the killing field about 15km outside Phnom Penh is just one of dozens of these fields where the Khmer Rouge took thousands of innocent people to be executed between 1975 and 1978.
I could go into this horrific story in great detail but Wikipedia’s your man for that. See this and this article if you’re interested in reading more.
At first, what I saw was a peaceful area only a few acres in size with mature trees and beautifully manicured lawns. Further in though, there were dozens of empty craters littered about the fields where thousands and thousands of remains have been exhumed, examined and finally placed carefully in the stupa that now stands in the centre of Choeung Ek.
Craters - Once Were Mass Graves
The Killing Tree
As you wander about the meadow like place you are quickly and morbidly reminded and are repulsed by the wooden signage placed strategically around the fields. One sign stuck in the ground next to what is easily the largest tree in the area reads: “Killing tree against which executioners beat children.”.
The stupa that now houses most of the remains of around 8000 people stands about 10 metres high with around 8 levels. Each level holds different body parts with the lower level holding the clothes that the victims once wore. Four levels above that hold mostly skulls and the higher levels hold the remaining body parts.
I don’t this I’ve come as close to human remains (especially that amount) as I did today.
There is also a museum to provide you a visual feast of gruesome images of torture as well as some of the actual weapons used by the Khmer Rouge during their rein of terror.
R.
Remains Held In The Stupa
