Caution: Some pictures may be disturbing for viewers
This memorial park has been built around mass graves of victims. Foreigners are suppose to pay an entrance fee of around USD 5. This fee includes audio equipment (returnable) with several languages support. Sites are marked with numbers so that tourists can listen to specific details about the site.
Most of the victims were prisoners at S-21 prison in Phnom Penh (Tuol Sleng) who were executed at this site. Shooting was not the only way to execute, our guide has told us that children and infants of adult victims were killed by having their heads bashed against trees. This is done to stop them growing up and taking revenge of their loved ones.
Details about Stupa available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choeung_Ek
The first thing you see after entrance is commemorative stupa which is filled with the skulls of the victims at the killing fields of Cheoung Ek site.
Tourists taking pictures and listening to audio aid provided at entrance.
Few victims’ skulls. Estimated number of killing during genocide is 2.5 million.
These pictures worth thousand words.
Another view of Stupa
Mass grave of more than 100 victims (mostly women and children)
Site of a mass grave with a picture taken at the time of excavation.
Mass graves. We can still see pieces of bones. Guide has told us that some of the victims were ordered to dig their own graves.
Loud speaker were attached to this tree and loud music used to be played so that people in nearby villages could not hear sounds of crying, beating and killing.
This is not orange tree. Guide has told us that this is poisonous fruit. During genocide people who brought here were also asked to eat these.
Pieces of bones remaining after excavation in 1980.
View of Stupa from sites of excavated mass graves.
Token of respect by Tourists and visitors to mass graves
Rags of victims’ clothes. The glass box contains rags of victims’ clothes which come up after raining, after the mass graves were exhumed in 1980.
Mass grave
Mass grave
Choeung Ek is one of the main tourists attraction in Cambodia. Listening audio tape for stories of survivors, skulls & bones and video film may make you really depressed but it’s a reality which Cambodia suffered in 70’s.
