A Secret Prison in Cambodia
As promised from my blog on "Discover Cambodia" , this is a blog about Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, also known as the S21 Prison. Now the reason why I decided to make a blog about this is that I find this incident the most horrific and barbaric genocide I have ever read in history in my 26 years.
This blog contains essential information about the secret Prison and some stories that I had learned from the audio guide tour when I visited Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum & The Cheoung Ek Killing Fields and based on my self-research, courtesy of the internet. Some images and statements are written and posted in this blog may be sensitive to some people. This is the stories of the 14,000 victims in the hands of the Khmer Rouge. These victims may have died brutally, but their deaths will not be left forgotten. It will forever stay in history.
THE KHMER ROUGE
Khmer Rouge is a communist party in Cambodia, who took control of Cambodia on April 17, 1975, until 1979. The Khmer Rouge wanted to transform Cambodia into a classless society in which there are no rich and no poor people. Group gatherings are forbidden as this is a sign of plotting a war against the Khmer Rouge. They have forced around 2 million people in Phnom Penh and other cities for some agricultural work and whereas thousands of people had died during the hard labour work through endless work, starvations, beatings or executions. The Khmer Rouge had set up secret prisons, where they captured, brutally tortured and executed thousands of people.
THE S21 PRISON
The Tuol Sleng Genocide, also known as the S21 Prison, used to be a school before it was turned into a secret prison by the Khmer Rouge. The secret Prison was operated for four horrific years, which also means four long years of tortures and executions of mostly innocent people.
WHO WERE CAPTURED, TORTURED AND KILLED
Most of the people who are brought into the secret Prison are either guilty or innocent and has nothing to do with whatsoever the war that the Khmer Rouge are having during those time. The Khmer Rouge members/ soldiers/ guards or other civilians are also pins pointing at some random people or somebody who may potentially look like a traitor in their eyes. These innocent victims were tricked for a job opportunity. Little did they know that they are being brought into a dark place. While some people were captured because they are traitors, but I guess we will never know who are the real traitors and who is not. You will find out what I meant about the previous sentences I have written as you continue to read this blog.
The image above shows the rules inside the S21 Prison. If the image is a bit small for you to see, then here are the list of the regulations.
1. You must answer accordingly to my questions - Don't turn them away.
2. Don't try to hide the facts by making pretexts this and that you are strictly prohibited to contest me.
3. Don't be fool for you are a chap who dare to thwart the revolution.
4. You must immediately answer my questions without wasting time to reflect.
5. Don't tell me either about your immortalities or the essence of the revolution.
6. While getting lashes or electrification you must not cry at all.
7. Do nothing, sit still and wait for my orders. If there is no order, keep quiet. When I ask you to do something, you must do it right away without protesting.
8. Don't make pretext about Kampuchea Kromin order to hide your secret or traitor.
9. If you don't follow all the above rules, you shall get many lashes of electric wire.
10. If you disobey any point of my regulations you shall get either ten lashes or five shocks of electric discharge.
THE EVIDENCE
PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PRISONERS
The photographs of the prisoners' headshots and torture photographs were found and discovered by the Vietnamese Army. The prisoners' names were all changed into numbers. In other words, they are no longer identified by their names but by numbers appointed to them instead.
Photographs of the S21 prisoners
TORTURE ROOMS
There are plenty of torture rooms in the S21 Prison. The torture rooms are used as interrogation rooms as well. The prisoners are tied up and must answer the questions that are being asked by the interrogators. Refusing to answer a question or making up stories will face an extreme and painful torturing. Some torturing method that the interrogators used are electric wires, drownings and some other terrible and inhuman ways.
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED FOR TORTURING PRISONERS
When S21 Prison was discovered, the remaining of the tools and pieces of equipment for torturing prisoners were recovered as well. The people who have survived this had explained and demonstrated how the equipment works. But I rather not share this as it is very heartbreaking to hear, but if you want to know more about it, you may google it to know more information about their torturing methods.
This is one of the torturing equipments found in S21 Prison. No caption needed, you may use your own interpretation based on the image on the right.
JAIL CELLS
They have built jail cells for the prisoners around the premises. The jail cells are tiny, and by the looks of it, it is just enough for one person to fit very tightly inside the cell. The prisoners were tied up while their faces were covered with a sack and limited hole for them to get some air to breathe. The prisoners are not allowed to speak with any other cellmates or fellow prisoners, they are to remain silent under any circumstances.
Jail cells in S21 Prison. I felt a bit of goose bumps when I enter the room as if like I can feel imagine how the prisoners lived in this tiny jail cell.
CLOTHES OF THE PRISONERS
Plenty of the prisoners clothing was found after the Vietnamese army discovered the prison. The clothes were pilled together in memory of the victims.
MASS GRAVE AT CHEOUNG EK (THE KILLING FIELDS)
Cheoung Ek Killing Fields was known to be the worst mass grave in Cambodia. The reason for this is that there are so many people who have died here. Some victims were buried alive and also the fact that this mass killing was very secretive until the Vietnamese Army finally discovered it. Imagine if they didn't, then more people could have been dead as well.
Mass grave in Cheoung Ek KiIlling Field
RECOVERED PIECES OF BONES AND THE SKULLS
Pieces of bones, teeth and skulls of the prisoners were found buried in the mass grave at the Killing Field as part of the evidence of this barbaric crime.
WHEN DID THE KILLINGS END
VIETNAM CAME TO RESCUE
In 1979, the S21 Prison was discovered by the Vietnamese Army after four long years of barbaric acts of the Khmer Rouge towards thousands of people.
THE PUNISHMENT
Most of the remaining leaders of the Khmer Rouge were sentenced to life imprisonment by the ECCC (Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia) for crimes against humanity. Life imprisonment doesn't completely justify what the Khmer Rouge had done to the dead prisoners. I believe that the punishment should be as brutal as what they had caused to the thousand lives of the prisoners.
HOW MANY PEOPLE SURVIVED IN THE S21 PRISON
There are only seven survivors that are known to have survived the S21 Prison. 7 out of 14,000 victims that is just sick! Three of the survivors are still alive, and they can be seen around the museum. You may have a quick chat with the survivors if you want to. I'm sure they will be more than happy to share their life story back in S21 Prison.
A 16 YEARS OLD BOY WAS RELEASE DUE TO A STRANGER'S SACRIFICE
This story is base on the story that I have heard from the audio guide tour. There was a 16 years old boy who was captured and unaware of what was going on. He had lost his family along the way and was forced to stay with the other prisoners. A kind and a selfless man begged a prison guard to spare the boy. The man insisted "He is too young, please let him go". The man did not stop asking the prison guard until one day, the boy was released, but in return, the prison guard executed the man who had helped, and he sacrificed himself to save the boy. The boy did not know the man's name, but he will forever remember and be grateful to what the man had done for him to live.
VISITING THE TUOL SLENG GENOCIDE MUSEUM (S21 PRISON)
Tuol Sleng was formerly a high school. It was the secret prison held by the Khmer Rouge in 1975-1979. There were about 14,000 people who were imprisoned there with only seven known survivors. There are around 4 buildings in the premises. The Khmer Rouge had turned those 4 buildings as interrogation rooms, torture chambers, jail cells, torture equipments room and many more other barbaric acts. It was discovered by the Vietnamese army in 1979.
BUILDING A
Building A is the closest to the entrance of the S21 Prison.
Building A is the very first place prisoners were brought into to have their photographs taken and their information written down. Once they have registered, their names were no longer their names, they were given numbers instead. They were forced to give up whatever belongings they have brought into the prison.
INTERROGATION AND TORTURE ROOM
Soon after they were settled, the prison guards brought the prisoners into the interrogation room where they were forced to talk about their life in detailed and to confess to their sins. The prisoners are not allowed to scream, cry or have any emotions when they are being tortured. Each prisoner was scheduled to be interrogated and tortured at least twice a day and every day, and so on.
BUILDING B
PHOTOGRAPHS, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR TORTURING
This building was filled with the victim's headshots, photographs of the leader, tortures and dead prisoners due to extreme beatings or starvation. Some equipment for torturing can be seen being displayed around the building with images of how it is used.
BUILDING C
JAIL CELLS
This building was the prisoners' jail cells. If you look closely, the building was covered with metal wires. The metal wires were placed around the whole building so that the prisoners won't attempt to escape.
BUILDING D
MORE PHOTOGRAPHS AND MOVIE ROOMS
You may find more photographs of the prisoners, prison guards, the leaders, executions and other documents in this building. There are two movie rooms for some documentaries clips about the S21 Prison. Please note that there is a scheduled time when you can enter and watch the short films.
Another Khmer Rouge's killing methods as stated on the board,
The Gallows - This pole with cables attached to it had been used for the student to conduct their exercise. The Khmer Rouge utilised this place as interrogation room. The interrogators tied both hands of the prisoners to the back by a rope and lift the prisoners upside down. They did like this until the prisoners lost consciousness. Then they dipped the prisoner's head into a jar of smelly, filthy water, which they normally used as fertiliser for the crops in the terrace outside. By doing so, the victims quickly regain consciousness, and that the interrogators could continue their interrogation.
VISITING THE KILLING FIELDS IN CHEOUNG EK
Cheoung Ek also known as The Killing Fields. After the interrogation, beatings, manipulations and starvation, this is where victims were brought to face their cruel execution. There is an audio guide tour included in the package deal to tour you around to all the sites in the fields and where the people were buried. At the end of the audio tour, The Memorial Stupa will be the last stop where the remains of the victims (The skulls) are preserved and are colour coded by genders and how and what weapons were used to execute the victims. You may pay your respect by lighting a candle or offering some flowers.
1. TRUCK STOP
The prisoners were tricked by the guards and were told that they are bringing them to a new home while being blindfolded, only to find out that they are not going to last in this world any longer.
As written in the text,
Truck Stop - Here, was the place where a trucks transporting victims to be exterminated form Tuol Sleng Prison and other places in the country, stopped. Trucks would arrive 2 or 3 times a month or every 3 weeks. Each truck held 20 to 30 frightened, blindfolded and silent prisoners. When the trucks arrived, the victims were led directly to be executed at the ditches and pits or were sent to be detained in the darken and gloomy prison nearby. After January 7, 1979, one truck remained, but it has since been taken away.
2. DETENTION AND THE EXECUTIONER'S WORKING SPACE
After transferring the prisoners to the Killing Fields, they were brought into a small hut while being blindfolded, just waiting for their time to get executed.
As written in the text from Left photo
The Dark and Gloomy Detention - Here, was the place where victims transported from Tuol Sleng and other places in the country were detained. Usually, when the truck arrived, the victims were executed immediately. However, as the number of victims to be executed was increased up to per 300 per day, executioners failed in attempt to kill them within a day. That is why they were detained for execution the next day. The detention was contracted from wood with galvanised steel roof. its wall was built with two layers of flat wood were to darken and also prevent prisoners seeing each other. Unfortunately, the dark and gloomy detention was dismantled in 1979.
As written in the text from Right photo
The Executioners' Working Office - Here, was the place where executioners stationed permanently at Choeung Ek worked. The office as well as the Killing Fields were equipped with electric power which enabled them to conduct executions and to read and sign the rosters that accompanied the victims to the site at the night time.
3. STORAGE ROOM FOR KILLING TOOLS
Before the hut was removed, there used to be a room, where the guards stored their killing tools.
As written in the text from Left photo
The Killing Tools Storage Room - Here, was the place where the killing told such as shackles, leg irons, a hatchet, knifes hoes, digging hoes, shoves, iron ox, cart axles were stored. This instrument was lost in 1979. The storage room was constructed from wood with a galvanised steel roof.
As written in the text from Right photo
The Chemical Substances Storage Room - Here, was the place where chemical substances such as DDT.. was kept. Executioners scattered these substances over dead bodies of the victims at once after execution. This action had two purposes; Firstly to eliminate the stench from the dead bodies which could potentially raise suspicion among people working near by the Killing Fields and secondly was to kill off victims who were buried alive.
4. THE LAKE
Who could ever thought that this lake was once buried with dead people, most of them were children.
5. VICTIMS CLOTHING
You may find some clothing laying on the ground just like how they were found when the rescuers have discovered this secret Killing Fields. You may also find some pieces of broken bones left on the ground.
6. VICTIMS BONES AND TEETH
These are the remaining bones and teeth that were found around the Killing Fields.
7. THE KILLING TREE AND THE MAGIC TREE
The Killing Tree was used for the execution of infants or newborn babies. The Khmer Rouge believed that once their parents were executed, these little ones should be executed too so they won't seek any revenge. What is even more depressing is how they ended their life. The executioners smashed the babies head onto the tree; it is the easiest way to commit an execution according to the audio source. That is just inhuman and barbaric.
The Magic Tree was installed with a loudspeaker, which they will play loud music whenever they are scheduled to execute a group of prisoners. The purpose for this is that they are avoiding any nearby neighbours to hear the prisoners screams while executing them. Just imagine, the music that was being played at those times was the last music that the prisoners had heard before they die.
Left - The Killing Tree
Right - The Magic Tree
8. MEMORIAL STUPA
This stupa is where all the recovered skulls are placed as a memorial stand for the purpose of remembering this horrific crime. The skulls were divided and colour coded into genders, ages, and what weapons were used during their execution. Since the executioners were saving bullets and may alarm the nearby neighbours, they used weapons to hit the prisoners head once or some even twice and then slits their throat and let them bleed to death.
9. THE MASS GRAVE AROUND THE KILLING FIELDS
Some visitors will leave some flowers, bracelets or notes (donations) as a sign of paying respect for the victims of S21 Prison.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND THOUGHTS ON THE TOUR
First of all, I would like to share that there are no beyond words that can describe these horrific crimes that were committed by the Khmer Rouge. I have read and studied about The Holocaust held by the Nazis or The Japanese Occupation around Asia in World War II. There are both wrong and horrible. However, the S21 Prison is what I felt the most heartbreaking. I think it's the fact that S21 Prison was kept secret and nobody knows about it for four years, and the hands of their own people implemented it.
I am getting emotional while writing this blog. All of the things I have seen inside the museum and the things I have heard from the recorded audio guide are coming back in my mind as I write this blog. It is indeed hard to explain what I had felt on that day when I visited. It's like I can hear them scream in my mind at some point and imagining how those victims were tortured and executed. I can picture them in my mind, and it is horrible and quite traumatising actually. It is just so cruel.
However, don't get me wrong, I felt blessed to have visited S21 Prison, and I had learned a lot of information during my visit. I would say that reading history through the internet or books are not enough resources. You got to be there, right on that spot to see it with your own eyes.
HOW TO GET THERE
Getting to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21 Prison) - The easiest way to get there is by tuk-tuk or private taxi.
Getting to The Cheoung Ek Killing Fields - It is around 30-40 minutes away from the S21 Prison. You may take a tuk-tuk or get a private taxi to get there.
PRICE AND THE OPENING HOURS
TUOL SLENG GENOCIDE MUSEUM (S21 PRISON)
Entrance fee - The fee for S21 Prison is 3 USD per person and add 3 USD for an audio guide, with different types of languages (English, Chinese, French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, German). A tour guide is available upon request with an additional charge.
Opening hours - It opens every day from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
CHEOUNG EK KILLING FIELDS
Entrance fee - The fee for the Killing Fields is 6 USD per person with audio guide included, with different languages too.
Opening hours - It opens every day around 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
I hope you find this blog useful. I try to put as many information as I can in memory of the victims. Hopefully, this horrible thing won't happen anymore. Nobody deserved to have suffered the way the S21 prisoners did and any other victims.
Yours Truly,
Michelle Chan