(English below)
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αααα αΆαααααα
β’ αα·ααααα½αα
ααα½αααΌα
αα·αααΌαα ααΆααα·ααΆααααα αΆαααααααα»αααα
On the morning of July 2, 2026,Β 20 Students (14 girls) from Bun RanyΒ Hun Sen Primary School, Koh Thma visited and learned theΒ history of Democratic Kampuchea (1975-1979). The purpose of visiting is to understand and remember the bitterΒ history, building peaceΒ preventing genocide, and give value to survivors of the Khmer Rouge regime.
At the beginning, Ms. Vy Sitha introduced herself and the Koh Thma Documentation Center team to the students. Then, Ms. Vy Sitha presented the posters at the Koh Thma Documentation Center to the students, starting with the group of the pictures into five sections: photos showing the remnants of the 1960s-1970s war in the Koh Thma and Choam Kravien commune, photos showing life during the Pol Pot regime, paintings showing the path to overthrowing the Pol Pot genocidal regime on June 20, 1977, photos showing the return to the village in 1979 after the fall of the Pol Pot regime, and pictures showing the crimes of genocide.
Next, Mr. Chhum Ra asked the students to do group discussions on four topics: the occupation of Phnom Penh, the evacuation of people from cities and towns, the forced evacuation, and Toul Por Chrey.
Group Division:
Group 1: Discussing the topic of βThe Capture of Phnom Penhβ with 5 members: Phearon Pheara, Phlel Veng, Leang Meas, Ret Davan and Meung Mattna: It is understood that April 17, 1975, ended all foreign interference, bombing and armed confrontations in the civil war between Cambodians and Khmer people that lasted for 5 years in Cambodia, but on the same day, Phnom Penh fell completely under the control of communist forces. Forces wearing mustard-colored and black uniforms entered the city from all directions. Most of the people living in Phnom Penh lined the streets, cheering and waving white flags. However, many others hid in their homes, fearing that they might be arrested or shot.
Group 2: Discussing the topic of βEvacuation of people from cities and townsβ with 5 members: Thy Theary, Eam Sarun, Kreum Ratana, Thol Dany and Horn Lihuv: It was understood that most people in cities and towns believed that they would live in peace under their new leaders and that all people would work together to unify the nation. On the contrary, two or three hours after taking over Phnom Penh, the Khmer Rouge troops began firing into the air as a signal to force people to leave the city. The Khmer Rouge forced about two million people living in Phnom Penh, including more than one million refugees who had fled to the city during the war, to leave for the countryside. In just one week, people in Phnom Penh and other towns were expelled to work in agriculture in the countryside. There were no exceptions in this evacuation. Patients were expelled from hospitals. Thousands of refugees, especially children, the elderly and the sick, died on the streets. Many pregnant women died in childbirth because there was no medicine or health services. Children were lost from their parents. Most people did not know what was happening. Most of the people who left the city were sent to villages outside the city, where they had to live and work for months. In many cases, they moved to other locations where relatives or people they knew lived. After a few months, the Khmer Rouge forcibly relocated the population, usually by truck and train, to cooperatives that had been established throughout the country.
Group 3: Discussing the topic of βForced Evacuationβ with 5 members: Vichaka Eny, Phorn Pich, Pich Meanpanhaka, Leap Sopha, and Ri SreyRen: It is understood that βOverall, the Khmer Rouge regime created population displacement in three general phases, including:
1) The displacement of people from cities such as Phnom Penh, Battambang, Siem Reap, and a few other cities since April 17, 1975 (including the movement by train that occurred six months later)
2) The displacement of people from rural areas in the central, southwestern, western, and eastern regions since late 1975 to other parts of Cambodia
3) The displacement of people from the eastern region in 1977.
Group 4: Discussing the topic of βToul Por Chreyβ with 5 members: Khvong Sophy, Chea Devid, Eam Thavin, Oeun SreyLai and Thun Sopheat: It is understood that βin 1975, this field was known as the site of the infamous killing of thousands of Lon Nol soldiers and civilians. This was the site of a horrific massacre during the first large-scale forced evacuation of the Democratic Kampuchea regime, when the Khmer Rouge expelled people from the city and βclassifiedβ former officials and supporters of the Lon Nol regime.
Interests:
Group 1: I am interested and happy when studying history. I am especially interested and happy when studying history. Especially when I studied Khmer history because it made me know the strong roots and glorious culture of my ancestors, which created a sense of patriotism and a desire to help protect and preserve those heritages.
Group 2: I am attracted to the people who work in the fields. When I see this picture, I feel sorry for the grandparents who went through the Khmer Rouge regime. When I see the bones of the dead, I feel very sad.
Group 3: I feel happy when I visit the exhibition and learn about the history of Democratic Kampuchea (1975-1979). In particular, I discussed the topic of forced displacement.
Group 4: I feel happy when I know more about history. In addition, I learned about the history of Toul Por Chrey.
Observations:
β’ Majority of students are very brave
β’ Students work hard to discuss and find important points to present to other groups
β’ Students are interested in the presentation of the Koh Thma Documentation Center team.
Challenges:
β’ A small number of students are not brave enough to speak up to other groups.
Koh Thma Documentation Center
Text by Vy Sitha and Vorn Bopha
Photos by Chham Ra, Vor Bopha and Vy Sitha
July 2, 2026
Documentation Center of Cambodia Archives
https://photos.app.goo.gl/gx1VeyrvDNeoxBX37