CHOEUNG EK GENOCIDAL CENTER CAMBODIA

About Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, Cambodia

The Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, situated about 17 kilometers from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is one of the most harrowing reminders of the Khmer Rouge regime's brutality. Between 1975 and 1979, this former orchard was transformed into one of the many "Killing Fields," where over 17,000 men, women, and children were executed and buried in mass graves. The site now stands as a memorial to the victims of this genocide.

Visitors to Choeung Ek can walk through the peaceful yet haunting grounds, marked by shallow pits where remains were discovered. A central Buddhist stupa houses over 5,000 human skulls and bones, serving as a stark testament to the atrocities committed. Informational signs and audio guides provide historical context, sharing stories of survival and loss. Choeung Ek is not only a place of remembrance but also a call to reflect on the importance of human rights and peace.