School turned prison - Cambodia

During the Khmer Rouge reign during 1975-1979, millions of Khmer were forced into slave agriculture labour camps in the countryside villages of Cambodia. Many died just in transit.

The Khmer Rouge wanted to transform Cambodia into a classless society. No rich, poor and no exploitation. There was no currency, private transport or normal schooling. People were restricted to where they could go and even what they could wear. People couldn't gather in groups and talk or could be jailed and even face execution by their leaders.

Store and government buildings, schools and churches were all turned into prisons.

We visited Tuol Sleng S-21 museum in Phnom Penh and left with a heavy heart of Cambodia’s tragic history.

S-21, once known as Toul Svay Pray High school, held close to 14,000 prisoners while operating and ruled by the Khmer Rouge regime in 1976 and was renamed. There is a room holding photographic archives filling the walls, of the thousands of inmates. Images show prisoners numbers pinned to their skin, some even pictured mothers or fathers with their young children or babies also numbered.

Here, interrogation and torture methods were used by guards. Sadly, many prisoners died from malnutrition, torture and execution.

This was one of the larger cells in the prison. Inmates were chained to beds with chains and had a pan to use for the bathroom and small pillow and bowl.

Even the corridors had an eerie feel to them. You could most certainly feel a presence of some form.

Once we moved downstairs, we were shocked to see the holding stalls for prisoners. 1x2m stalls were an inmate could not even stretch their legs out adorned the walls. Sadly I couldn't find an image bright enough to share but the halls down here were even creepier than upstairs.

Of the 14,000 people that entered only around 7 people survived. Here is my husband @philippekiene pictured with Chum Mey, one of the 7 survivors. It was devastating yet inspiring to hear his stories about his triumph over terror.

I feel like I have only scratched the surface on S-21 and will be definitely writing about S-21 again.

I must admit our visit was so overwhelming and I just couldn't comprehend all the horrendous facts in one visit. I feel compelled to visit again because sadly, the effects of this regime still haunt Cambodian people today and affect how they live there lives today.

I feel to truly understand Cambodia, it's people and how they got to where they are today. I need to understand the history that got them there. So stay tuned for more of my Cambodia writings in the future.

If you're interested in any of my other Cambodian themed blog posts here are a few to get you started:
https://steemit.com/family/@mumma-monza/top-5-must-see-and-do-siem-reap-cambodia-with-kids
https://steemit.com/travel/@mumma-monza/kids-eat-scorpion-siem-reap-cambodia-leaving-mixed-reviews
https://steemit.com/colorchallenge/@mumma-monza/i-did-it-colorchallenge-fridayskyblue-travelphotography-cambodia
https://steemit.com/colorchallenge/@mumma-monza/carefree-kid-spirit-colorchallenge-thursdaygreen
https://steemit.com/expat/@mumma-monza/cambodia-ranked-4-top-destinations-for-expats

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All photographs taken by me @mumma-monza