(22 Jun 1997) Eng/Khmer/Nat
Despite conflicting reports surrounding the fate of Khmer Rough leader Pol Pot, there's a stark reminder in the Cambodian Capital Phnom Penh of the brutality of his regime.
Photos of terrified prisoners line the walls of the Tuol Sleng Museum.
The museum is Cambodia's most prominent symbol of the savage nature of the Khmer Rouge government.
Thousands of snapshots of prisoners condemned to death hang in the torture cell of the former interrogation camp S21.
Nhem Ein knows these photos well- he took most of them.
A Khmer Rouge veteran at just 16 years old- he documented the slaughter of around 20,000 Khmers at this camp.
On only his second trip back since the Vietnamese ended the Khmer Rouge reign of terror, NI reacted to seeing his work again.
SOUNDBITE: (Khmer)
"When I see these pictures, I get angry, but I could not do anything. I had to take photos like these, because the leaders they are very fascist."
SUPER CAPTION: Nhem Ein- Khmer Rouge official photographer.
Recently abandoning his jungle existence with the struggling Khmer Rouge , he is a grim witness to their demise.
He joined the group at age 10.
His father was a poor bean farmer, and his simple roots helped him gain favour with the Khmer Rouge
He was even sent to Shanghai to learn photography.
But he says his early idealism has long since faded.
He welcomes the fall of the leader of his youth.
He even suggests that he would be a witness against Pol Pot.
SOUNDBITE: (Khmer)
"I am very happy because the people can condemn him, and the people can convict him"
SUPER CAPTION: Nhem Ein- Khmer Rouge official photographer.
Other Cambodian visitors trickled through.
Guides filling them in on the gruesome details of the camp.
There is something particularly relevant to seeing the photos now.
Of the torture and despair displayed cannot help but intensify feeling that Pol Pot should be dealt with harshly.
SOUNDBITE: (Khmer)
"If they have capture Pol Pot I am very happy because I suffered under his regime."
SUPER CAPTION: VOX POP
People have very strong feelings about what the leader's fate should be.
SOUNDBITE: (Khmer)
"They should bring Pol Pot to an international trial. I don't want the Pol Pot regime in power a second time"
SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop
Prisoners in the camp were often chained up in agonising positions during the short wait for execution.
The eerie reality of the camp attracted the Bill Pierson film Company.
They are shooting a motion picture entitled The Ground.
While it is not directly related to events which took place on the camp, the actors and crew cannot help but feel the legacy of the facility.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well it made me feel strange about being here the first time in fact, we had a couple of actors who weren't even able to walk into the place, because they felt so shocked, so filled with horror over what had gone on here in the past. But it is very unusual that we were working here in the day Pol Pot was captured."
SUPER CAPTION: Bill Pierson, Bill Pierson film company.
Visitors to Phnom Penh are often struck by the mysterious and sometime macabre circumstances that surround them here.
And the nation waits, holding its breath, to find out the fate of its notorious leader.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.c...
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.c...
Негізгі бет CAMBODIA: MUSEUM SHOWS TORTURE PHOTOS DURING KHMER ROUGE REGIME
Пікірлер: 35