Yeng Raksa, a grade 11th student from Prey Veng province, said that she was very happy to visit the Khmer Rouge genocide historical sites of Cambodia. "This visit gave us a better understanding of the genocidal regime and the trial of the Khmer Rouge leaders, and if we know the true history, we can join forces to prevent genocide," said Raksa.
Raksa was one of about 200 other students from Hun Sen Prek Sandek High School in Sithor Kandal District, Prey Veng Province, who participated in a study tour organized by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), April 5, 2023.
John Kim Huy, a grade 12th student at from the same high school said similarly to Raksa “before coming here, I was not clear about the genocide regime, but after listening to the briefings from guides and teachers here, I learn clearly about the Pol Pot regime, and I went to Tuol Sleng genocide museum, I know the number of people died and how they died. This is what I want to know since I was a child.”
The students, participated in the ECCC study tour today, visited Win Win Memorial, Boeung Choeung Ek Genocide Center, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, and got a presentation by the ECCC Public Affairs Officer. The purpose of this visit is to help students understand and remember the tragedy of the Khmer Rouge regime, the national liberation from the genocidal regime, and the trial of the crimes of that brutal regime.
Upon learning of Cambodia's bitter history, the students expressed their appreciation and thanks to the Royal Government's win-win policy for liberating Cambodia from the genocidal regime and bringing peace and stability. They also thanked the ECCC for organizing this event so that they could understand, visit crime sites, and see the development in Phnom Penh today.
ECCC organizes weekly study tours for students, youth, and the public to promote remembrance and participation in preventing the return of the atrocities such as the Khmer Rouge regime. Since the beginning to 2023, more than half a million national and international public have participated in the study tour under the coordination of the Public Affairs Section of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Court of Cambodia.
