On March 2, 2023, about 250 youth from Kampong Cham Province participated in the study tour organized by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC). The youth, to finding out about the bitter history of Cambodia, came from various institutions, including teachers and youth groups in Kampong Siem district and the medical student youth group of Kampong Cham Regional Health High School.
Ms. Cheang Soklin, from Kampong Siem district, said that participating in today's study tour, she learned more about the Khmer Rouge tribunal trial of former senior Khmer Rouge leaders, the sufferings that Khmer Rouge inflicted on the Cambodian people during the Democratic Kampuchea regime and the sacrifices of the Royal Government of Cambodia in leading the country to gain peace. Soklin added that she was saddened to see the pictures and hear the guide explain about the brutal tortures, starvation and killings of people, young and old, at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. “It is very important to bring the leaders of that brutal regime to trial for providing justice to the families and victims of that regime” said Soklin.
Mr. Chhuon Vibol, the leader of the youth group, said that the knowledge gained during today's study tour is very important for his youth group because it would contribute to the prevention genocide acts. Therefore, he called on the young people to pay attention to find out about things in each location to gain more knowledge.
Similarly, Mr. Chuon Ratana Vong, participated in the study tour, thanked the Khmer Rouge tribunal for organizing this study tour for the younger generation to learn what happened during the Khmer Rouge regime and its effects on the Cambodian people and the whole country. This man also thanked the Royal Government of Cambodia for leading the country to be peaceful and prosperity in all sectors to this day. Mr. Chuon Ratanavong also suggested to all the youth to participate in maintaining peace and help prevent Cambodia not to become any killing fields again.
The study tour organized by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) or the Khmer Rouge Tribunal today, all young people visited the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Choeung Ek Genocide Center, Win Win Monument and a presentation by officials from The Khmer Rouge tribunal on the trial of former senior leaders of Democratic Kampuchea. At the end of the day visit, all the young people received a lot of information and knowledge about the trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders, the brutal torture, the massacre of Cambodians by the Khmer Rouge and the sacrifices of the Khmer Rouge. Cambodian leaders in liberating the nation from that genocidal regime.
The ECCC outreach study tour is organized weekly for students, youth, and the public, as part of the remembrance and participation in preventing the return of the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime. Since the first court proceedings until today,2023, more than half a million national and international public have participated in the outreach study tours under the coordination by the Public Affairs Section of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal.
