- 2024wish
- tuolslengmuseum
- genocidemuseum
- warhistorical
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
#2024wish
I have a unique opportunity to visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Cambodia on a specific day. This museum houses a vast collection of photographs depicting the history of the Khmer people during the Khmer Rouge regime.
The site contains photographs from Pol Pot's secret prison, codenamed "S-21," during his genocidal rule (1975–79). Between 1-2 million Cambodians and many foreigners were starved to death, tortured, or killed during this reign of terror. When the Vietnamese Army invaded in 1979, thousands of written and photographic records were left behind, including over 6,000 photographs. Former prison staff say as many as 30,000 prisoners were held at S-21 before the Khmer Rouge leadership was forced to flee. The Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide, Cornell University, and Yale University have all contributed to the knowledge of this terrible history. In 1997, American photographer/researcher Doug Niven identified prison photographer Nhem Ein, who had been living in a Khmer Rouge stronghold since 1979.
I highly recommend visiting the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, as it provides a profound insight into the history of the Khmer people during the dark war. #tuolslengmuseum #genocidemuseum #warhistorical
Tuol Sleng is an absolute "must visit" if you are ever in Phnom Penh. $5 entrance fee. It's a testament to what happens when we allow politics and anger to overtake our humanity. Get there right at 8am when it opens to have the place to yourself - it's a very spooky feeling. Once the tour groups and school students start rolling in after 8:30, with the noise, running around etc. it loses some of its effect.
The experience itself is rather bleak and depressing. Obviously, the place holds a dark history and one can feel the pain and suffering that took place there. Lots of people but they remain polite and it’s not as noisy as one would expect. Didn’t get a private tour guide, just as good to get the audio and walk about yourself but can be hard to keep track of which audio to play when. Regardless, still worth visiting to appreciate the history and what the Khmer people have been through.
To understand and.appreciate what our Cambodian bothers and sisters experienced during teh Khmer Rouge, this museum is the closest to the.city. you get the chance to meet survivors and chat with them about their book. The.place is accessible for those with mobility challenge.
A sobering experienceA very sobering experience. Even after researching beforehand and the actual visit, it is still unbelievable to try and wrap your head around what happened here. This history is very raw, touching, emotional and is still fresh. Block in around 2-3 hours for your visit. Take the audio headset or even get a guide. Take your time, reflect, take moments to process things or to give yourself a breather... and be the carrier of the stories that you hear and see. (I felt that it was inappropriate to take any photos).
Pay attention to history, pay attention to development. From the past, look at the present ~
The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum or simply Tuol Sleng is a museum chronicling the Cambodian genocide. Located in Phnom Penh, the site is a former secondary school which was used as Security Prison 21 by the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 until its fall in 1979. From 1976 to 1979, an estimated 20,000 people were imprisoned at Tuol Sleng and it was one of between 150 and 196 torture and execution centers established by the Khmer Rouge and the secret police known as the Santebal.