"Worse than Hitler"

Today was a serious day for us here in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. During our stay at the beach we watched to film about the true story of two journalists writing about the Cambodian genocide and "killing fields". These true events occurred here in the Capital city. Though it took us only 4 hours to visit both the prison and the fields it drained us and felt like days. The two places we visited are smaller than imagined, however they held much more terror than anything.
We first went to the Tuol Sleng, the genocide museum, former Khmer Rouge S-21 (Security Office 21) Prison. This was used for interrogation, prison, and torture. The Khmer Rouge had inprisoned their fellow countrymen. Those with education, who could potentially harm the goals and power of the Khmer Rouge. Amongst the tens of thousands of Cambodians there were also Americans, British, Australians, Vietnamese, Laotians, Thai, Indians, and many more nationalities. All together, all suffering, all innocent, all but seven dead. These were not just men but also their families; their wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and parents.
After Tuol Sleng we went to the Killing Fields as they are now called. This was where they actually killed the prisoners. They drove the same path we took from Tuol Sleng to Choeung Ek, only they knew it was their last drive. Approximately 17,000 people were executed in four years from 1975-1979. Majority of these from Tuol Sleng. Walking around the rather small area you still see bones, teeth, and clothing littering the ground. They said this was "more cruel than the genocidal act committed by the Hitler fascists". "They had educated and transformed young people and the adolescent whose hearts are pure, gentle, and modest into odious executioners who dared to kill the innocent and even their own parents, relatives, or friends." Not only did they kill in mass, but they also "buried" those still living after being tortured. They were thrown onto the top of the "mass graves". There was a loud speaker attached to a tree and special chemicals used to mask the sounds and smells from the field. There is still a large area where they have not disturbed the remains.

Conclusion:
It is sad and disturbing to know people are capable and willing to do things like this. We come away from these sites after having walked where people had feared for their lives that were taken. Here we are not foreigners but fellow humans trying to grasp an understanding for how and why this happens. While there we saw one of the seven survivors of Tuol Sleng. He talked of where his cell was and that he wanted to know how someone could do this to their fellow man.
We have no answers for questions like these, only hope. Hope that people will remember the pain this and other past genocides have caused all involved. Whether you are the one in front of the "gun" or behind it.
Hope for a beter tomorrow, have faith God will grant that, and love your fellow man!

1 Corinthians 13:13

Love to all