The Khmer Rouge at the US Genocide Museum offers lessons for over one million visitors

"I Want Justice!" Exhibition, on the second floor of the US Museum of Remembrance Memorial Museum in Washington, this exhibition expands. From the efforts to bring criminals to genocide and mass murder.

The horrific Khmer Rouge exhibition at the Memorial Museum of American Genocide in Washington will be Ends September 30. At that time, more than a million Americans would have known about the tragedy in Cambodia.
Washington -
As travelers flock to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum Memorial Museum, See Special Exhibition on One of the Worst Tragedies in the 20th Century is the Horror Exhibition on the Khmer Rouge In Cambodia.

Helen Wedgewood is one of those Americans. After she saw the shocking photos and watched a video clip at a museum in Washington, This made her unable to hold back tears.

"I am very sorry that this happened," said Wedgewood, a nurse from Apache Junction, Arizona. I guess when this is happening nobody knows about this, and if they know, Do not care anymore. "

Wedgewood said:

"I hope those survivors find peace, even if they can not find their relatives. See it. But I hope they can find peace. It was horrible to hear all this. "
Vietnamese youth Ted Nguyen, who traveled to the United States with his family, told VOA during his visit to the exhibition. The Khmer Rouge in the museum said he learned a lot about the tragedy that took place in his neighboring country from the museum This.

"Even though we are neighbors, I do not know these things well. We need more of this exhibition to help the next generation understand and remember the story. "

Wedgewood and Nguyen are among the 1.2 million viewers who visited the exhibition "Cambodia from 1975 to 1979" and an exhibition "I Want Justice!" Since the exhibition was unveiled in May 2015. According to museum officials. The exhibition on the museum's website has been visited by more than 83,000 visitors over 200,000 times, according to department officials. Contact at the museum.

The exhibition of Cambodia was exhibited with the museum's permanent exhibit, the Jewish Genocide Exhibition During World War II, but the expedition on Cambodia would end on September 30. According to a museum official who told VOA.
Video provided by the American Museum of American History Remembrance in Washington.
Historical warnings

Cameron Hudson, director of the Simon Skjodt Center for Breaking the Museum's Genocide, said the exhibition on Cambodia helped educate visitors about the museum. The fact that genocide and mass killings really happened in this part of the world was in 20th century and may again happen unless there is Good prevention.

"For many Americans who visit the museum, it is a basic knowledge of what has happened in Cambodia. But most importantly, the museum gives a deep message that genocide does not end with the genocide of the Jewish people. No, genocide is not the only genocide that ever happened because we May continue to make mistakes from the past. "

Hudson said:

"One of the goals of our museum is to raise these feelings, feelings that the government should curb and respond Reply ».

Greg Naranjo, curator of the Cambodia Fair at the Museum, agrees that the tragedy of the Khmer Rouge period provided an important lesson for the American public.

"Knowledge and cautions are the most important thing we can do to help prevent genocide in general. ".

American people viewing these exhibitions say they are happy to see the country's lamentable history. Is displayed to many visitors.

Mr. Bavben, 66, who survived the Khmer Rouge, is currently president of the Cambodian Community Day, a cultural, educational, and cultural association. Society in the Washington area, which includes parts of Virginia and Maryland, said:

"It is a reminder in the best way that the Khmer or the world in general will avoid killing. Mass. "

Explanation of horror

The exhibition, "Kampuchea from 1975 to 1979", examines the devastating killings by the Pol Pot forces who follow the Maoist rule to create a state A new, "Democratic Kampuchea", an agricultural and independent state that does not rely on the outside world.

Not long after the Khmer Rouge took over Phnom Penh, about two million Phnom Penh residents were evacuated and were Sent to the countryside to join the millions of people who are forced to land and make dams Field. The ruthless China-backed regime also has dozens of interrogation centers, where tens of thousands are needed. Tortured and often brutally murdered, without any specific cause.

The exhibition "Cambodia from 1975 to 1979" shows the brutal killings of the Khmer Rouge to create a new state of "Democratic Kampuchea" in the Museum of Binding. Remember the American genocide in Washington.

It is estimated that about 1.7 million Cambodians, almost one-fifth of the population at the time, died from illnesses. Hungry, tired, and executed, although historians have had difficulty determining the actual death toll. In Cambodia, at present, every family has stories that their loved ones are killed Or disappear.

Another exhibition is the second-floor Fair I Want Justice! Review of the history of efforts to Bringing criminals to the genocide and mass murder.

The exhibition focuses on a large part of Cambodia, which attempts to prosecute the aged Khmer Rouge leaders at In a court in Phnom Penh supported by the United Nations. The exhibition also focuses on ways that survivors seek justice in a different way. No matter their own culture or history.

Exhibitors organizers

Michael Abramowitz was the director of the Levine Institute for Genocide Education at the American Museum of Remembrance Museum until February. 2017, and he has played a key role in organizing this exhibition.

Abramowitz, who now heads the Freedom House, said it was important to showcase the Khmer Rouge in the museum. He recently told VOA that "

"According to the number, according to the percentage of the population, this regime is one of the worst regimes in the regime This 20th century, the state has killed the people. "

"I just think it's important for us in all these cases, it reminds each of us that the crime Races can always happen. We have to do everything we can to try to prevent it from happening again Future, knowing its impact from the past. "

Michael Abramowitz is a former director of the Levine Institute for Genocide Studies at the US Genocide Memorial Museum and currently serves as President. Freedom House in Washington, DC, on July 19, 2017

Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia DC-Cam in Phnom Penh, who has provided most of the documents for these exhibitions, Abramowitz's efforts and he praised former US ambassador to Cambodia, Joseph Mussomeli, who played a similar role. Essential in this exhibition.

Ambassador Mussomeli said he supported the exhibition because the exhibits could educate the American public and added that Cambodians Also benefit from this exhibition, as well as other educational initiatives both at home and abroad. Also.

"We should not let our current life make us forget about the past because the past is fundamental For the future. Cambodia has suffered a long time and it is too severe to be able to withstand the past . But it is important that they face the terrible things that have happened. I think doing this will help Cambodia become a better and stronger country. "

Memories in Cambodia

Until now, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has supported the DC-Cam Center. Since 2004, when a donation has been made for the center, USAID has donated nearly $ 10 million to the facility. In April, USAID provided $ 5.8 million in additional funding, which would enable DC-Cam to function effectively. Sustainability for 20 years. According to Youk Chhang.

DC-Cam was established in 1995 for the purpose of researching and collecting documents relevant to the Khmer Rouge regime. The information the Center finds is used in museums, schools and other institutes, while the Center's documentation is used as Proof of evidence in the UN and Cambodian hybrid chambers.

Youk Chhang said that the purpose was to educate Cambodians and to raise awareness and discuss horrible things. This is and through this process to reconcile the whole nation.

He said one of the most important activities was to create this subject in high school and local level at University.

"All the students who have received the current education will be people who are very clear and capable of protecting Violations of human rights and the prevention of genocide occur. "

He added that survivors should educate their children.

"I think it makes the whole country relaxed and makes sense," he said. Since no master is better than those who passed through the Khmer Rouge, yes, it is so, so share it Children. "

He added:

"I would like to say through VOA that all parents who have gone through at least say what they are Passed by telling her to tell her grandchild to tell her. "

Reflecting on US responses

The United States is a strong supporter of the Khmer Rouge tribunal and US foreign policy since the late 1990s Include the prevention of cruelty and genocide.

However, there are allegations that the United States has done little to stop the Khmer Rouge regime when the Khmer Red power, while some have claimed it could be an allowance.

After 1979, Washington and Western countries agreed to allow the Khmer Rouge to sit at the Cambodia Representative seat in the United Nations. To punish Vietnam, a friend of the Soviet Union for invading and toppling the regime.

Hudson, director of the Simon Skjodt Center for Genocide Control, said the exhibition also demonstrated the inconsistency of the Decided on US foreign policy in the 1970s.

"Because it is not a proud time in our history, according to the lack of response. A strong response to stopping what we know is genocide or crime in Cambodia. "

Waiting for justice

At the fair, "I Want Justice!", There is a video and a video about the United Nations trials and the other ways Cambodians have tried to reconcile their mental illness.

After long-term negotiations with the international community, Cambodia and the United Nations have established the chamber and in the year 2007 The five top Khmer Rouge leaders have been arrested for war crimes and crimes against humanity. But the Tribunal is moving too slowly as there is disagreement between the judge and the prosecutor. Both international and Cambodian, in a special hybrid court.

Mr. Hun Sen's government, which included ex-Khmer Rouge ex-Khmer Rouge leaders, has been charged For interfering with the court to limit the number of defendants.

By 2017, $ 300 million was spent and only three suspects were convicted while two other suspects Died before being convicted. The court process is ongoing.

Hudson said the Fair for Victims of the Khmer Rouge and the survivors of the Khmer Rouge Is important while finding the best way to compensate the mentality of these incidents is being They argue.

"International tribunals always cost a lot. The research is still limited to confirming whether those high court trials will be possible Help break the cycle of violence, or should use a local court or traditional justice system that has tried many lower-level commanders That's it. "

Abramowitz, former president of the Levine Institute, said that the Khmer Rouge tribunal was both positive and negative but positive.

"It seems that a lot of money is spent and little results. On the other hand, it seems that the most responsible survivor is convicted And I also think that Cambodians are now on the court record. "

"The fact that even though many years have passed, the Khmer Rouge suspects were jailed," he added It is also a warning to those in power. "

"It is very important to make sure there is no statute of limitations on crimes against humanity or on Genocide. The hope is that everyone will think again and say, "I will be tried in court if I think Commit this genocide. "

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