By KER MUNTHIT
Associated Press Writer
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The first history book written by a Cambodian about the Khmer Rouge is a step toward educating the nation about the murderous regime, a leading genocide expert said Sunday.
"Cambodians are at last beginning to investigate and record their country's past," said Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, an independent group documenting the Khmer Rouge crimes.
Unlike Khamboly Dy's "A History of Democratic Kampuchea," to be released Wednesday, Youk Chhang said previous books about Cambodian history have been written almost exclusively by foreigners. Cambodia was named Democratic Kampuchea during the 1975-1979 Khmer Rouge rule that led to the deaths of some 1.7 million people.
Cambodian schools currently teach little about the Khmer Rouge, largely because the subject is sensitive among political groups and high-profile individuals once associated with the now-defunct communist movement.
The book, written for high school teachers and students, will also be available to the public for free, Youk Chhang said. No Cambodian historian had previously written about the Khmer Rouge because of fears of reprisal, he said.
The education ministry in January approved the book as a "core reference" material for history textbooks but not as part of the core curriculum, Youk Chhang said.
"A History of Democratic Kampuchea," Youk Chhang said, "is a major step showing that Cambodians are capable of telling their own history" despite the limited status imposed on the book by the government.
"By taking responsibility for teaching Cambodians through books such as this, the country can go forward and ensure that the seeds of genocide never again take root in our country," he said.
Cambodia and the United Nations have created a tribunal aimed at prosecuting the few surviving Khmer Rouge leaders for crimes against humanity. The tribunal, led by Cambodian and international judges, was expected to begin this year.
"Cambodians are at last beginning to investigate and record their country's past," said Youk Chhang, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, an independent group documenting the Khmer Rouge crimes.
Unlike Khamboly Dy's "A History of Democratic Kampuchea," to be released Wednesday, Youk Chhang said previous books about Cambodian history have been written almost exclusively by foreigners. Cambodia was named Democratic Kampuchea during the 1975-1979 Khmer Rouge rule that led to the deaths of some 1.7 million people.
Cambodian schools currently teach little about the Khmer Rouge, largely because the subject is sensitive among political groups and high-profile individuals once associated with the now-defunct communist movement.
The book, written for high school teachers and students, will also be available to the public for free, Youk Chhang said. No Cambodian historian had previously written about the Khmer Rouge because of fears of reprisal, he said.
The education ministry in January approved the book as a "core reference" material for history textbooks but not as part of the core curriculum, Youk Chhang said.
"A History of Democratic Kampuchea," Youk Chhang said, "is a major step showing that Cambodians are capable of telling their own history" despite the limited status imposed on the book by the government.
"By taking responsibility for teaching Cambodians through books such as this, the country can go forward and ensure that the seeds of genocide never again take root in our country," he said.
Cambodia and the United Nations have created a tribunal aimed at prosecuting the few surviving Khmer Rouge leaders for crimes against humanity. The tribunal, led by Cambodian and international judges, was expected to begin this year.
6 comments:
Damn, more foreigners try to
contaminate our history. Get the
fuck out of here, you
motherfuckers.
THis poster 8:57AM is behaving like animal. Why can't you just write a bit with respect to other readers? you have shamed other Cambodian people who are not approving your behaviours.
Didn't you guy have a saying, "If
you can't stand the heat, get out
of the kitchen"?
The history happened between 1975 to 1979 is a Cambodian history in a snapshot!!!Now...nobody in their right mind would look at history in a snapshot!!!There is nothing to glorify about it because it is one of those dark history which involve too many major players which help destroy Cambodia and Cambodian people and Cambodian still got all the blame!!!
Life must go on!
Yep, it is better to focus on the
cause of the destruction between
1970 and 1975 instead, where the
corrupted backstabers SISOWAT
Sarimatak stabed his cousin Norodom
Sihanouk in the back, and send
his starving soldiers to fight
the Khmer Rouge, hahaha, LOL,
hahaha.
Hey guys, no response?
Do you think I am bullshitting you?
Come on, tell me if what I said
isn't a fact or even if I
exagerated things.
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