Written by Sam Rith
The Phnom Penh Post
$1m to buy all of the exhibits, says Nhem En.
FORMER Tuol Sleng photographer Nhem En is putting all of his Khmer Rouge-era possessions - once destined for a museum in Anlong Veng - up for sale for US$1 million, saying that the global economic crisis is to blame for scuppering his monument to the regime whose most brutal moments he helped to document.
"I am calling on all interested individuals and companies, both inside and outside the country, to bid on more than 10 varieties of Khmer Rouge materials. The starting price is US$1 million," said Nhem En, who is deputy governor of Anlong Veng district in Oddar Meanchey province.
The items on offer include two cameras purportedly used to photograph prisoners at Tuol Sleng; 2,000 photographs of Pol Pot and other Khmer Rouge leaders; what he claims are Pol Pot's sandals, toilet, clothes and hat; a piece of car tyre that was used in Pol Pot's 1998 cremation; videos of military commander Ta Mok and other top regime cadre; and 1,000 songs on original tapes and pirated CDs.
"I spent all my spare cash trying to build the museum and I can't borrow from the bank because they are suffering from the global economic crisis," he said.
Nhem En said he had spent more than US$200,000 buying and clearing 50 hectares of land in Anlong Veng, but had garnered no support. He said the museum would cost $1 million to complete.
The announcement follows his April offer to sell what he said were Pol Pot's sandals and his cameras for US$500,000. But early interest faded after provincial officials reacted negatively.
Oddar Meanchey provincial Governor Pich Sokhin declined Sunday to comment on the revised offer, but added that he also had no objection to the museum being built.
But S-21 survivor Chhum Mey said people who might consider buying the items should instead give that money to the cash-strapped Khmer Rouge tribunal.
FORMER Tuol Sleng photographer Nhem En is putting all of his Khmer Rouge-era possessions - once destined for a museum in Anlong Veng - up for sale for US$1 million, saying that the global economic crisis is to blame for scuppering his monument to the regime whose most brutal moments he helped to document.
"I am calling on all interested individuals and companies, both inside and outside the country, to bid on more than 10 varieties of Khmer Rouge materials. The starting price is US$1 million," said Nhem En, who is deputy governor of Anlong Veng district in Oddar Meanchey province.
The items on offer include two cameras purportedly used to photograph prisoners at Tuol Sleng; 2,000 photographs of Pol Pot and other Khmer Rouge leaders; what he claims are Pol Pot's sandals, toilet, clothes and hat; a piece of car tyre that was used in Pol Pot's 1998 cremation; videos of military commander Ta Mok and other top regime cadre; and 1,000 songs on original tapes and pirated CDs.
"I spent all my spare cash trying to build the museum and I can't borrow from the bank because they are suffering from the global economic crisis," he said.
Nhem En said he had spent more than US$200,000 buying and clearing 50 hectares of land in Anlong Veng, but had garnered no support. He said the museum would cost $1 million to complete.
The announcement follows his April offer to sell what he said were Pol Pot's sandals and his cameras for US$500,000. But early interest faded after provincial officials reacted negatively.
Oddar Meanchey provincial Governor Pich Sokhin declined Sunday to comment on the revised offer, but added that he also had no objection to the museum being built.
But S-21 survivor Chhum Mey said people who might consider buying the items should instead give that money to the cash-strapped Khmer Rouge tribunal.
12 comments:
Ta En eui! Tuk khluon eng tov! Kmean a chhkuot na tov tinh rbah changrai nuh te!
Hey! I am the one who lost my lovely mom and 9 of my brothers and sisters in the Pol Pot and Hun Sen regime.I think Cambodia government must take all thing from him and put it in Toul Sleang museum.
I have been interested with some of Khmer Rouge song, becuase some song it can help New Khmer generation for fighting with brotal and dictorship hun sen and hanshemen.
Spean Tep
This guy is NUT. Who want those stuff that remind us of their criminality ?.How about your HEAD ah chhkuot NHEM EN ? . 50 RIELS?.
What's the heck is he thinking? I agreed with Spean Tep that the government should confiscate all these materials from him. He is considered one of Khmer rouge geonocide. He is lucky the tribunal didn't put him in jail also. Why people wants to spend $1 million for those junk? Even $1000 I won't spend my money on that past killing. These items might haunt whoever buys them.
He wants to make money for his own bank account, not for building museum as he claims.
this guy is a monkey.. those crap worth no more than 1 million riel
just another CPP still trying ti bleed the country for money.
Evil thing in the house? You morone!
One million dollars for Pol Pot's shit stain? this fucken moron is something...Ah Mouk Luy!!
Nhem En is a very unscrupulous individual who is trying to get rich on objects that remind Cambodians of the inhumane suffering they endured during the Khmer Rouge regime.
He should donate every piece to the Tuol Sleng museum. There is no need to build another museum. One such museum is enough!
There is no point in giving the Khmer Rouge era any more significance than it deserves. It is a darkest history of Cambodia. Some of us want to totally forget about it. The KR era is the exact opposite of the glorious Angkor or Mohanokor period.
Anet Khmer
If SAMAK MITH NHEM NHEN could put POL POT 's Sandals and Toilet Seat for auction , What about SAMAK MITH TA (SIHANOU) 's HOCHI MINH Sandals and his colored scarfe ( KRAMAR) for sale too since they were in the same Killing Fields Machine.
A Survivor Of The SIHANOUK Killing Fields
Just listening waht he said, I am sure Nhem En is a braggart.
Ha!!
Nhem Nhen illegally possesses a number of items that historically relate to Crimes committed by the KR Regime.
By Law, these items must be confiscated as evidences or exhibits for the KR trials, especially his Cameras and photographs.
The ECCC must take lawful actions to seize all these items that can be used to produce evidence for prosecuting the former KR leaders.
Nhem Nhen himself can be both the accused and the witness/victim.
Good that now he started to reveal more secrets.
He can be arrested on charge of hiding the exhibits related to the commission of crimes against humanity.
The King of Hell.
Hey ya, what the stupid are you doing En? Are you fool? All the properties belonged to Pol Pot or the regime related must be delivered to the Pol Pot's relatives or to the state. It is not you who can handle and sell those properties for your own pocket!
I don't agree with such a fool passion! It is not good image to gain benefit from the most hated stuff of the terror regime. i mean you were also considered as a Khmer Rouge during the regime. You are also the one who must be in the trial.
Why don't you deliver to the national achieve for the national interest? Shit that you trying to appeal for buyers of those materiels!
Hean Padhi
Phnom Penh
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