Thursday, July 07, 2011

History Hard to Teach in Former Strongholds: Researcher

Dy Khamboly, left, a staff member at the Documentation Center of Cambodia, helps a student read his book (Photo: AP)

Wednesday, 06 July 2011
Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer | Washington, DC
"A History of Democratic Kampuchea" in Anlong Veng, in Oddar Meanchey province. “Subsequently, these younger generations would act as a bridge for their parents, who were mainly the victims, and some of whom were perpetrators, to reconcile.”
Cambodia has made some efforts to better teach the younger generation about the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge, but a history book author says it’s hard to teach in areas where many parents were former soldiers of the regime.

Schools across the country have begun instruction using “A History of Democratic Kampuchea,” but the book’s author, Dy Khamboly, told “Hello VOA” on Monday it was not taking off in all areas, especially in the northwest.

“What we want is to help Cambodia’s younger generations understand what really took place during Democratic Kampuchea,” he said, referring to the Khmer Rouge by its official name. “Subsequently, these younger generations would act as a bridge for their parents, who were mainly the victims, and some of whom were perpetrators, to reconcile.”


Teaching methods now being used in Cambodia include projects for students to interview parents who lived through the Khmer Rouge and to visit genocide sites.

The Documentation Center of Cambodia, which published the history book, has distributed more than 400,000 copies to high schools across the country and has provided training for some 2,000 teachers from almost every province.

Student interest varies by region, Dy Khamboly said, but there is high interest among most of them. Most resistance comes from the former strongholds in the northwest, where the Khmer Rouge remained a fighting force until 1998.

Im Sophea, an outreach coordinator for the UN-backed tribunal, said youths in these areas often “don’t believe that their parents or former leaders committed such atrocities.”

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please teach the truth to our new khmer generation:

(ព្រះ​សម្មាសម្ពុទ្ធ) : ព្រះ​ពុទ្ធ, ព្រះ​ពុទ្ធ

​ជា​បរម​គ្រូ, ព្រះ​ពុទ្ធ​ជា​ម្ចាស់

"As a tree cut down sprouts forth again if its roots remain uninjured and strong,so the propensity to craving not being done away,this suffering springs up again and again"Lord Buddha


"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth." - Buddha

Extrait Sihanouk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42RpbMAeiO4

Culture Revolution - Public execution & Impact

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIrUHVFkm9A&feature=related

Cambodge : JEUX De la MORT De SIHANOUK CONTRE YUON

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=FR&hl=fr&v=sVLTFmWX4VE

Anonymous said...

Koh Tral Island must not be forgotten

By Ms. Rattana Keo

Why do Koh Tral Island, known in Vietnam as Phu Quoc, a sea and land area covering proximately over 30,000 km2 [Note: the actual land size of Koh Tral itself is 574 square kilometres (222 sq miles)] have been lost to Vietnam by whose treaty? Why don’t Cambodia government be transparent and explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?

Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 on the Thai border and what's about over 30,000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?

Koh Tral Island, the sea and land area of over 30,000 square kilometres have been lost to Vietnam by the 1979 to 1985 treaties. The Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protecting a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group but disguising as protecting the Khmer nation?

The Cambodian army at front lines suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition and their families have no health care assistance, no securities after they died but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning system with message from young girls, have first class medical care from oversea medical treatments, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make the Cambodian people suffer everyday.

Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that resulted in the loss over 30,000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why they are not being transparent and brave enough to inform all Cambodians and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't they include Koh Tral (Koh Tral size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen and bigger than Singapore [Note: Singapore's present land size is 704 km2 (271.8 sq mi)]) with heap of great natural resources, in the Cambodian education system?

Look at Hun Sen's families, relatives and friends- they are billionaires, millionaires. Where did they get the money from when we all just got out of war with empty hands [in 1979]? Hun Sen always say in his speeches that Cambodia had just risen up from the ashes of war, just got up from Year Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% of innocent Cambodian people are so poor and struggling with their livelihood every day?

Smart Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,

Anonymous said...

To Ms. Rattana Keo
The Koh Tral Island or Phu Quoc was a Guamtanamo prison under USA during the Indochina war.This secret prison was controlled by US ARMY and South Viet Nam Ng. Van Thieu where many political prisonniers Khmers and Vietnameses were puted inside,so Lon Nol closed the eyes afraid of his boss south VN than many Vietnameses family began to settle in this Island.
From Lon nol to Hun Sen no body take care about this Island and now is too late?

Anonymous said...

i don't think it's hard to teach history there, it's just a matter of getting people acquainted or accustommed to learning about history that they don't want to learn, really! this is where an education comes into play, ok!

Anonymous said...

cambodia needs to change people's perception or belief by asking them what is the importance of learning about the KR history? that should make them think smartly and cleverly, ok! yes, it's call instilling a paradigm shift in the people's belief, doesn't necessarily mean force it on them, just make them think and analyze it for themselves, ok! of course, critical think skill and analytical skill is a must have for all students in cambodia, you know! if you can't think and analyze for yourself, then you cannot distinguish yourself from the animal world, really! now think about it, ok! it's not hard, ok!

Anonymous said...

7:00 PM

You are lying about Khmer History lesson like CPP Vietnam want khmer young generation to believe.

Traitors are every where on these issues about Cambodia territories with Vietnam.

Anonymous said...

be a good student, ok! be patient, learn as much as you can, listen, absorb, be inquisitive, do research, think and analyze, etc, these are all traits of being a good student, you know!

Anonymous said...

Most of the territory loss occurred before cpp took over the country; however, cpp led government may have put the 'last nail on the coffin' by signing the numerous treaties legitimizing the territory loss.

Cambodia, current cpp led government or anyone else, may not have much leverage to claim these territories back. However, everyone has a responsibility to prevent further loss, to preserve what is left as Cambodian - culturally and physically - so that future generations of Cambodians and other world people continue to enjoy one of the world's most wonderful people, cultures, and traditions.

To ensure the preservation of Cambodia, requires intelligent leadership and constant dedication to improve economic well-being, education, and health of all people. Democracy and freedom to express and create are some of the key ingredients to a successful development and preservation of Cambodia.

This may go against the popular and current feeling of most KI readers and comment posters, but I believe current Cambodian government has done many positive things to improve Cambodia's standing in the world, despite all the bad things that happened.

It is time now for both the ruling and the opposition to work together for Cambodia, and stop the culture of war and violence. Everyone needs to be politically matured and collaborate for mutual growth. Stop doing the same thing over and over and expect to see different results.

Anonymous said...

11:43 PM You sound like currupted mind. Cambodia must separate Right and Wrong. If Cambodia still exept Right Mix with Wrong than once day there will be no Cambodia. Nambodia more like the plane of Vietnam.

Cambodian people must stand up for the truth and demand the truth not second best. Second best is not an option for Cambodia people. No more bullshit called "working together CPP and other parties opposition" that is currupted mind only.

Anonymous said...

Knowing how Khmer Rouge kill is not as important as knowing why Khmer Rouge kills and how Khmer rouge was manufactured and by whom and for what reason.

Anonymous said...

Norodom Ranaridth and Nheuk Bun Chhay are Vietnam dogs and slaves. They are even CPP dogs and eat CPP shits for living. THey are animals who betray his supporters and his own army that help him to be the first Prime Minister. These animals are make khmer nation down from generation to generation.

THey are lie to their own army and supporters so they now can have sexual inter-course with young girls and live in luxury palaces.

Traitors! Traitors! Khmer people must not believe in King families blood anymore because we study the past of their lie and traitor skill in betray their army , supporters and even their own Khmer Nation and khmer people.

King families, relatives are equal traitors of all time after Angkor Era.

Anonymous said...

6:52 AM!
ON TOP OF WHAT YOU SAY, WHO ARE THE
KHMER ROUGES? DOES IT INCLUDE SIHANOUK, CHEA SIM, HENG SAMRIN, HUN SEN ETC...?

Anonymous said...

11:43 PM,
Please tell how you or the opposition resolve the stalemate. The 'bullshit' is inciting fight from outside with no means or real chance of it ever becoming a reality.

There are many activities that the opposition can do in term of positive contribution toward development of Cambodia. However, if their main concern is beating the cpp and wrestling power from it, the opposition is in for long haul and might never see any result to their false ambition. Plainly, Cambodia today is not yet like America or France. And it does not have to be.

CPP however clumsy and backward, is starting to see results of their governance, and many countries and donors alike are more willing to put up with the flaws and accept the 'lesser evil' option. No one wants to see any more turmoil and tragedy in Cambodia, and cpp knows this well and manipulates that sentiment to greatly benefit their
status. Who would not do that? Can you blame them for taking advantage of the opportunity?

Stop keeping the head in the sand and be stuck with the same view and limitation.

Anonymous said...

it's time for camboida to expand education to include the world and its rich concepts out there, ok!