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Cambodia Donny Rumsfeld from Ohio was still adjusting his inner clock from the long flight. He had stopped in Bangkok for a week and was now
in the last minutes to Phnom Penh the capital of Cambodia. "For a Far East sightseeing tour he makes holiday here" he told his
family back home.
"There are so many temples and pagodas honey and you know I like Buddhism very much" he said to his wife. But there is something
else, a driving desire in him, which got hold of his innermost self, following into dreams. Children. Girls in their puberty. In Bangkok he
paid 2000 bath for a movie involving just what he longed for. But this was not enough. It was a prelude to fire up his desires. "Here in
Phnom Penh I will get one", he thought, looking down to the town while the plane approached the airport. "I call her my daughter, will
travel with her, stay together, love her. If possible a whole week." He though of his purse. There were 2000 dollar reserved for the
cause. Looking at his watch, it was 16:30 afternoon on the 2/3/08.  
This is what Donny was looking for in Cambodia Young Khmer girls
Mother Chan Kim Sun family was Khmer, living in Phnom Penh, in a shanty wooden house, where the Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers
meet, next to endless veggie plantations. The' MORNING GLORY is grown here for the ever hungry Phnom Penh market. To compete
in card games is the favorite gambling activity, part of the Cambodian culture, be it on duty or not. For the ever scares money off
course.  
floating veggies and a "cash if you win" card game Mia, her daughter returned last night late and was sleeping. Of 13 years she looked still younger. One would guess her age to
11 years. "Get up Mia and pack your cloth it is 4:00 pm, they will come soon." shouted mom back to their common sleeping room.
Mia was to travel with a foreigner for a one week holiday through the country.
Mother had negotiated for US$ 1300.- Then my daughter is all yours" she said to the foreigner. What can one buy with such a
wealth? This evening the foreigner was to come, bring the money and take Mia with him.
Donny had checked into a fine hotel and did not waste time. There are many entertainment nightclubs in town it was there he though
to start the search. When the tuck tuck tricycle dropped him off at "ROCK" he was nervous. Soon he was approached by younger
women trying to get a free drink and if sympathy and cash matches, follow him to his room.
But Donny was not out for the regular. He had that in Bangkok. He thought of all his rapturous dreams . "No, I must find young one,
but must be also careful, a prison here is no resort." he said to himself. He was like a hunter, looking for a small deer, still
unsuccessful but determined to get one.   
A shanty hut like Mia's home Morning Glory ready to go to market
The Khmer guy approached him on the way to the hotel." You like young girl?" It was the pimp of Mia. He brought her" customers"
watched over her safety and was controlling and living off Mia. 30% went into his pocket, 70% got the mother. "I have to be careful"
thought Donny, maybe he is a police man. And left him without saying a word. In the room, looking TV he was restless. Down again
he went to the street, there was the man waiting, smiling and greeting him as one would greet a friend. Again he ignored him but went
to a roadside bar for a beer. The Khmer came to him, sat down. "I have many pretty girls some are very young" he said after a while.
"Actually I'm not here for that" Donny loosen up. "I look more for a companion to come with me for several days be my friend stay with
me. She should be young but not under 18years". Oh I know perfectly what you mean." The Khmer said and he pulled from the wallet
a picture of Mia. The childish face touched Donny at once.
"Who is she? "he asked. Then came the story told over and over. "A refuge family, very poor and the father needs an operation, the
last resort to get the money is the girl, an under aged which had never seen a man. I'm the cousin", so the pimp continued, " it is a
great responsibility. He can only entrust her to someone like Donny, who has sensitivity and taste." Finally he got Donnie's confidence
and he agreed just to look at the girl.
The next day they went to the wooden hut at the morning glory gardens. He met the girl which only looked shy up to him. She was so
tiny so slim.
His imaginations run wild. US$ 2000.-, they wanted. He settle for $1300.- "When will Mia come with you". "Tomorrow I come to pick
her up". He was hot and stupid. And so the story goes on. The next day he came, paid, and took the girl with him. He was alone with her in the car and could hardly
breath so nervous and tensioned he was when driving out of Phnom Penh. Arriving in Odongk as mall town northwest of Phnom Penh
he checked into a shabby hotel, where there are no questions asked.
"And then?" We asked our ex police man story teller, which drove us to S21, the Pol Plots prison. He continued: "What Danny did not know was, they were followed by a motorcycle. On it the mum and the "pimp cousin". In this night of fulfilled
dreams, Danny realized, she was no virgin after all and by her behavior must have seen other men before. But it did not matter much
to him and he fell asleep afterwards, somehow with a guilty conscience. Next to him the kid. His body big and deformed over time
from too much junk food.
While he snored into the night, the kid lay awake, and was waiting for the action, as done before several times. She unlocked the door
without sleeping Donny noticing, and about 11:30 pm, Mother and Cousin stormed into the room in the hand a ready camera. "My
beloved daughter raped!" Shouted Mama. Naked Danny came out of his sleep into unpleasant reality. The camera clicked several
times, exposing him and the kid looking with big, innocent eyes.
"How did he get out of the trouble?" We asked our ex policeman storyteller. "Costly. It was expensive for him" our driver said. "He had
to put all valuables and cash on the table, just to calm them down and promised that tomorrow he will draw with his credit card
$2000.- more. Otherwise mother will alarm the police.
He had to surrender his golden bracelet, the wedding ring too. The family demanded to return the very night, "Mia should see a doctor."
The girl with mother in the car now, the pimp cousin followed closely on the motorcycle. On the way Donny was silently crying.
He thought to take the next plane out of Phnom Penh.
It was a lousy night ending for Donny. When he returned from the travel agent next morning ticket in hand, not even thinking to spend
another dime on this failed week long escapade, pimp cousin, Mama, and a policeman was waiting for him. In the room they argued
over money matters. "Off course" said the policeman "this horrendous crime cost him 10 years in jail the least, and who knows
maybe more." And he is here to sort things out, maybe bring him to the station. Danny must consider himself lucky, as he, a relative
was called, otherwise he would be in jail already. And further, as a relative, he do not like the innocent girl exposed in a newspaper,
after all they are a respected family. That is if Danny would pay a compensation big enough, since this poor child has been raped by
him in this unspeakable manner. But I have to confiscate your passport" Noting Donny could do. The next days he draw and draw
money almost US$ 10.000. He was ashamed to go to the Embassy. No scandal please he begged. After the credit cards were drawn
to the limit, with the policeman at the ATM always to verify not more the cards could yield, his passport was returned. Just in time for
the airport." In 3 hours I'm out" In 3 hours I'm out" repeated Danny constantly while riding the tuk tuk tricycle.
"So, that is a lesson for any molester. He deserves to be set up!" commented Harun, "That was not the end" said the policeman.
When he came to immigration, two plainclothes men approached him." Police! You come with us" For several weeks he sat in prison
and was interrogated, and beaten. "Write statement! How many children did you rape?" The family raised funds for a lawyer then more
funds, then the cash to settle out of court. It was all in all US$30.000.
Here ended his story. Why did he told it? Harun planned to go with the policeman in the evening out, to photo glue sniffing kids,
drug dealing and brothels where under aged are offered for prostitution, intending to expose them in pictures and story.
"Do not do it, as it is very dangerous you could get killed!" the Ex policeman warned. Here in Phnom Penh, drugs, prostitutes and
weaponry is controlled by ruthless gangs. You could get shot before you click the camera." Harun decided to abandon the idea. "No,
better not he said" We all were relieved.
This took place on Monday, whereas we came Sunday to this country and many things had happen in-between. Therefore we turn a
page back, for you dear reader to know what we did since leaving Bangkok.. Sunday 20-4-08
Afternoon, when we landed in Phnom Penh. The plane was full, as US$170.- for a return ticket was reasonable priced. On the airport
our Embassy staff awaited us, how kind to welcome us. It was Sunday do not forget and still they were waiting for us. A hotel was
booked a car and driver waited. It cannot get better, many thanks for it.  
welcoming us at the airport The first tuk tuk "taxi" I ever saw  
Hotel window view on our bedside table "hooker service"
A dinner in the evening closed the day and with us where four "soon to be doctors", all pretty young female Malay Bruneian. We were
happy to meet them. Does it not mean that foreign doctors, some with questionable expertise are replaced?
Deep from my heart comes this request for our Health Ministry:
"Please create for our doctors a comfortable well paid environment. They take care for the Nations health!
Send them to courses for further knowledge. Treasure them, they are our daughters, do not make them to look somewhere else for
better service. Brunei need them, we must be proud of them.
What a sad issue it was back in the UAE. Where some of the best breed of our small Nation, young Bumi Malay pilots are working.
In many other countries an impossible thought. The first Bruneian flying planes work outside as pay is better there?
It is heartbreaking for any patriotic Bruneian. Our flag carrier RBA is flown mostly by outsiders and our able pilots have to work in
foreign land? Have they been offered the same benefits as our foreign pilots? No? Then change policy please. Call our sons home.
"Please return to your fatherland, you are our pride! Come, we offer you a better income than the foreigners get".
Don't you think it is high time, we Malay look after ourselves?
Very much high time! 
Just looking at them brings joy into the heart of a patriotic Brunei Malay, such as me
Our photo session at the Embassy had to be without JAMBO, which is parked in Bangkok awaiting our return. But yet again it is so
pleasing to see this young and very determined officers. What a fine selection our Ministry of Foreign Affairs has here. 
In the picture our Charge de Affairs Miss Suryanti Hj Mohamed then Haji Roslan PDIS Hj Johari,
Mr Asbi Bin Ahad, Harun and me
And since we have here a true combination of Intelligence and beauty, we like to present you keen reader some close ups of faces
one will remember. These are rising stars on the Brunei firmament.   
Miss Suryanti Miss Nazeehah Mohammed Miss Hafizah Salleh
  
Miss Zanna Johari Miss Nurus PD Hj Halbi Miss Suryanti
Dear reader you must agree, this is a beauty contest here! Unfortunately we cannot go on looking at them all the time. 
As a Nation, it is a blessing to have such intelligent, devoted and patriotic sons and daughter Monday 21-4-08 It was a sunny morning. From our window I could look down to the market. There was the TOTAL station, our main sponsor. Busses
filled their tanks from their quality fuel, for their overland journey. On the other road side, the rooftop was separated by barbed wire. An
indicator of the safety here around. The first beggars a woman and kids had arrived on their daily working place, the hotel entrance.
All shabby dressed and dirty that they may move the heart of a by passer for a generous alms. Since kid and Woman (maybe the kid
is borrowed for begging) make the same time the same hand gesture we assumed they are professionals. Long they realized, that
pitiful look brings more income than do daily work. The children's classroom is the street. Their education? How to get money.    
Separation wire on rooftop , no trust at all on the hotel entrance; do they have to pay a percentage for being there?
Cambodia was until the recent past a nation in turmoil. The early origins of the Cambodians are not clear. Some are suggesting, they
originated from the South around Malaysia and Indonesia. 4000 years ago in the Mekong floodplains, the Tonle Sap, (great lake of
Cambodia,) were inhabited by people, as baked earthenware was found, pots to store fish and hold water. Rice could grow with little
efforts waters teemed with fish. It must have been an easy life. The first kingdom of Funan appeared between the 1st and 6th century
but nothing survived except a few ruins deep in the Vietnams delta province. Excavations revealed evidence of trade links to Middle
East, India and China. Then the Khmer rose. The first Khmer language inscriptions dates from 611.AD. Those days back they were -
according to historians- divided into three separate groups. The summit of society represented by the king and his palace, then
various groups or castes who did not have to grow rice but were fed, down under the mud people, the rice growing peasantry,
which fed the others and on which the whole structure rested.
Around 800 AD, the Khmer state Chen La had developed into a kingdom, with the most extensive complex of stone buildings in South
East Asia. Sanskrit the language of God , priests and kings tell little of these days. Only a few records exist from these times, a
Chinese inscription in Funan recounts:" the king dwelling had double terrace.... he rides an elephant...his subjects are ugly and black,
their hair frizzy and they wear neither cloth or shoes..."
By the 8th century Land Chen La a centralized kingdom moved away from the sea, and the foundation was laid for the establishment
of the Khmer empire in the region of Angkor. Historians agree that the period lasted from 802 AD to 1431 AD.
Entrance to Angkor Wat
The foundation is attributed to Jayavarnman II. Little is known about him, but inscriptions tell he visited Java, returning he settled North
East of today's Tonle Sap. Here he proclaimed himself DEVARAJA or god king. His influence extended all over present day Cambodia,
parts of eastern Thailand and Laos. He made his capital in Hariharalaya, we find the oldest temples of the Angkor region. More than
30 subsequent monarch came after him.  
Warriors holding the NAGA (dragon) back King Indravarman I ruling for 12 years until 889 AD, established irrigation projects to increase agriculture production, next he
commissioned statues of his parents and relatives, shown as various gods. Himself and his queen became Shiva and consorts.
In the third stage he constructed a temple mountain in form of a step pyramid, dedicated to him. Design to be his tomb and lasting
monument of his glory.
His son Yasovarman was determined to build his own temple mountain, in fact he build three, all surviving until today. They are a
symbolic representation of Mt. Meru which as the Buddhist reader know, is the mythical axis of the world.  
back in the 12th century Apsaras with a pointed Diadem To construct Angkor, Yasovarman had to be a visionary and great builder. He build a vast reservoir along the southern shores, and
constructed numerous temples through out his domain. The most noteworthy is the great Preah VIhear high on an inaccessible
mountain ridge of Phnom Dangrek, separating Cambodia from Northeast Thailand. Over the next century Angkor expanded and by the
reign of Jayavarman V, Angkor had grown considerably. Inevitable a great city like Angkor attracts trade, but it seems most
international commerce was in the hands of Chinese, Chams and Vietnamese rather that the Khmer. In the 11th century the line of kings ruling was in decline, two rivals competing for the position of a "universal monarch". As soon as
Surayavarman II had ascended to the throne, he strengthen the military and his army campaign in Vietnam and Champa to expand his
territory.
He was a devotee of Hindu god Vishnu and to the glory of his deity he commissioned the largest and most magnificent of all
monuments at Angkor. The great temple complex of Angkor Wat. In 1177-8 the Chasms having now a powerful kingdom in southern Indo China, invaded, their chief objectives seems to get booty,
prisoners of war and revenge for earlier attacks on them. According to a Cambodian stele the ham king Jaya Indravarman IV, "put the
king to death, without listening to any proposal of peace." But afterwards, prince Jayavarman of Angkor defeated the Chams in naval
battle on the Tonte Sap and killed the Cham king "with a hundred million arrows". Unfortunately assuming his crown as Jayavarman
VII, Angkor plunged into a sea of misfortune and crimes. As a Buddhist he stamped his authority on the nation by road building and
public work programs.
In 1186 AD, he erected the Ta Prohm complex in honor of his parents, followed by others and finally the famous Bayon and its
hundreds of faces, each representing a Bodhisattva-like image of -himself.  
Entrance to the Bayon In the Bayon, King Jayavarman VII  
In the Bayon, king Jayavarman's face from every direction.
Following the reign of Indravarman II the Kingdom of Angkor enter a period of decline. In the middle of the 14th century the economical
life begun a long shift to Water Chen La, the region around Phnom Penh. During the next two centuries, the Khmer Empire found itself
frequently at war with the Siamese court, often on the loosing side.  
"the beauty of these dances against the dark mystery of its temples made the most unearthly sight imaginable" (Somerset Maugham) Meanwhile Vietnamese immigrants begun to move into Khmer region and in the 18th century the newcomers out numbered the Khmer
in the Mekong Delta region. As a result the Siamese and Vietnamese interfered in Cambodian affairs. The arrival of the French in the
19th century avoided the complete annihilation of Cambodia. It would have disintegrated. Angkor would have passed under Siam's
control. While the Vietnamese would have taken over the eastern region of the country. One leader addressed the administration in the
following words:" The barbarians in Cambodia became my children now, and you should help them, and teach them our customs."
That was humiliating. Such a approach had sparked long simmering rebellions and anti Vietnamese feelings.
In 1863 King Norodom accepted the establishment of a French protectorate. They transformed Cambodia into a regional rice bowl,
rediscovered Angkor and contributed to two great historical truth. One, that Angkor was build by Cambodian and two stopped the
division of Cambodia between Siam (Thailand) and Vietnam. Maybe the French were not too bad after all.
Then followed three Indochina wars, the Vietnamese who took on and defeated first the French, then the US and finally the" socialists
brothers" from China and Cambodia.
In 1969 without congressional approval, the US begun a series of massive airstrikes against Viet Cong and NVA positions in
Cambodia. Carpet bombing by B52 flying out of Thailand and Guam, devastating the country and drove the surviving Khmer peasantry
to despair. They responded in three ways. Massacring ethnic Vietnamese (it should have been the US, but they were out of reach),
flooding into Phnom Penh, and joining the Khmer Communist insurgency. Books say, would not Henry Kissinger's "sideshow" in
Cambodia have taken place, a few hundred Khmer communists (later the Khmer Rouge) hiding in remote Mountains could never have
seized power and millions of Cambodians would be alive. (For the ones who do not know, Henry Kissinger is Khasar by origin and of
Jewish faith).
The tragedy was played out. In 1970, Sihanouk while on a visit in China, was, with help from US, overthrown by the Military headed by
Lon Nol, a guy hostile to Vietnam and communist ideas. Sihanouk allied himself from Peking with the Communists.
The US withdraw or better fled with its forces from Vietnam in 1973, leaving the Republic of Vietnam army to fight the NVA.
The southern army lost quickly.
Meanwhile in Cambodia, word spread around that the Khmer Rouge were quiet merciless in towns which fell under their control.
When they enter Phnom Penh on 15th April 1975, most residents were openly delighted that the war was over and were prepared to
give the victorious guerillas a welcome. But to their dismay groups of sullen -faced often open hostile child soldiers swarmed into the
city.
The new regime which called itself the "Democratic Kampuchea" announced immediately, that a bombing raid was to be launched by
the USA on Phnom Penh and everyone has to leave town. It was a lie only to enforce their policy, which was the complete
reorganization of the Cambodian society. All towns and major villages have to be emptied and the population send to work in the
fields. Executed with extraordinary ruthlessness to an extend that patients of Operation theaters were driven to the street. Those who
could not walk or argued were shot." If you speak a foreign language you are killed. If you are an Intellectual, a doctor, a professor,
that is reason to be killed.
But more on this in the end of our Cambodia report, as it is gruesome. We took our time to look at the Kings palace in Phnom Penh. It was build with French assistance in 1866 and function as the official
residence for the King. Buildings are spread over extensive grounds, among the Chan Chaya Pavilion used by Cambodian Monarchs to
review parades but dominating is the Royal throne hall which was build in 1917 in Khmer style. Is used for important constitutional
events
 
the Royal Throne hall a glimpse into the interior with the Kings chair  
Chan Chayae Pavilion to inspect parades Napoleons III pavilion
You read right. Napoleons Pavilion. What a present for his wife Eugenie.
But as women are sometime, she did not like it. Why else would she dismantle it and send it as a present to King Norodom.
That was the year 1870 and in 2008 women are still moody, nothing has changed... In the Silver pagoda, named as the whole floor is lined with over 5000 silver tiles weighting more than 5 tones, stand two Buddha
statues, one in Emerald dating from the 17th century, the other in pure gold of 90 kg.  
Stupa of the Kings mother, at the rear the Silver Pagoda inside 5000 silver floor tiles with the Buddha in gold Along the inner face of the surrounding wall, an arcade, the story of RAMAYANA is told, clearly influenced by Prince Rama II who
ordered painters in 1831 to begin the great task of paining the Ramayana murals in Bangkok. Copied here in Phnom Penh.
The story revolves around his wife which was highjacked and efforts to get her back..
 
protected from elements, the story of RAMAYANA, Hindu Sanskrit poems in pictures.  
Kings, queens and wars, celestial figures, monkey like warriors, the paintings reveal them to us
We had still time the very afternoon and went to an Prosthetic clinic in Phnom Penh, for the simple reason - to donate money. They
manufacture prostheses, artificial limps, A young man having Polio and shrinking muscles got help with Wolfgang and Eva funds. We
left US$ 130.- there.
 
 
Thanks to this - and Miss Sieng Vannara, the man Seom Rosat can walk again
A visit in a Mosque ended the day. Cambodia an ethnical melting pot, has a substantial number of Muslim. The Cham. Their kingdom
was overrun by the Nguyen of Vietnam in 1720. They rather fled to Cambodia than submit to the Viet, settling in province and town,
that became Kampong Cham (see the Malay similarity) and also along the shores of Lake Tonle Sap. Here they became prosperous
fishermen and adjusted into Cambodian life. They were well known as practitioners of magic. In 18th and 19th century Islam spread
among the Cambodian Chams. Because of their Muslim religion, maintaining their identity, and not speaking Khmer, the Chams
were treated harshly by the Khmer Rouge. Many were killed but small groups escaped the horror. They practice a fairly relaxed form
of Sunni Islam, fasting one day only during Ramadan, but do not eat pork. 
The Nurul Naim KM8 Mosque in Phnom Penh  
religious teachers; from the look they could be all Malay
They are still looking for funds. Anyone like to contribute for prayer mats and Quran? Soon we went to our hotel to work on the web page that you dear and honorable reader, can follow in time the unfolding stories. Tuesday 22-4-08 By noon we left Phnom Penh to Angkor Wat. The bus journey took 6 hours. Once a while we saw a comfortable "piggy passenger"
on a motorbike, on the last ride to the slaughter knife.
 
Traveling in style Advertisement for alcohol liquor
Ladies and gentlemen, look at the Liquor advert. It can be said, that here they sell the drunk maker with the argument. The more you
drink the more you get muscles. ISO 9000 certified!
Considering that such adverts are made by marketing psychologists, the buyers must be quiet a simple people. The bus stopped at a Cambodian delicatessen market, which offered cuisines, hard to find somewhere else.
It was tempting to crackbite a grilled Tarantula, or a spicy little frog, put a handful crickets into the mouth and swallow these loud
insects by the dozen. Take a quail these small birds, but bite the long stick legs away before you consume one.
That was tasty delicacy for our fellow Cambodian. The Khmer eat anything! You do not believe? Here is the proof!
 
a thousand Crickets only a few tiny fried Frogs are left
 
Tarantulas by the hundreds feed your lovebird Tarantulas and she will be hot tonight
 
" Kill 'em and grill 'em! These lake birds steal only fish from us" Buckets full with tarantulas, eat them before they kill us
Wednesday 23-4-08
Angkor Wat and our web site was on the plan. The day flew and in no time it was evening again.
Thursday 24-4-08
We came back by bus to Phnom Penh today, in the evening we were invited by our Embassy friends and had a dinner in the
Titanic on the river shores. No, she did not sink.
We have been invited again by Suryanti the Charge de Affairs" for a wonderful evening
We asked, but she did not tell. If you dear Yen paid out of your pocket, it shows what a kind hearted person you are. You are truly
great and forgive us for not having a present for you. One day in Brunei we return this kindness to you. Thanks for the invitation.
Down on the river, brightly lit up restaurant boats, sailed into the night.
A river cruise with lobster and French wine, is much liked by the foreigners and - judging from the parked cars- rich Cambodian,
(mostly Chinese) of which there are quiet a few around.
Off course, we as intelligent humans look the other direction too. While the guest pays for 4 persons and a two hours gourmet
escapade maybe US$ 70.-, the Khmer family man and young sailor in the hot and sticky engine room, earns 200.000 riel a month.
That is US$ 50.- to feed his family, pay doctor and school.
Friday 25-4-08
Today we return to Bangkok to meet JAMBO , which we really missed. It is time to leave Cambodia, but with our final words:
Cambodia covers an area of about 181.000 sq km with a population of about 12 million. 90% of Cambodian are Khmer. Farming has
long been their economic pursuit. The second largest ethnic group are the Vietnamese, followed by the Cham which are about a
six hundred thousand Muslims. There are probably 400.000 ethnic Chinese in Cambodia.
Cambodia is immense fertile and would support a population, several times the one at current level. Fruits grow by the drop of a seed,
it is year round warm. And yet, the very name Cambodia has become synonymous for hatred and murder.
During the mid- and late 20th century the green rice field were raped by the "Cradle of democracy" the USA. Their B52 bomber strikes
spread death among the rural population, and who did not die, had a good chance to become a cripple from unexploded "ordinances"
while working in a field.
This over, the lush gentle plains were converted to killing fields of the Khmer Rouge. And with their horror story, going beyond human
comprehension we close our visit here.
Nothing in history compares with what the Khmer Rouge did to their fellow Cambodian brothers in the years between 1975 and 1979.
Please do not read further if you are kindhearted and sensitive or below age.
We think what happen has to be told. Again and again.
In 1975 after a five year civil war, armed Cambodian communists know to the world as Khmer Rouge got control of the country. Almost
immediately they forcibly emptied town and cities, abolishing money, law courts, private property and religion. It is estimated that
during their reign 2.5 million Cambodian died on overwork combined with malnutrition and a 200.000 had been tortured and executed.
They did it to their own people and brothers. The leader was a Khmer by race, a former teacher and communist, Saloth Sar or better
known as Pol Pot, he was a half Chinese. 
He exchanged the common Cambodian way of life into a brutal experiment in Communism. After the Khmer Rouge had emptied all
cities in 1975, there were no markets, schools, temples or other facilities.
Street names were painted over, Automobiles abandoned, so TV's refrigerators and washing machines Money worthless to the Khmer
was floating in the gutters.
On the 7th January of 1979 armed Vietnamese forces entered Phnom Penh, the Khmer Rouge or DK (Democratic Kampuchea)
leaders, army and followers fled. No people or animals were seen, it was a ghost town. On 8 January, two journalists who followed the
Vietnamese army were attracted to a compound by smell of decomposing bodies which appeared to be a school but it was fenced
with barbed wire. They entered the compound.
 
The barbed wire fence and the compound One building was littered with office paper, on the south side building in rooms on the ground floor, they came across corpses chained
to beds.
   
For their dignity we keep the pictures small . Victims of interrogation and torture. The Two Vietnamese reporter had come to a Khmer Rouge interrogation and torture facility with the code name S21.
Thirty year later in 2008, two travelers from Brunei arrived here to see with their own eyes, with tears and a bleeding heart, this horrific
place of cruelty and unspeakable suffering. Never forget mankind! You must remember what man can do to his fellow brother.
Slowly walking through, we came to a security signboard which ordered the victim:  
she disobeyed and died by electric cable
These children are considered traitors and enemy of the state. Their parents were killed first, then them.
How many times they must have called for help from Mom? But she was dead, tortured to death.
 
She was beaten before the picture was taken afterwards killed. "A Kid! A enemy of our revolution it must be killed!"
Everyone who arrive in S21 was tortured and killed.
Look at her! She was beaten to confess. Confess what? Look again and you feel inside yourself anger growing and the demand for
revenge against these Khmer monsters who did this. Her eyes expressing deep sadness. Deep acceptance of something she
could not change nor understand. She does not know why and she remained still as ordered by number 6 of the regulations. "you
must not cry when you are beaten or get electrification".
Never forgive them! Go after them find them bring them to justice. Can there be justice for those executioners? On this earth unlikely.
It must come on the other side! A cry from all innocent victims, the children the mothers the babies and fathers.
"Almighty never forget what they did to us!"  
Chained to the bed and tortured until death. He confessed, almost mad of torture pain, to something he never did. And is then killed.  
Some Khmer Rouge leaders fatten up like pigs, while 2.0 million people of their own race starved to death.
Hundred thousands had been tortured and slaughtered. (The true figure will never be known)
 
 
Shackles and iron bars to chain the prisoners The gallows It is 2008, filled with horror we went to the killing fields a few miles out of Phnom Penh. Here mass graves were unearthed.  
The scull stupa
 
 
see the cloth in the soil? what was their name? what "crime" did they commit?    
the sign next to the tree dig up mass graves
We were haunted by these images for several days. We only hope their souls found peace and are not tied to the place of execution.
Although as Buddhists, they never had the appropriate rites for the journey to the other side. The ferryman must and will overlook this,
after all they have been victim of SATAN. His name here in Cambodia is KHMER ROUGE.
We end our story deeply disturbed by the words from a doctor who, one of few, survived the killing fields. We give you a free excerpt
in our words:
It was night. He was under interrogation, hanging from a goalpost, under his feet they had put a fire to make him to confess.
"Tell that you were a doctor before ."
Around him other victims crucified hanging like butchered animals. On the left hung a pregnant woman. They had a plastic bag but
over her head, she was suffocating.
He begun to pray:
" You gods-any god who can hear. Hindu gods, Jesus. Allah, Buddha, Spirits of the forests and rice fields. Spirits of my ancestors,
hear me please. I never killed anyone. Never, never, never. I saved lives. I was a doctor, I saved lives. Why make me suffer? Why?"
When the wind picked up, the coals glow and the fire became hotter, there was the smell of burning flesh...
Many of the thousands of Khmer Rouge henchmen who committed these crimes are still alive and free.
Only a few leader are imprisoned.
We, travelers of Nations and Continents, will never return to Cambodia! Besides the travel tax at the airport was US$ 25.- per foreigner.
Legalized robbery? 
Please click Malaysia, if you still want to follow the happenings on our long journey home.
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Supported by Tourism Board, Ministry
of Industry & Primary Resources |
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