Key insights

• ⛓️ Security prison 21 (S21) was a former high school turned into a prison where thousands were imprisoned and executed
• 🎯 Various people from different backgrounds were accused of being enemies of the regime, leading to widespread torture and executions
• 💼 CPK's obsession with rapid development and self-preservation
• 🌾 Forced labor and reorganization of villages for agricultural reforms
• 🍚 Starvation led to the death of younger sisters due to the lack of care and food
• 🚫 Khmer Rouge regime banned individualism and private ownership, leading to widespread deprivation and suffering
• ⚡ Torture methods included whipping, breaking fingers, removing toenails, and electric shocks
• ☠️ Around 1.5 to 2 million deaths occurred as a result of starvation and executions under the Khmer Rouge regime

Q&A

• What were the ultimate outcomes of the Khmer Rouge regime?

  The Khmer Rouge regime was eventually overthrown, and its leader, Pol Pot, died in 1998. The regime's reign led to mass executions and torture at various sites known as The Killing Fields, resulting in millions of deaths and leaving a lasting impact on Cambodia's history and its people.

• How did the Khmer Rouge treat the population, and what were the consequences?

  The Khmer Rouge severely oppressed the population, torturing and executing thousands of innocent people, including foreigners and ethnic minorities. The regime's actions led to the imprisonment, torture, and mass executions of millions of people, resulting in around 1.5 to 2 million deaths.

• How did the Khmer Rouge regime affect the population's livelihood and well-being?

  The Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia led to mass starvation, persecution, and a harsh crackdown on any signs of individualism or dissent. Privately owning food, cooking, or having professional training were viewed as punishable offenses, leading to widespread deprivation, suffering, and mass deaths.

• What were the economic policies of the Khmer Rouge under CPK's rule?

  The Khmer Rouge, under the Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK), pursued rapid development and self-reliance through forced labor and agricultural reforms. They implemented a four-year plan to triple rice production despite severe challenges in Cambodian society, advocating for achieving economic goals through revolutionary willpower.

• What is S21, and what is its significance?

  S21, also known as Tuol Sleng, was a former high school turned into a prison by the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. Thousands of people were imprisoned, tortured, and executed at S21. Today, it serves as a memorial to the lives lost and the brutality inflicted upon the people of Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge era.

• 00:00 The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, committed one of the worst genocides in history from 1975 to 1979, establishing numerous torture and execution centers such as S21, where thousands were imprisoned and executed for being perceived as enemies of the regime. Today, S21 serves as a memorial to the lives lost and the brutality inflicted upon the people of Cambodia.
• 02:03 The CPK wanted rapid development and self-reliance through forced labor and agricultural reforms, despite severe challenges in Cambodian society.
• 03:57 During the Khmer Rouge regime, farmers were surrounded by encouraging slogans to sacrifice their lives, food was extracted for party use and export, children were forced to work in harsh conditions, and starvation led to deaths among family members.
• 05:49 The Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia led to mass starvation, persecution, and a harsh crackdown on any signs of individualism or dissent. Privately owning food, cooking, or having professional training were viewed as punishable offenses, leading to widespread deprivation and suffering.
• 07:42 The Khmer Rouge severely oppressed the population, torturing and executing thousands of innocent people, including foreigners and ethnic minorities.
• 09:34 The Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia led to the imprisonment, torture, and mass executions of millions of people, including foreigners, resulting in around 1.5 to 2 million deaths. The regime was eventually overthrown, and its leader, Pol Pot, died in 1998.